example of chain rule


Suppose we wanted to differentiate

h(x)=sin(x).

Here, h(x) is given by the compositionMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmath

h(x)=f(g(x)),

where

f(x)=xandg(x)=sin(x).

Then chain rule says that

h(x)=f(g(x))g(x).

Since

f(x)=12x,andg(x)=cos(x),

we have by chain rule

h(x)=(12sinx)cosx=cosx2sinx

Using the Leibniz formalism, the above calculation would have the following appearance. First we describe the functional relation as

z=sin(x).

Next, we introduce an auxiliary variable y, and write

z=y,y=sin(x).

We then have

dzdy=12y,dydx=cos(x),

and hence the chain rule gives

dzdx =12ycos(x)
=12cos(x)sin(x)
Title example of chain rule
Canonical name ExampleOfChainRule
Date of creation 2013-03-22 12:35:32
Last modified on 2013-03-22 12:35:32
Owner rmilson (146)
Last modified by rmilson (146)
Numerical id 4
Author rmilson (146)
Entry type Example
Classification msc 26A06