Q.Differentiate w.r.t. x: log(x+x2+a).
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Chain Rule
The Chain Rule: Why It Makes Sense
Imagine you're assembling a toy. First you put part A into part B, then you put that combined piece into part C. The final toy's position depends on how you moved A, which then affected B, which then affected C. That's exactly what the chain rule captures — how a change in the first variable ripples through a sequence of functions to affect the final output.
Let's make this concrete. Suppose you have a function f that depends on g, and g itself depends on x:
y=f(g(x))
You want to know: if x changes by a tiny amount, how much does y change? The answer isn't just f′(g(x)) — because g(x) itself changes when x changes. You have to multiply the two rates:
- How fast does g change with respect to x? That's g′(x).
- How fast does f change with respect to its input g? That's f′(g(x)).
The total effect is the product:
dxdy=f′(g(x))⋅g′(x)
In Leibniz notation, this looks even more natural: dxdy=dudy⋅dxdu, where u=g(x). The du's "cancel" like fractions — though this is just a helpful memory aid, not a rigorous proof.
The Precise Statement
Chain Rule (single variable): If g is differentiable at x and f is differentiable at g(x), then the composite function h(x)=f(g(x)) is differentiable at x, and
h′(x)=f′(g(x))⋅g′(x)
That's it. One multiplication. But the power is enormous — it lets you differentiate almost any nested function.
A Simple Example
Differentiate h(x)=sin(3x2).
Here f(u)=sinu and g(x)=3x2. Then:
- f′(u)=cosu, so f′(g(x))=cos(3x2)
- g′(x)=6x
Multiply: h′(x)=cos(3x2)⋅6x=6xcos(3x2)
The most common mistake is forgetting to multiply by the inner derivative. Students often write dxdsin(3x2)=cos(3x2) and stop — that's wrong. The chain rule demands you also multiply by 6x.
Why It's Called a "Chain"
Think of a chain of links: x→g→f. Each link has its own rate of change. To find the total rate from x to f, you multiply the rates of each link. If you had three functions — say h(x)=f(g(k(x))) — you'd multiply three derivatives: …
The key idea is to differentiate a composite logarithmic function using the chain rule.
Let y=log(x+x2+a). Differentiate step by step:
- Derivative of logu is u1⋅dxdu, where u=x+x2+a.
- For dxdu, differentiate x (gives 1) and x2+a (gives 2x2+a1⋅2x=x2+ax). …
The derivative of log(x+x2+a) is x2+a1. This follows from the chain rule combined with the derivative of the inverse hyperbolic sine, or directly by differentiating the composition.
Why This Works
The function log(x+x2+a) is a classic form — it’s actually the inverse hyperbolic sine function sinh−1(x/a) up to a constant, but we don’t need that fact. The key insight is that the expression inside the log simplifies beautifully when differentiated: the derivative of x+x2+a turns out to be x2+ax2+a+x, which is exactly the original inside divided by x2+a. That cancellation is what gives the clean result.
Let’s work through it step by step.
- Set up the chain rule. Let y=logu, where u=x+x2+a. Then
dxdy=u1⋅dxdu.
- Differentiate u. u=x+(x2+a)1/2. The derivative of x is 1. For the square root term, use the chain rule:
dxd(x2+a)1/2=21(x2+a)−1/2⋅2x=x2+ax.
So
dxdu=1+x2+ax.
- Combine into a single fraction. Write 1 as x2+ax2+a:
dxdu=x2+ax2+a+x.
- Apply the chain rule.
dxdy=u1⋅dxdu=x+x2+a1⋅x2+ax+x2+a.
- Cancel the common factor. The x+x2+a cancels completely, leaving …
Method: Chain Rule for log(x+x2+a)-Type Expressions
This method applies to logarithms of a sum of a linear term and a square root of a quadratic — a recurring NCERT pattern where the derivative simplifies dramatically through cancellation.
Steps
Step 1: Identify the inner function
Let u=x+x2+a, so the given expression is logu, and the chain rule gives dxdy=u1⋅dxdu.
Step 2: Differentiate the inner function term by term
Differentiate x (giving 1) and x2+a=(x2+a)1/2 using the chain rule (giving x2+ax):
dxdu=1+x2+ax
Step 3: Combine the inner derivative into a single fraction
Write the 1 with the common denominator x2+a so the numerator matches the structure of u itself:
dxdu=x2+ax2+a+x …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Forgetting the chain rule when differentiating x2+a
Why it's wrong: writing dxdx2+a=2x2+a1 (missing the extra factor of 2x from differentiating x2+a on the inside) gives a derivative that is off by a factor of x. Correct approach: always apply the chain rule fully — differentiate the outer square root, then multiply by the derivative of x2+a, which is 2x.
Mistake 2: Not combining terms into a single fraction before simplifying …
Showing the 12 most recent of 23 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.If f(x)=22xlog(3x−2), then f′(2)= (A) log44log2log4+3 (B) 2log48(log2)2+3 (C) 2log48(log4)2+3 (D) 2log48log2log4+3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate f(x)=22xlog(3x−2) using the chain rule on the square root and the product rule inside; at x=2 this evaluates to 2log48log2log4+3.
Concept and Intuition
Whenever a function is a square root of a product, write f=L so f′=2LL′ (chain rule), then find L′ using the product rule since L(x)=22x⋅log(3x−2) is a product of an exponential and a log term. This two-layer differentiation is the key technique.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let L(x)=22xlog(3x−2), so f(x)=L(x) and f′(x)=2L(x)L′(x).
- Evaluate L(2): 22(2)=24=16; log(3(2)−2)=log4. So L(2)=16log4, and L(2)=16log4=4log4.
- Find L′(x) by the product rule: L′(x)=dxd[22x]log(3x−2)+22x⋅dxd[log(3x−2)].
- dxd22x=22x⋅ln2⋅2=2⋅22xlog2 (using log as natural log consistently), i.e. 22x+1log2.
- dxdlog(3x−2)=3x−23.
- So L′(x)=22x+1log2⋅log(3x−2)+22x⋅3x−23. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.If y=Sec−1(2x1+x2) and x>1, then dxdy= (A) 1+x21 (B) 1+x22 (C) −1+x21 (D) −1+x22
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating the inverse secant of a rational expression using the chain rule and careful algebraic simplification gives dxdy=1+x22.
Concept and Intuition
For y=Sec−1(u), the derivative formula is dxdy=∣u∣u2−11⋅dxdu. Here u=2x1+x2 is positive for x>1, so we can drop the absolute value and just carefully simplify the algebra — the key insight is recognizing that u2−1 factors as a perfect square-like expression involving (x2−1)2, which simplifies the square root beautifully.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=2x1+x2. Compute dxdu using the quotient rule: u′=(2x)22x(2x)−(1+x2)(2)=4x24x2−2−2x2=4x22x2−2=2x2x2−1.
- Compute u2−1: u2−1=4x2(1+x2)2−4x2=4x2(1+x2−2x)(1+x2+2x)=4x2(x−1)2(x+1)2.
- So u2−1=2∣x∣∣x−1∣∣x+1∣=2∣x∣∣x2−1∣. For x>1: x2−1>0 and x>0, so u2−1=2xx2−1.
- For x>1, u=2x1+x2>0, so ∣u∣=u=2x1+x2. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.If x=Sinh−1t+log(t2+1) and y=Tan−1t+log∣t∣, then dxdy= (A) 2t+t4+t2t2+t+1 (B) 2t+t2+1t2+t+1 (C) 2t2+t4+t2t2+t+1 (D) 2+1+t2t2+t+1
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests parametric differentiation (dxdy=dx/dtdy/dt) with inverse-hyperbolic and inverse-trig terms; the answer is option (C).
Concept and Intuition
When both x and y are given in terms of a parameter t, we find dy/dx as the ratio of the two derivatives with respect to t, using dtdSinh−1t=1+t21 and dtdTan−1t=1+t21.
Step-by-Step Solution
- dtdx=1+t21+t2+12t (since dtdlog(t2+1)=t2+12t).
- dtdy=1+t21+t1=t(1+t2)t+(1+t2)=t(1+t2)t2+t+1.
- Write dtdx over common denominator 1+t2: dtdx=1+t21+t2+2t. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=Sech−1(9x2+109), then dxdy= (A) (9x2+10)2+81−18x (B) (9x2+10)2−81−18x (C) (9x2+19)(9x2+1)18x (D) (9x2+19)(9x2+1)18x(9x2+10)
›Reveal solutionSolution
A chain-rule differentiation of an inverse hyperbolic function, where (9x2+10)2−81 factors as a difference of squares into (9x2+1)(9x2+19).
Concept and Intuition
For y=sech−1u, the standard derivative is dudy=u1−u2−1 (for 0<u<1). The chain rule then just needs du/dx, and the algebra simplifies neatly because (9x2+10)2−92 is a difference of squares.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=9x2+109. Then dxdu=9⋅(9x2+10)2−18x=(9x2+10)2−162x.
- 1−u2=1−(9x2+10)281=(9x2+10)2(9x2+10)2−81.
- Factor as a difference of squares: (9x2+10)2−92=(9x2+10−9)(9x2+10+9)=(9x2+1)(9x2+19).
- So 1−u2=9x2+10(9x2+1)(9x2+19).
- u1−u2=9x2+109⋅9x2+10(9x2+1)(9x2+19)=(9x2+10)29(9x2+1)(9x2+19). …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=tanh−11+x1−x, then dxdy= (A) −21−x21 (B) −2x1−x21 (C) 1+x22 (D) 2x1+x21
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating tanh−1u via the chain rule and simplifying u(1+x)=1−x2 gives dy/dx=−2x1−x21.
Concept and Intuition
tanh−1z=21log1−z1+z has derivative 1−z21, exactly like a standard log-based inverse function. Here z=u(x) is itself a composite square-root expression, so the chain rule applies twice; the algebra simplifies nicely because u2 is a simple rational function of x.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=1+x1−x, so y=tanh−1u and dudy=1−u21.
- u2=1+x1−x⇒1−u2=1−1+x1−x=1+x(1+x)−(1−x)=1+x2x.
- Differentiate u2=1+x1−x w.r.t. x: 2udxdu=(1+x)2−(1+x)−(1−x)=(1+x)2−2⇒dxdu=u(1+x)2−1.
- By the chain rule: dxdy=dudy⋅dxdu=2x1+x⋅(u(1+x)2−1)=2xu(1+x)−1. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.If x=2cos3θ and y=3sin2θ, then dxdy= (A) −secθ (B) cosθ (C) −cosecθ (D) sinθ
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate x and y separately with respect to the parameter θ, then take the ratio. Answer: −secθ.
Concept and Intuition
For a parametric curve x=x(θ), y=y(θ), the derivative is found via the chain rule as dxdy=dx/dθdy/dθ, avoiding the need to eliminate θ and differentiate implicitly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- x=2cos3θ. Differentiate: dθdx=2⋅3cos2θ⋅(−sinθ)=−6cos2θsinθ.
- y=3sin2θ. Differentiate: dθdy=3⋅2sinθcosθ=6sinθcosθ.
- dxdy=dx/dθdy/dθ=−6cos2θsinθ6sinθcosθ. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=coshx+coshx, then dxdy= (A) 4y(y2+coshx)sinhx(2y2+2coshx+1) (B) 4y(y2−coshx)sinhx(2y2−2coshx−1) (C) 4ycoshxsinhx(1−2coshx) (D) 4ycoshxsinhx(1+2coshx)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Square both sides to remove the outer root, differentiate implicitly, then
tidy the resulting fraction — the answer comes out directly in terms of y
and coshx, matching option (D).
Concept and Intuition
When y is defined as a nested square root, it's usually easier to square first
(y2= the inside) and differentiate implicitly rather than applying the chain
rule twice directly to the nested radical — this avoids stacking two
2⋅1 factors and keeps the algebra manageable.
Step-by-Step Solution
- y=coshx+coshx ⇒ y2=coshx+coshx.
- Differentiate both sides w.r.t. x: 2ydxdy=sinhx+2coshx1⋅sinhx=sinhx(1+2coshx1).
- Combine the bracket over a common denominator: 1+2coshx1=2coshx2coshx+1.
- So 2yy′=2coshxsinhx(2coshx+1). …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=Tan−1x2−1+Sinh−1x2−1, x>1, then dxdy= (A) xx2−11 (B) xx2−1x+1 (C) x2x2−1x+1 (D) x2−1x
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both inverse-function derivatives share the same inner derivative
u′=x/x2−1; the 1+u2 under Tan−1 and 1+u2 under
Sinh−1 both simplify beautifully because u2=x2−1, so 1+u2=x2.
Concept and Intuition
Both Tan−1 and Sinh−1 have derivative formulas built around
1+u2 (as 1+u21 and 1+u21 respectively). Here
u=x2−1 makes 1+u2=x2 exactly, a clean perfect square — this is why
the two inverse functions are paired together in the problem, since they
combine so tidily.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=x2−1. Then u′=x2−1x and 1+u2=1+(x2−1)=x2.
- dxdTan−1u=1+u2u′=x2x/x2−1=xx2−11.
- dxdSinh−1u=1+u2u′=x2x/x2−1=xx/x2−1=x2−11 (since x>1 means x2=x, not ∣x∣ ambiguity). …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-AN1 markMCQQ.If f(x)=sec−1(2x2−11) and g(x)=tan−1(x1+x2−1), then the derivative of f(x) with respect to g(x) is (A) 41−x21+x2 (B) 41+x21−x2 (C) −1+x24(1−x2) (D) −1−x24(1+x2)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Simplify both f and g using standard inverse-trig substitutions, then take the ratio of derivatives. Answer: dgdf=−1−x24(1+x2).
Concept and Intuition
dgdf means dg/dxdf/dx. Both f and g are compositions of inverse trig functions that simplify beautifully with the right substitution (x=cosθ-type for f, x=tanθ for g), turning ugly inverse-trig expressions into simple linear multiples of tan−1x or cos−1x.
Step-by-Step Solution
- f(x)=sec−1(2x2−11)=cos−1(2x2−1) since sec−1(1/u)=cos−1u.
- For x∈(0,1), write x=cosθ: then 2x2−1=2cos2θ−1=cos2θ, so f=cos−1(cos2θ)=2θ=2cos−1x.
- f′(x)=2⋅(−1−x21)=−1−x22.
- For g: put x=tanθ, so 1+x2=secθ. Then x1+x2−1=tanθsecθ−1=sinθ1−cosθ=tan(2θ).
- So g(x)=tan−1(tan2θ)=2θ=21tan−1x. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-27-FN1 markMCQQ.If x=2cosec−1t and y=2sec−1t, ∣t∣≥1 then dxdy= (A) yx (B) xy (C) −xy (D) −yx
›Reveal solutionSolution
The identity cosec−1t+sec−1t=π/2 lets both x and y be written as exponentials of a single parameter u, so dy/dx follows from parametric differentiation. Answer: −xy.
Concept and Intuition
When x and y are both given as functions of a common (possibly hidden) parameter — here through the complementary inverse trig identity — the cleanest path is to introduce that parameter explicitly and use dxdy=dx/dudy/du, rather than trying to eliminate t directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- For ∣t∣≥1, the standard identity cosec−1t+sec−1t=2π holds.
- Let u=cosec−1t. Then sec−1t=2π−u.
- x=2u=2u/2, and y=2π/2−u=2(π/2−u)/2=2π/4−u/2.
- Differentiate w.r.t. u: dudx=2u/2ln2⋅21=2xln2.
- dudy=2π/4−u/2ln2⋅(−21)=−2yln2. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.If x=3[sint−log(cot2t)] and y=6[cost+log(tan2t)] then dxdy= (A) 1+sintcost2sin2t (B) 1+sin2t2cos2t (C) 1+sintcost2cos2t (D) 1+sin2t1+cos2t
›Reveal solutionSolution
A parametric-differentiation problem built around the classic identity dtdlogtan(t/2)=csct; the final simplified slope is 1+sintcost2cos2t.
Concept and Intuition
When x and y are given as functions of a parameter t, dxdy=dx/dtdy/dt. The log-tangent-half-angle term is a recurring building block whose derivative simplifies neatly to csct, which is worth memorizing to avoid a messy chain-rule expansion each time.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Recall dtdlogtan(t/2)=2tan(t/2)sec2(t/2)=2sin(t/2)cos(t/2)1=sint1=csct. Hence dtdlogcot(t/2)=−csct.
- x=3[sint−logcot(t/2)]⇒dtdx=3[cost−(−csct)]=3(cost+csct).
- y=6[cost+logtan(t/2)]⇒dtdy=6[−sint+csct].
- dxdy=3(cost+csct)6(csct−sint)=cost+csct2(csct−sint). …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.If f(0)=0, f′(0)=3, then the derivative of y=f(f(f(f(f(x))))) at x=0 is (A) 16 (B) 32 (C) 81 (D) 243
›Reveal solutionSolution
Because 0 is a fixed point of f (f(0)=0), differentiating a repeated composition at x=0 just multiplies f′(0) by itself once per composition — five times here.
Concept and Intuition
By the chain rule, dxdf(g(x))=f′(g(x))g′(x). For a chain of five compositions, the derivative at a point is a product of five factors of f′, each evaluated at the running value of the inner composition at that point. Since f(0)=0, the running value stays 0 throughout, so every factor is just f′(0).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let y=f(f(f(f(f(x))))) (five nested f's).
- By repeated chain rule: y′(x)=f′(f(f(f(f(x)))))⋅f′(f(f(f(x))))⋅f′(f(f(x)))⋅f′(f(x))⋅f′(x).
- At x=0: since f(0)=0, we get f(x)=0, then f(f(x))=f(0)=0, and so on — every nested value at x=0 is 0. …
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