Q.Differentiate w.r.t. x: sinx2+sin2x+sin2(x2).
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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: …
Concept: Chain Rule — each term is a composition of sin with a power function.
Step 1: For sinx2, let u=x2, then derivative is cos(x2)⋅2x=2xcosx2.
Step 2: For sin2x, write as (sinx)2. Derivative is 2sinx⋅cosx=sin2x. …
The derivative of sinx2+sin2x+sin2(x2) is found by applying the chain rule to each term separately. The final result is 2xcosx2+sin2x+2xsin(2x2).
The key to this problem is recognising that each term is a different kind of composition. You have three functions, each requiring the chain rule in a slightly different way. Let’s break them down one by one.
-
First term: sinx2
This is sin of (x2). The outer function is sin(⋅), the inner function is x2.
Derivative: cos(x2)⋅dxd(x2)=cos(x2)⋅2x=2xcosx2.
-
Second term: sin2x
This is (sinx)2. The outer function is (⋅)2, the inner function is sinx.
Derivative: 2(sinx)⋅dxd(sinx)=2sinx⋅cosx=sin2x (using the double-angle identity 2sinxcosx=sin2x).
-
Third term: sin2(x2)
This is [sin(x2)]2. There are two layers of composition: first square, then sine, then x2.
- Outer: (⋅)2, derivative 2⋅sin(x2).
- Middle: sin(x2), derivative cos(x2).
- Inner: x2, derivative 2x. Multiply: 2sin(x2)⋅cos(x2)⋅2x=4xsin(x2)cos(x2). Simplify using 2sinθcosθ=sin2θ: 4x⋅21sin(2x2)=2xsin(2x2). …
Method: Chain Rule for Structurally Different Terms That Look Similar
Use this method when a sum contains several terms that use the same functions (sine and squaring) but combine them in different orders — such as sinx2, sin2x, and sin2(x2) — so each term needs its own careful reading before differentiating.
Steps
Step 1: Rewrite each term unambiguously before differentiating anything
Translate the notation precisely: sinx2 means sin(x2) (sine of a squared argument); sin2x means (sinx)2 (squared sine); sin2(x2) means [sin(x2)]2 (squared sine of a squared argument). Getting this reading right is the entire difficulty of the problem.
Step 2: Differentiate the term that is a sine of a polynomial, with one chain-rule step
dxdsin(x2)=cos(x2)⋅2x
Step 3: Differentiate the term that is a square of a sine, with one chain-rule step
dxd(sinx)2=2sinx⋅cosx=sin2x …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing sinx2 with sin2x
Why it's wrong: these are genuinely different functions — sinx2=sin(x2) has the squaring inside the sine, while sin2x=(sinx)2 has the squaring outside — and they have different derivatives (2xcosx2 versus sin2x). Misreading one notation as the other is one of the most common exam-hall errors in this topic. Correct approach: before differentiating, explicitly rewrite each term as either sine-of-something-squared or square-of-the-sine, matching the position of the exponent 2 exactly as printed.
Mistake 2: Applying only one chain-rule layer to sin2(x2) …
Showing the 12 most recent of 23 on this concept.
- 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 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 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=sin(sinx) and y′′+f(x)⋅y′+g(x)⋅y=0, then f(x)⋅g(x)= ______ (A) 21sin(2x) (B) 21cos(2x) (C) sin(2x) (D) cos(2x)
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests forming the second-order ODE satisfied by y=sin(sinx) by eliminating trig functions in favor of y and y′. The answer is f(x)g(x)=21sin2x.
Concept and Intuition
The idea is to differentiate y twice, then rewrite the resulting expression purely in terms of y and y′ (using the fact that y′ itself contains cos(sinx)), so that we can read off f(x) and g(x) by matching coefficients.
Step-by-Step Solution
- y=sin(sinx)⇒y′=cosxcos(sinx).
- y′′=−sinxcos(sinx)+cosx⋅(−sin(sinx))cosx=−sinxcos(sinx)−cos2xsin(sinx).
- From step 1, cos(sinx)=cosxy′, so −sinxcos(sinx)=−sinx⋅cosxy′=−tanxy′.
- Also sin(sinx)=y, so the second term is −cos2xy.
- Hence y′′=−tanxy′−cos2xy, i.e. y′′+tanxy′+cos2xy=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-AN1 markMCQQ.If u=sin(yx), x=et and y=t2, then t6(dtdu)2÷e2t(t−2)2= (A) 2u (B) u2 (C) 1−u2 (D) cosu
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating u=sin(x/y) with x=et,y=t2 and simplifying the given combination leaves exactly cos2(x/y)=1−u2.
Concept and Intuition
Compute du/dt via the chain rule, then see how the algebraic combination in the question is designed to cancel everything except cos2(x/y).
Step-by-Step Solution
- yx=t2et. dtd(t2et)=t4ett2−et⋅2t=t3et(t−2).
- dtdu=cos(yx)⋅t3et(t−2).
- (dtdu)2=cos2(yx)⋅t6e2t(t−2)2. …
- 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 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 2022Set eng-2022-07-08-AN1 markMCQQ.If y=sin(2tan−1(1+x1−x)), x=cos2θ, then dxdy= (A) 1−x2x (B) −cot2θ (C) tan2θ (D) 21−x2−x
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substituting x=cos2θ collapses the arctan expression to θ itself, turning this into a simple parametric-derivative problem.
Concept and Intuition
1+cos2θ1−cos2θ=2cos2θ2sin2θ=∣tanθ∣, and 2tan−1(tanθ)=2θ (for θ in the principal range), so y=sin2θ directly — the whole problem becomes parametric differentiation with parameter θ.
Step-by-Step Solution
- 1+cos2θ1−cos2θ=2cos2θ2sin2θ=tan2θ⇒⋯=tanθ.
- tan−1(tanθ)=θ⇒y=sin(2θ).
- Parametrically, x=cos2θ, y=sin2θ: dθdx=−2sin2θ, dθdy=2cos2θ. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-AN1 markMCQQ.If x=secθ−cosθ and y=secnθ−cosnθ, then (x2+4)(dxdy)2= ______ (A) n(y+4) (B) n2(y2+4) (C) n(y+2) (D) n2(y2+2)
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests parametric differentiation combined with a clever algebraic identity that avoids messy trig simplification. The answer is n2(y2+4).
Concept and Intuition
Both x and y are given as functions of the same parameter θ, so we should find dx/dθ and dy/dθ separately and divide. The trick that makes this tractable is spotting that secθcosθ=1, which makes expressions like (secθ−cosθ)2+4 collapse into a perfect square (secθ+cosθ)2.
Step-by-Step Solution
- x=secθ−cosθ, so x2+4=sec2θ−2+cos2θ+4=sec2θ+cos2θ+2=(secθ+cosθ)2 (using secθcosθ=1).
- Similarly, since secnθ⋅cosnθ=1, we get y2+4=(secnθ+cosnθ)2.
- Differentiate x: dθdx=secθtanθ+sinθ=tanθ(cosθ1⋅cosθ+tanθsinθ); simplifying carefully gives dθdx=tanθ(secθ+cosθ).
- Differentiate y: dθdy=nsecn−1θsecθtanθ+ncosn−1θsinθ=ntanθ(secnθ+cosnθ). …
- 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=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 2021Set eng-2021-08-24-FN1 markMCQQ.Find the value of 'k' if dxd⎩⎨⎧2+2+2+2cos(4x)2⎭⎬⎫=ksec(2x)tan(2x) (A) 21 (B) 2 (C) 1 (D) 81
›Reveal solutionSolution
Repeatedly apply the half-angle identity 2+2cosϕ=4cos2(ϕ/2) to peel away the nested square roots, collapsing the whole expression to a simple sec(x/2).
Concept and Intuition
The identity 1+cosϕ=2cos2(ϕ/2) (i.e. 2+2cosϕ=4cos2(ϕ/2)) is exactly designed to simplify nested square-root expressions of this kind — applying it repeatedly, from the innermost root outward, collapses the whole tower.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Innermost: 2+2cos4x=4cos2(2x) (using 2+2cosϕ=4cos2(ϕ/2) with ϕ=4x). So 2+2cos4x=2cos2x (taking cos2x>0).
- Next level: 2+2+2cos4x=2+2cos2x=4cos2x. So 2+2+2cos4x=2cosx.
- Next level: 2+2+2+2cos4x=2+2cosx=4cos2(x/2). So 2+2+2+2cos4x=2cos(x/2).
- So the whole expression is 2cos(x/2)2=sec(x/2).
- Differentiate: dxdsec(x/2)=sec(x/2)tan(x/2)⋅21. …
- 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. …
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