Q.Find dxdy in the following: log(logx)
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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 — differentiate the outer function, then multiply by the derivative of the inner function.
Let y=log(logx). The outer function is logu with u=logx.
Step 1: Differentiate the outer function:
dudy=u1=logx1.
Step 2: Differentiate the inner function:
dxdu=x1. …
The derivative of log(logx) is found by applying the chain rule twice: first differentiate the outer log, then the inner log. The result is xlogx1.
The key idea here is the chain rule. Whenever you have a function nested inside another function — like log(logx) — you differentiate from the outside in. Think of it as peeling an onion: the outermost layer is the logarithm of something, then inside that is another logarithm of x.
The chain rule says: if y=f(g(x)), then dxdy=f′(g(x))⋅g′(x). Here, f is the outer log and g is the inner log.
Let’s work through it step by step.
-
Identify the outer and inner functions.
We have y=log(logx).
- Outer function: log(u), where u=logx.
- Inner function: u=logx.
-
Differentiate the outer function with respect to its argument.
The derivative of log(u) with respect to u is u1.
So, dudy=u1=logx1.
-
Differentiate the inner function with respect to x.
The derivative of logx with respect to x is x1.
So, dxdu=x1.
-
Apply the chain rule.
Multiply the two derivatives: …
Method: The Chain Rule for a Composite Function
Whenever a function is "wrapped inside" another function — f(g(x)) — differentiate the outer function first (with respect to its own argument), then multiply by the derivative of the inner function.
Steps
Step 1: Identify the outer function and the inner function
Write y=f(u) where u=g(x) is everything "inside" the outermost operation.
Step 2: Differentiate the outer function with respect to u
Use the standard derivative rule for whatever the outer function is (log, power, trig, exponential, ...), keeping u untouched.
Step 3: Differentiate the inner function u with respect to x
Step 4: Multiply the two results
dxdy=dudy⋅dxdu. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Stopping after differentiating only the outer log, writing logx1 as the final answer.
Why it's wrong: this omits the second chain-rule factor x1 that comes from differentiating the inner logx — any function nested inside another needs both layers differentiated. Correct approach: explicitly identify and differentiate the inner function as its own step before multiplying.
Mistake 2: Confusing log(logx) with (logx)2 or another algebraic combination. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 23 on this concept.
- 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 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-2026-05-14-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 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 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 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 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 2022Set eng-2022-07-06-FN1 markMCQQ.If dxd(Alog(1−x3+11−x3+B))=x1−x31, then AB= (A) 31 (B) 3−1 (C) 3−2 (D) 32
›Reveal solutionSolution
Matching the derivative of a log-quotient expression to 1/(x1−x3) pins down A=1/3, B=−1, so AB=−1/3.
Concept and Intuition
This is a "guess the antiderivative form, then solve for constants" problem. Differentiate the given log expression symbolically in terms of u=1−x3, and choose B so the resulting denominator simplifies nicely (ideally to a pure power of x), then fix A by matching coefficients.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=1−x3, so u′=21−x3−3x2=2u−3x2.
- dxd[Alog(u+1u+B)]=A[u+Bu′−u+1u′]=(u+B)(u+1)Au′(1−B).
- Try B=−1: then (u+B)(u+1)=(u−1)(u+1)=u2−1=(1−x3)−1=−x3.
- With B=−1, 1−B=2, so the expression becomes −x32Au′=x3−2A⋅2u−3x2=xu3A. …
- 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 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 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-2025-05-22-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. …
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