Q.Find dxdy in the following: y=sec−1(2x2−11),0<x<21
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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: …
Step 1: Let x=cosθ. Since 0<x<21, θ∈(4π,2π). Then
2x2−1=cos2θ,2x2−11=sec2θ,y=sec−1(sec2θ).
Step 2: Since θ∈(4π,2π), 2θ∈(2π,π), which lies in the principal range [0,π]∖{2π} of sec−1. So y=2θ=2cos−1x directly. …
Substituting x=cosθ simplifies y to 2cos−1x for 0<x<21; differentiating gives dxdy=−1−x22.
Recognising the Identity
The expression 2x2−1 is the double-angle formula cos2θ=2cos2θ−1 in terms of x=cosθ, so 2x2−11 becomes sec2θ — the natural argument for sec−1.
Step-by-Step Solution
1. Substitute x=cosθ.
Since cosine is a decreasing bijection from [0,π] onto [−1,1], let θ=cos−1x. With cos4π=21 and cos2π=0, the given domain 0<x<21 corresponds to:
θ∈(4π,2π).
2. Rewrite the argument using the double-angle identity.
2x2−1=2cos2θ−1=cos2θ⇒2x2−11=cos2θ1=sec2θ.
(Check of sign: x∈(0,21)⇒x2∈(0,21)⇒2x2−1∈(−1,0), so sec2θ is negative here — consistent with 2θ∈(2π,π) found below.)
So:
y=sec−1(sec2θ).
3. Check the range of 2θ.
Since θ∈(4π,2π):
2θ∈(2π,π), …
Method: Simplify Inverse-Trig Compositions by Trigonometric Substitution (Secant/Cosine form)
This method applies when the argument inside an inverse-secant function is built from x using a double-angle cosine pattern such as 2x2−1.
Steps
Step 1: Recognise the double-angle pattern
The expression 2x2−1 matches 2cos2θ−1=cos2θ. This signals the substitution x=cosθ, restricting θ to [0,π] (the principal domain of cos−1).
Step 2: Substitute and simplify the argument
2x2−11=cos2θ1=sec2θ
so the original expression becomes sec−1(sec2θ).
Step 3: Convert the domain of x into a range for 2θ, and check the principal range …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Leaving the answer as a simplified y instead of computing dxdy
Why it's wrong: the question explicitly asks to find dxdy; reducing y to 2cos−1x is only the setup. Correct approach: always finish with dxdy=dxd(2cos−1x)=−1−x22.
Mistake 2: Confusing the domain of sec−1x with that of cos−1x
Why it's wrong: sec−1x is only defined for ∣x∣≥1, while the substitution variable in x=cosθ ranges over [−1,1] — mixing these up leads to checking the wrong inequality when verifying the argument is a valid input for sec−1. Correct approach: keep track of which quantity you mean at each stage — the original problem's x∈(0,1/2) versus the argument 2x2−11 that must satisfy ∣⋅∣≥1. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 115 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.dxdx2+ax+1=(a) 2x2+ax+1x+a(b) 2x2+ax+12x+a(c) x2+ax+12x+a(d) 2x2+ax+11
›Reveal solutionSolution
dxdx2+ax+1=2x2+ax+12x+a.
Let u=x2+ax+1, so dxdu=2x+a.
Using dxdu=2u1⋅dxdu: …
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.dxd(sinx2)=(a) 2xcosx2(b) cosx2(c) x2cosx2(d) xcosx2
›Reveal solutionSolution
dxdsin(x2)=2xcos(x2).
Let u=x2, so dxdu=2x.
By the chain rule, …
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.dxdcotx=(a) 2cotx1(b) csc2x(c) 2cotx−csc2x(d) 2cotxcsc2x
›Reveal solutionSolution
dxdcotx=2cotx−csc2x.
Let u=cotx, so dxdu=−csc2x.
Using dxdu=2u1⋅dxdu: …
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.dxd(cosx)=(a) sinx(b) 2x−sinx(c) 2xsinx(d) 2x1
›Reveal solutionSolution
dxdcosx=2x−sinx.
Let u=x, so dxdu=2x1.
By the chain rule, …
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.dxd(cosx3)=(a) −3x2sinx3(b) sinx3(c) 3x2sinx3(d) 3x2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Chain rule on cos(x3) gives −3x2sinx3.
Let the inner function be u=x3, so y=cosu.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Write the derivative of log(cosex).(a) −tanex(b) extanex(c) −extanex(d) tanex
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using the chain rule twice, dxdlog(cosex)=−extanex.
Let y=log(cosex). We differentiate using the chain rule, working from the outside in.
Step 1: Differentiate log(u) where u=cosex:
dxdy=cosex1⋅dxd(cosex)
Step 2: Differentiate cos(v) where v=ex: …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If y=cos−1(1+x21−x2), 0<x<1, then dxdy is equal to(a) 1+x21(b) 4+x2(c) 1+x22(d) x+x22
›Reveal solutionSolution
Put x=tanϕ so the expression simplifies to cos−1(cos2ϕ)=2ϕ=2tan−1x, whose derivative is standard.
Let x=tanϕ. Then 1+x21−x2=1+tan2ϕ1−tan2ϕ=cos2ϕ.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.If y=ex+ex2+…+ex5, then find dxdy.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate each term exn using the chain rule: dxdexn=nxn−1exn.
y=ex+ex2+ex3+ex4+ex5
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.dxd(cos3x)=(a) sin3x(b) −3sin3x(c) cos3x(d) −3cos3x
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate cos(3x) using the chain rule: derivative of cosu is −sinu, times dxdu.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.dxdtan−1(x2)=(a) 1+x42x(b) 1+x2x(c) 1+x2x3(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use dxdtan−1u=1+u21⋅dxdu with u=x2.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.dxdesinx=(a) esinx⋅cosx(b) esinx(c) cosx(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate eu with u=sinx: derivative is eu⋅dxdu.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.dxd(logsecx)=(a) tanx(b) cotx(c) cscx(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate log(secx) using dxdlogu=uu′ with u=secx.
…
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