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 115 on this concept.
- CBSE 20191 markQ.If y=cos(3x), then find dxdy.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use the chain rule: differentiate the outer cosine function, then multiply by the derivative of the inner function 3x. The result is dxdy=−2x3sin(3x).
The key idea here is the chain rule. Whenever you have a function of a function — like cos of something that itself depends on x — you differentiate layer by layer. Think of it as peeling an onion: first the outer layer (cosine), then the next layer (the square root), and finally the innermost layer (3x). Each derivative multiplies together.
Let’s walk through it step by step.
- Identify the composition. We have y=cos(u), where u=3x. So y depends on u, and u depends on x. The chain rule says:
dxdy=dudy⋅dxdu.
- Differentiate the outer function. The derivative of cos(u) with respect to u is −sin(u). So:
dudy=−sin(u)=−sin(3x).
- Differentiate the inner function u=3x. Write 3x as (3x)1/2. Using the power rule and chain rule again (or directly):
dxdu=21(3x)−1/2⋅3=23x3.
Simplify: 23x3=2x3, because 33=3. …
- CBSE 2020Set 65/3/11 markQ.Differentiate sin2(x) with respect to x.
›Reveal solutionSolution
We have a composition of three functions: squaring, sine, and square root. The chain rule peels them off one layer at a time, giving dxdsin2(x)=sin(x)cos(x)⋅x1.
The chain rule is our tool for differentiating composite functions. When a function is built by nesting one operation inside another, we differentiate from the outside in, multiplying the derivative of each layer as we go.
Here sin2(x) is really [sin(x)]2, so we have three nested functions:
- Outermost: squaring something
- Middle: taking the sine of something
- Innermost: taking the square root of x
The chain rule says: differentiate the outer function (leaving the inside alone), then multiply by the derivative of what's inside, and repeat until you reach x.
Step-by-step differentiation:
-
Differentiate the outer square.
If u=sin(x), then we're differentiating u2. The power rule gives 2u, so:
dxd[sin(x)]2=2sin(x)⋅dxd[sin(x)]
-
Differentiate the sine layer.
Now we need dxd[sin(x)]. The derivative of sin(v) is cos(v), where v=x:
dxd[sin(x)]=cos(x)⋅dxd[x]
-
Differentiate the innermost square root.
Finally, dxd[x]=dxd[x1/2]=21x−1/2=2x1. …
- CBSE 2024Set 65/1/11 markMCQQ.The derivative of sin(x2) with respect to x at x=π is : (A) 1 (B) −1 (C) −2π (D) 2π
›Reveal solutionSolution
The derivative of sin(x2) is found using the Chain Rule: differentiate the outer sine, then multiply by the derivative of the inner x2. At x=π, the result is −2π, which corresponds to option (C).
The key to this problem is recognizing that sin(x2) is a composite function. You have an outer function, sin(something), and an inner function, x2. When you need the derivative of a composition like this, the Chain Rule is your only reliable tool.
Why does the Chain Rule work? Think of it as peeling an onion: you first differentiate the outer layer (sine) while keeping the inner layer untouched, then multiply by the derivative of the inner layer. This gives the rate of change of the whole expression with respect to x.
Let’s walk through it step by step.
-
Identify the outer and inner functions.
Here, f(u)=sin(u) where u=x2. So f′(u)=cos(u), and u′=2x.
-
Apply the Chain Rule.
The derivative is:
dxdsin(x2)=cos(x2)⋅dxd(x2)=cos(x2)⋅2x.
So dxdsin(x2)=2xcos(x2).
- Evaluate at x=π. Substitute x=π into the derivative:
2(π)cos((π)2)=2πcos(π).
- Simplify cos(π). From the unit circle, cos(π)=−1. So:
-
- 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.
…
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