Q.Differentiate the function cos(logx+ex) with respect to x, where x>0.
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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.
Step 1: Let u=logx+ex. Then the function is cosu.
Step 2:
dxdcosu=−sinu⋅dxdu.
Step 3:
dxdu=x1+ex.
Step 4: Substitute back u=logx+ex: …
We differentiate cos(logx+ex) using the Chain Rule: the derivative of cos(u) is −sin(u), multiplied by the derivative of the inner function u=logx+ex, which is x1+ex. The final result is −sin(logx+ex)(x1+ex).
The key idea here is the Chain Rule. When you have a function of a function — like cos of something that itself depends on x — you differentiate the outer function first, then multiply by the derivative of the inner function. Think of it as peeling an onion: the outermost layer is cos, then inside is (logx+ex).
Let’s walk through it step by step.
-
Identify the outer and inner functions.
The given function is cos(logx+ex).
- Outer function: cos(u), where u is a placeholder.
- Inner function: u=logx+ex.
-
Differentiate the outer function with respect to its argument.
The derivative of cos(u) with respect to u is −sin(u).
So, dud[cos(u)]=−sin(u).
-
Differentiate the inner function with respect to x.
u=logx+ex.
- Derivative of logx is x1 (since x>0, this is well-defined).
- Derivative of ex is ex. Hence, dxdu=x1+ex.
-
Apply the Chain Rule.
The Chain Rule says:
dxd[cos(u)]=dud[cos(u)]⋅dxdu
Substitute what we have: …
Method: Differentiating a Composite Function by the Chain Rule
This method applies whenever the function you're asked to differentiate is one function "wrapped around" another — here, cosine wrapped around a sum of logx and ex.
Steps
Step 1: Identify the outer function and the inner function.
Write the given expression as f(u) where u is everything inside the outer function. For cos(logx+ex), the outer function is f(u)=cosu and the inner function is u=logx+ex.
Step 2: Differentiate the outer function with respect to u, keeping u unevaluated.
dudcosu=−sinu
Do not substitute the inner expression yet — this step only produces the "shape" of the outer derivative.
Step 3: Differentiate the inner function with respect to x.
Differentiate each piece of u separately using standard rules — the derivative of logx is x1, and the derivative of ex is ex: …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Dropping the negative sign from the derivative of cosine.
Why it's wrong: dudcosu=−sinu, not sinu — the minus sign is part of the rule, not optional. Correct approach: always write −sinu the moment you differentiate a cosine, before multiplying by anything else.
Mistake 2: Differentiating only part of the inner function. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 13 on this concept.
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04264 marksMCQQ.For x∈R, let f(x)=log3−sinx and g(x)=f(f(x)). Then g′(0)= (A) sin(log3) (B) −sin(log3) (C) −cos(log3) (D) 2cos(log3) (E) cos(log3)
›Reveal solutionSolution
With f(x)=log3−sinx, f′(x)=−cosx; by the chain rule g′(0)=f′(f(0))f′(0)=(−cos(log3))(−cos0)=cos(log3).
Here f(x)=log3−sinx so f′(x)=−cosx. Then f(0)=log3−sin0=log3 and f′(0)=−cos0=−1. …
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06074 marksMCQQ.If y=loge(1−3x21+2x2), then dxdy= (A) 1−x2−6x410x (B) 1−x2−6x412x3 (C) 1−6x410x (D) 1−x2−6x4−10x (E) 1−x2−6x4−12x3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Split the log, differentiate each term, combine over the common denominator.
y=log(1+2x2)−log(1−3x2).
Differentiating:
dxdy=1+2x24x−1−3x2−6x=1+2x24x+1−3x26x.
Common denominator (1+2x2)(1−3x2)=1−x2−6x4; numerator: …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQQ.If y=sin(tan−1(x2−11)), x>1, then dxdy= (A) x21 (B) x41 (C) x2−1 (D) x4−1 (E) x31
›Reveal solutionSolution
Simplify the inverse trig: the angle whose tangent is x2−11 has sin=x1, so y=x1 and its derivative is −x21.
Let θ=tan−1(x2−11), so tanθ=x2−11 with opposite =1 and adjacent =x2−1. The hypotenuse is 1+(x2−1)=x2=x (since x>1) …
- KEAM 2022Set eng-2022-P2-B14 marksMCQQ.If y=e3log(2x+1), then dxdy= (A) 6e3log(2x+1) (B) 62x+1e3log(2x+1) (C) 2x+1e3log(2x+1) (D) 3(2x+1)e3log(2x+1) (E) (2x+1)e3log(2x+1)
›Reveal solutionSolution
dxdy=2x+16e3log(2x+1).
Concept and Intuition
Differentiate the exponential by the chain rule: dxdeu=euu′, with u=3log(2x+1).
Step-by-Step Solution
- u=3log(2x+1), so u′=3⋅2x+12=2x+16.
- dxdy=e3log(2x+1)⋅u′=e3log(2x+1)⋅2x+16.
- Hence dxdy=2x+16e3log(2x+1).
Common Mistakes …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQQ.If s=t+1, x=logs and y=6x+3, then dtdy= (A) t+12 (B) t+16 (C) 3t+1 (D) t+13 (E) t+13
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substituting back, y=6logt+1+3=3log(t+1)+3, whose t-derivative is t+13.
With s=t+1 and x=logs, we have x=logt+1=21log(t+1). Then
y=6x+3=6⋅21log(t+1)+3=3log(t+1)+3. …
- KEAM 2021Set eng-2021-P2-B14 marksMCQQ.If f(x)=(x3+sinπx)5, then f′(1) is equal to (A) 25 (B) 5(24) (C) 15 (D) 5(3+π) (E) 5(3−π)
›Reveal solutionSolution
f′(1)=5(3−π).
Concept and Intuition
Differentiate the outer fifth power via the chain rule and multiply by the derivative of the inner expression, then evaluate at x=1.
Step-by-Step Solution
- f′(x)=5(x3+sinπx)4⋅(3x2+πcosπx).
- At x=1: inner base =1+sinπ=1, so 14=1.
- Inner derivative =3(1)+πcosπ=3−π. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04234 marksMCQQ.If y=tan−1(x2−x), then dxdy= (A) 1+(x2−x)22x (B) 1+(x2−x)22x−1 (C) 1−(x2−x)22x−1 (D) 1+(x2−x)2−2x+1 (E) (2x−1)(1+(x2−x)2)
›Reveal solutionSolution
d/dx tan^{-1}(u) = u'/(1+u^2) with u=x^2-x gives (2x-1)/(1+(x^2-x)^2).
Concept and Intuition
The derivative of arctan(u) is u'/(1+u^2). Here u = x^2 - x so u' = 2x - 1.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u = x^2 - x, so u' = 2x - 1.
- dy/dx = u'/(1+u^2) = (2x-1)/(1+(x^2-x)^2).
Common Mistakes …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04284 marksMCQQ.If x3=sinθ, y3=cosθ, then xdxdy is (A) y5y5−1 (B) y5y6−1 (C) y6y6−1 (D) y3y3−1 (E) y2y2−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate both parametric relations with respect to θ, form dxdy, and substitute x6=1−y6.
Concept. Here x and y are both given as functions of a parameter θ. For parametric curves, dxdy=dx/dθdy/dθ.
Step 1 — differentiate w.r.t. θ.
x3=sinθ ⇒ 3x2dθdx=cosθ,y3=cosθ ⇒ 3y2dθdy=−sinθ.
Step 2 — form dxdy.
dxdy=dx/dθdy/dθ=cosθ/(3x2)−sinθ/(3y2)=−y2cosθx2sinθ.
Since sinθ=x3 and cosθ=y3, …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04204 marksMCQQ.If x=secθ−cosθ, y=sec10θ−cos10θ, then (dxdy)2 is equal to (A) 100(x2+4y2+4) (B) 100(x4+4y4−4) (C) 100(x2−4y2+4) (D) 100(x4+4y4+2) (E) 100(x4+2y4+4)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key identities x2+4=(secθ+cosθ)2 and y2+4=(sec10θ+cos10θ)2 turn (dy/dx)2 into a clean ratio.
Since x=secθ−cosθ, x2+4=sec2θ+cos2θ+2=(secθ+cosθ)2.
Since y=sec10θ−cos10θ, y2+4=sec20θ+cos20θ+2=(sec10θ+cos10θ)2. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04284 marksMCQQ.If y=sinxsin2x, and t=cosx, then dtdy is (A) 2(3t2−1) (B) 1−3t2 (C) 21(1−3t2) (D) (3t2−1) (E) 2(1−3t2)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Express y in t=cosx: y=2t−2t3, then dtdy=2−6t2=2(1−3t2).
With t=cosx and using sin2x=2sinxcosx:
y=sinxsin2x=sinx(2sinxcosx)=2sin2xcosx.
Since sin2x=1−cos2x=1−t2 and cosx=t, …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04264 marksMCQQ.If u=sec−1(−sec2θ) and v=cosθ, then dvdu at θ=4π, is equal to (A) 2 (B) 22 (C) 21 (D) 221 (E) −2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Simplify u=π−2θ, differentiate both u and v in θ, divide.
Using sec−1(−x)=π−sec−1(x) and sec−1(sec2θ)=2θ (for 2θ in the principal range),
u=sec−1(−sec2θ)=π−2θ⇒dθdu=−2.
With v=cosθ, dθdv=−sinθ. Hence …
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06084 marksMCQQ.The derivative of t2+t with respect to t−1 at t=−2, is equal to (A) −4 (B) 2 (C) −1 (D) −3 (E) −21
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate parametrically: divide dtd(t2+t) by dtd(t−1), then substitute t=−2.
Let u=t2+t and w=t−1. The derivative of u with respect to w is
dwdu=dw/dtdu/dt. …
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