Q.Find dxdy in the following: exsin5x
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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.
We have y=exsin5x. This is a product, so first use the Product Rule:
dxdy=ex⋅dxd(sin5x)+sin5x⋅dxd(ex)
Now apply the Chain Rule to sin5x: derivative is cos5x⋅5=5cos5x.
The derivative of ex is ex.
So: …
We differentiate exsin5x using the Product Rule combined with the Chain Rule. The derivative is exsin5x+5excos5x, which can be factored as ex(sin5x+5cos5x).
The function exsin5x is a product of two distinct functions: ex and sin5x. When you have a product, the Product Rule is your first instinct. But notice that sin5x itself is not a simple sine — it’s a composition: sin(5x). That means the Chain Rule will be needed inside the product.
So the core idea: Product Rule first, then Chain Rule on the second factor.
Let’s walk through it.
-
Identify the two factors.
Let u=ex and v=sin5x. Then y=u⋅v.
-
Differentiate u.
The derivative of ex is simply ex itself:
dxdu=ex.
-
Differentiate v=sin5x using the Chain Rule.
The outer function is sin(⋅), whose derivative is cos(⋅). The inner function is 5x, whose derivative is 5.
So:
dxdv=cos(5x)⋅5=5cos5x.
TipA quick check: derivative of sin(kx) is always kcos(kx). This pattern saves time.
-
Apply the Product Rule.
The Product Rule says: dxdy=udxdv+vdxdu.
Substitute:
dxdy=ex⋅(5cos5x)+sin5x⋅ex. …
Method: The Product Rule (with Chain Rule on Each Factor)
When two functions of x are multiplied together, neither the sum rule nor differentiating each factor separately and multiplying works — the product rule is required.
Steps
Step 1: Identify the two factors u(x) and v(x) being multiplied
Step 2: Differentiate each factor separately
If either factor is itself composite, apply the chain rule to it individually at this stage.
Step 3: Combine using the product rule
dxd(uv)=udxdv+vdxdu. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Forgetting the chain-rule factor of 5 when differentiating sin5x.
Why it's wrong: dxdsin5x=5cos5x, not cos5x — because 5x is the inner function, whose own derivative (5) must be multiplied in. Correct approach: whenever a trig function's argument is not simply x, differentiate the argument as an explicit chain-rule step.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to factor out ex from both terms in the final answer. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 13 on this concept.
- 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-2025-04284 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 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 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 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 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 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 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-2024-06084 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. …
- 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 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-2025-04264 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 …
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