Q.Differentiate the function 2x+7cos−1(2x), −2<x<2, with respect to x.
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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: …
The key idea is to apply the quotient rule combined with the chain rule for the inverse cosine function.
Let y=2x+7cos−1(2x).
Step 1: Write the denominator as (2x+7)1/2 and apply the quotient rule:
dxdy=2x+72x+7⋅dxd[cos−1(2x)]−cos−1(2x)⋅dxd[(2x+7)1/2].
Step 2: Differentiate each part.
- dxd[cos−1(2x)]=−1−(x/2)21⋅21=−4−x21.
- dxd[(2x+7)1/2]=21(2x+7)−1/2⋅2=2x+71.
Step 3: Substitute back: …
We differentiate a quotient where the numerator is cos−1(x/2) and the denominator is 2x+7. Using the quotient rule and known derivatives, the result is 4−x2−2x+7−(2x+7)3cos−1(x/2).
The problem asks us to differentiate
y=2x+7cos−1(2x),−2<x<2.
The domain restriction −2<x<2 ensures that 2x lies in (−1,1), where cos−1 is defined and differentiable. Also 2x+7>0 here, so the square root is real and nonzero — the denominator never vanishes.
We have a quotient of two functions:
u(x)=cos−1(2x) and v(x)=2x+7.
The quotient rule says:
dxdy=v2u′v−uv′.
So we need u′ and v′.
- Differentiate u=cos−1(2x)
Recall: dxdcos−1t=−1−t21.
Here t=2x, so by the chain rule:
u′=−1−(2x)21⋅dxd(2x)=−1−4x21⋅21.
Simplify the square root:
1−4x2=44−x2=24−x2.
Thus
u′=−24−x21⋅21=−4−x22⋅21=−4−x21.
Notice the neat cancellation: the factor 2 from the denominator of the square root cancels with the 21 from the chain rule. This is a common pattern when differentiating inverse trig functions of linear arguments.
- Differentiate v=2x+7
Write v=(2x+7)1/2. Then
v′=21(2x+7)−1/2⋅2=2x+71.
- Apply the quotient rule
y′=v2u′v−uv′=(2x+7)2(−4−x21)⋅2x+7−cos−1(2x)⋅2x+71.
The denominator simplifies to 2x+7.
So …
Method: The Quotient Rule (with Chain Rule on Numerator/Denominator)
When one function is divided by another, use the quotient rule — differentiating numerator and denominator separately (using the chain rule on each if they're composite) and combining them in the correct pattern.
Steps
Step 1: Identify the numerator u(x) and denominator v(x)
Step 2: Differentiate u and v separately, applying the chain rule to each if needed
Step 3: Combine using the quotient rule
dxd(vu)=v2u′v−uv′.
Step 4: Simplify, watching for cancellation between the powers of v …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Forgetting the 21 chain-rule factor when differentiating cos−12x.
Why it's wrong: the argument is 2x, not x directly, so the standard dxdcos−1x=−1−x21 needs an extra factor of 21 (the derivative of 2x) — though it happens to cancel neatly here with a factor of 2 from simplifying the square root, skipping it entirely is still a conceptual gap. Correct approach: write the chain-rule factor explicitly even when it looks like it will cancel.
Mistake 2: Mixing up the order of terms in the quotient rule (writing uv′−u′v instead of u′v−uv′). …
Showing the 12 most recent of 13 on this concept.
- 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 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-2025-04234 marksMCQQ.Let h(x)=f(g(x)). If f′(3)=6, g′(3)=3 and g(3)=9, then the value of h′(3) is equal to (A) 1 (B) 3 (C) 6 (D) 9 (E) 18
›Reveal solutionSolution
By the chain rule h'(3) = f'(3)g'(3)/(2sqrt(g(3))) = 6*3/6 = 3.
Concept and Intuition
h(x) = f(sqrt(g(x))) is a triple composition; differentiate outer-to-inner, picking up the derivative of the square root and of g.
Step-by-Step Solution
- h'(x) = f'(sqrt(g(x))) * d/dx[sqrt(g(x))] = f'(sqrt(g)) * g'(x)/(2*sqrt(g(x))).
- At x = 3: g(3) = 9 so sqrt(g) = 3, f'(3) = 6, g'(3) = 3. …
- 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-2025-04264 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 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 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-2025-04284 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 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 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 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 …
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