What is the purpose or proof behind chain rule?Chain Rule applied to Trig Functionschain rule with manual...

Book about superhumans hiding among normal humans

Recruiter wants very extensive technical details about all of my previous work

I am confused as to how the inverse of a certain function is found.

How to deal with taxi scam when on vacation?

What is the purpose or proof behind chain rule?

Tikz picture of two mathematical functions

Are Roman Catholic priests ever addressed as pastor

How to terminate ping <dest> &

What options are left, if Britain cannot decide?

How do you talk to someone whose loved one is dying?

Why Choose Less Effective Armour Types?

I got the following comment from a reputed math journal. What does it mean?

Professor being mistaken for a grad student

Shortcut for setting origin to vertex

Aluminum electrolytic or ceramic capacitors for linear regulator input and output?

What is the Japanese sound word for the clinking of money?

What is the significance behind "40 days" that often appears in the Bible?

Simplify an interface for flexibly applying rules to periods of time

Why one should not leave fingerprints on bulbs and plugs?

How are passwords stolen from companies if they only store hashes?

Why did it take so long to abandon sail after steamships were demonstrated?

Knife as defense against stray dogs

Describing a chess game in a novel

Why do passenger jet manufacturers design their planes with stall prevention systems?



What is the purpose or proof behind chain rule?


Chain Rule applied to Trig Functionschain rule with manual substitutionchain rule or product ruleHelp understand chain rule derivativeThe chain rule problem with second compositeWhy is the chain rule applied to derivatives of trigonometric functions?Proof involving multivariable chain ruleChain rule to differentiate $sin ^2frac{x}{2}$Partial Derivative and Chain RuleDifferentiate without using chain rule in 5 steps













2












$begingroup$


For example, take a function $sin x$. The derivative of this function is $cos x$.



The chain rule states that $frac{d}{dx} (f(g(x)))$ is $frac{d}{dx} g(x) frac{d}{dx} (f(g(x)))$. Again going back to the example above, now instead of $sin x$ lets take $sin 2x$.



Differentiating it without chain rule, we get $cos 2x$. However, using chain rule, we get $2cos 2x$.



So now the problem is that I don't see the purpose behind the chain rule. Why should $sin 2x$ be $2cos 2x$?



Is there any proof behind this chain rule? I really need to know as I getting many questions wromg without using the chain rule.










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    " Why should $sin 2x;$ be $;2cos 2x$?" No, it isn't: its derivative is. Why? Because that's what we get from theorems or from the definition of derivative as limit. That's all. And yes: of course there is proof of the chain rule: any decent calculus book includes it.
    $endgroup$
    – DonAntonio
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    In your post, when you are 'differentiating without chain rule', you are differentiating $sin 2x$ with respect to $2x$, rather than with respect to $x$.
    $endgroup$
    – Minus One-Twelfth
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    @DonAntonio what i meant was derivative. I was just writing that in short. U shoukd be able to understand that as this whole post is about derivative
    $endgroup$
    – rash
    1 hour ago










  • $begingroup$
    @MinusOne-Twelfth whether i am taking with respect to 2x or x, the derivative value isnt the same and thats my confusion. For example derivative of $sin 2x$ where $piover 2$. Differentiating with respect to 2x is -1 & with respect to x is -2. Why?
    $endgroup$
    – rash
    57 mins ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @littleO I didnt say it was correct. It is just my confusion of why should it not be like that and should be $2cos x$
    $endgroup$
    – rash
    56 mins ago


















2












$begingroup$


For example, take a function $sin x$. The derivative of this function is $cos x$.



The chain rule states that $frac{d}{dx} (f(g(x)))$ is $frac{d}{dx} g(x) frac{d}{dx} (f(g(x)))$. Again going back to the example above, now instead of $sin x$ lets take $sin 2x$.



Differentiating it without chain rule, we get $cos 2x$. However, using chain rule, we get $2cos 2x$.



So now the problem is that I don't see the purpose behind the chain rule. Why should $sin 2x$ be $2cos 2x$?



Is there any proof behind this chain rule? I really need to know as I getting many questions wromg without using the chain rule.










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    " Why should $sin 2x;$ be $;2cos 2x$?" No, it isn't: its derivative is. Why? Because that's what we get from theorems or from the definition of derivative as limit. That's all. And yes: of course there is proof of the chain rule: any decent calculus book includes it.
    $endgroup$
    – DonAntonio
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    In your post, when you are 'differentiating without chain rule', you are differentiating $sin 2x$ with respect to $2x$, rather than with respect to $x$.
    $endgroup$
    – Minus One-Twelfth
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    @DonAntonio what i meant was derivative. I was just writing that in short. U shoukd be able to understand that as this whole post is about derivative
    $endgroup$
    – rash
    1 hour ago










  • $begingroup$
    @MinusOne-Twelfth whether i am taking with respect to 2x or x, the derivative value isnt the same and thats my confusion. For example derivative of $sin 2x$ where $piover 2$. Differentiating with respect to 2x is -1 & with respect to x is -2. Why?
    $endgroup$
    – rash
    57 mins ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @littleO I didnt say it was correct. It is just my confusion of why should it not be like that and should be $2cos x$
    $endgroup$
    – rash
    56 mins ago
















2












2








2


1



$begingroup$


For example, take a function $sin x$. The derivative of this function is $cos x$.



The chain rule states that $frac{d}{dx} (f(g(x)))$ is $frac{d}{dx} g(x) frac{d}{dx} (f(g(x)))$. Again going back to the example above, now instead of $sin x$ lets take $sin 2x$.



Differentiating it without chain rule, we get $cos 2x$. However, using chain rule, we get $2cos 2x$.



So now the problem is that I don't see the purpose behind the chain rule. Why should $sin 2x$ be $2cos 2x$?



Is there any proof behind this chain rule? I really need to know as I getting many questions wromg without using the chain rule.










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$




For example, take a function $sin x$. The derivative of this function is $cos x$.



The chain rule states that $frac{d}{dx} (f(g(x)))$ is $frac{d}{dx} g(x) frac{d}{dx} (f(g(x)))$. Again going back to the example above, now instead of $sin x$ lets take $sin 2x$.



Differentiating it without chain rule, we get $cos 2x$. However, using chain rule, we get $2cos 2x$.



So now the problem is that I don't see the purpose behind the chain rule. Why should $sin 2x$ be $2cos 2x$?



Is there any proof behind this chain rule? I really need to know as I getting many questions wromg without using the chain rule.







calculus derivatives soft-question






share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question











share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question










asked 1 hour ago









rashrash

49214




49214








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    " Why should $sin 2x;$ be $;2cos 2x$?" No, it isn't: its derivative is. Why? Because that's what we get from theorems or from the definition of derivative as limit. That's all. And yes: of course there is proof of the chain rule: any decent calculus book includes it.
    $endgroup$
    – DonAntonio
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    In your post, when you are 'differentiating without chain rule', you are differentiating $sin 2x$ with respect to $2x$, rather than with respect to $x$.
    $endgroup$
    – Minus One-Twelfth
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    @DonAntonio what i meant was derivative. I was just writing that in short. U shoukd be able to understand that as this whole post is about derivative
    $endgroup$
    – rash
    1 hour ago










  • $begingroup$
    @MinusOne-Twelfth whether i am taking with respect to 2x or x, the derivative value isnt the same and thats my confusion. For example derivative of $sin 2x$ where $piover 2$. Differentiating with respect to 2x is -1 & with respect to x is -2. Why?
    $endgroup$
    – rash
    57 mins ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @littleO I didnt say it was correct. It is just my confusion of why should it not be like that and should be $2cos x$
    $endgroup$
    – rash
    56 mins ago
















  • 1




    $begingroup$
    " Why should $sin 2x;$ be $;2cos 2x$?" No, it isn't: its derivative is. Why? Because that's what we get from theorems or from the definition of derivative as limit. That's all. And yes: of course there is proof of the chain rule: any decent calculus book includes it.
    $endgroup$
    – DonAntonio
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    In your post, when you are 'differentiating without chain rule', you are differentiating $sin 2x$ with respect to $2x$, rather than with respect to $x$.
    $endgroup$
    – Minus One-Twelfth
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    @DonAntonio what i meant was derivative. I was just writing that in short. U shoukd be able to understand that as this whole post is about derivative
    $endgroup$
    – rash
    1 hour ago










  • $begingroup$
    @MinusOne-Twelfth whether i am taking with respect to 2x or x, the derivative value isnt the same and thats my confusion. For example derivative of $sin 2x$ where $piover 2$. Differentiating with respect to 2x is -1 & with respect to x is -2. Why?
    $endgroup$
    – rash
    57 mins ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @littleO I didnt say it was correct. It is just my confusion of why should it not be like that and should be $2cos x$
    $endgroup$
    – rash
    56 mins ago










1




1




$begingroup$
" Why should $sin 2x;$ be $;2cos 2x$?" No, it isn't: its derivative is. Why? Because that's what we get from theorems or from the definition of derivative as limit. That's all. And yes: of course there is proof of the chain rule: any decent calculus book includes it.
$endgroup$
– DonAntonio
1 hour ago






$begingroup$
" Why should $sin 2x;$ be $;2cos 2x$?" No, it isn't: its derivative is. Why? Because that's what we get from theorems or from the definition of derivative as limit. That's all. And yes: of course there is proof of the chain rule: any decent calculus book includes it.
$endgroup$
– DonAntonio
1 hour ago














$begingroup$
In your post, when you are 'differentiating without chain rule', you are differentiating $sin 2x$ with respect to $2x$, rather than with respect to $x$.
$endgroup$
– Minus One-Twelfth
1 hour ago






$begingroup$
In your post, when you are 'differentiating without chain rule', you are differentiating $sin 2x$ with respect to $2x$, rather than with respect to $x$.
$endgroup$
– Minus One-Twelfth
1 hour ago














$begingroup$
@DonAntonio what i meant was derivative. I was just writing that in short. U shoukd be able to understand that as this whole post is about derivative
$endgroup$
– rash
1 hour ago




$begingroup$
@DonAntonio what i meant was derivative. I was just writing that in short. U shoukd be able to understand that as this whole post is about derivative
$endgroup$
– rash
1 hour ago












$begingroup$
@MinusOne-Twelfth whether i am taking with respect to 2x or x, the derivative value isnt the same and thats my confusion. For example derivative of $sin 2x$ where $piover 2$. Differentiating with respect to 2x is -1 & with respect to x is -2. Why?
$endgroup$
– rash
57 mins ago






$begingroup$
@MinusOne-Twelfth whether i am taking with respect to 2x or x, the derivative value isnt the same and thats my confusion. For example derivative of $sin 2x$ where $piover 2$. Differentiating with respect to 2x is -1 & with respect to x is -2. Why?
$endgroup$
– rash
57 mins ago






1




1




$begingroup$
@littleO I didnt say it was correct. It is just my confusion of why should it not be like that and should be $2cos x$
$endgroup$
– rash
56 mins ago






$begingroup$
@littleO I didnt say it was correct. It is just my confusion of why should it not be like that and should be $2cos x$
$endgroup$
– rash
56 mins ago












4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















2












$begingroup$

This is a good question in my opinion. WHY is the chain rule right?
My quick answer is that you are using the chain rule already without knowing it in the product rule, power rule, ect:
$$
frac{d}{dx}x^n = nx^{n-1}cdot frac{d}{dx}x = nx^{n-1}
$$

So when you differentiate $sin x$ you are actually doing $cos x cdot x' = cos x$.
For a more detailed answer, lets look at the definition of the derivative.



$$
F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{F(x)-F(y)}{x-y}
$$

so let $F(x) = f(g(x))$ and what do we get?
$$
F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{f(g(x)) - f(g(y))}{x-y}
$$

which we can't evaluate. Let us assume that $g(x) ne g(y)$ when $x$ is 'close' to $y$, then we can multiply the whole thing by 1 to get the product of two derivatives:
$$
F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{f(g(x)) - f(g(y))}{g(x)-g(y)}cdot lim_{yrightarrow x} frac{g(x)-g(y)}{x-y} = f'(g(x))g'(x)
$$

where if we want to be picky we can consider $g(x)=g(y)$ too.



(What follows is quite informal) The chain rule actually says something fundamental about composition. We can think of the function $g(x)$ as 'stretching' or 'shrinking' the domain of $f$. When we differentiate we are differentiating with respect to $f$ under an 'unstretched' domain and must correct for our error by multiplying by the derivative of $g$ which is a measure of how severely the domain was stretched. This is why the power rule ect. do not seem to use the chain rule, the domain is unstretched, so our derivative doesn't need to be corrected at all!



For your example of $sin 2x$ lets think about what is going on, we are essentially squeezing $sin x$ in the $x$ direction. But this will make the slope of the sine function increase in a predictable way, in fact the slope at every point of this squeezed graph is twice as big as the original sine graph, exactly as predicted by the chain rule!



For more complicated $g(x)$ the chain rule measures the rate at which the domain is changing from $x$ at every point to make the derivative correct.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$





















    1












    $begingroup$

    Visually, the derivative is the slope of the tangent line, and the derivative allows us to take a nonlinear function $f$ and approximate it locally with a linear function (that is, a function whose graph is a straight line). In other words, if we know the value of $f(x)$, we can approximate the value of $f$ at a nearby point $x + Delta x$ as follows:
    $$
    tag{1} f(x + Delta x) approx f(x) + f'(x) Delta x.
    $$



    Now suppose that $f(x) = g(h(x))$. Then we can approximate $f(x + Delta x)$ by using the above approximation twice, first with $h$ and then with $g$, as follows:
    begin{align}
    f(x + Delta x) &= g(h(x + Delta x)) \
    &approx g(h(x) + h'(x) Delta x) \
    &approx g(h(x)) + g'(h(x)) h'(x) Delta x.
    end{align}

    Comparing this result with equation (1), we see that
    $$
    f'(x) = g'(h(x)) h'(x).
    $$



    This is not yet a rigorous proof, but it shows how easy it is to discover the chain rule, and this derivation can be made into a rigorous proof without too much additional effort.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$





















      1












      $begingroup$

      When you said that the differentiation of $sin2x$ is $cos2x$, you didn't actually differentiate $sin 2x$ with respect to $x$, you differentiated it with respect to $2x$. Because the differentiation rule is that
      $$ frac{d}{dx}sin x = cos x$$



      so, only by replacing ALL $x$ in the formula above can you follow the same rule without breaking it, which is
      $$ frac{d}{d(2x)}sin 2x = cos 2x$$



      However, the question isn't asking you to find $frac{d}{d(2x)} sin 2x$, it is asking you to find $frac{d}{dx} sin 2x$. See the difference here?



      Since you differentiated the outer function,$f$, with respect to $2x$, you differentiated it with respect to the inner function because $g(x)=2x$.
      So you actually got $frac{df}{dg}=cos 2x$.
      To get from $frac{df}{dg}$ to $frac{df}{dx}$, you just need to multiply by $frac{dg}{dx}$ because:
      $$frac{df}{dg}timesfrac{dg}{dx} = frac{df}{dx} $$
      after cancelling out the $dg$.
      In this problem, $frac{dg}{dx} = frac{d}{dx}2x = 2$.
      That is why you have to mulitply a $2$ to your $cos 2x$.






      share|cite|improve this answer










      New contributor




      Carina Chen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        Great explanation, but I have to mention that "derive" does not mean "differentiate". The words are not interchangable.
        $endgroup$
        – dbx
        34 mins ago










      • $begingroup$
        @dbx thanks for the catch! I've updated it.
        $endgroup$
        – Carina Chen
        32 mins ago



















      0












      $begingroup$

      Let $f(x)=sin2x$. Then
      $$frac d{dx}sin2x=f'(x)=lim_{hto0}frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2(x+h)-sin2x}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin(2x+2h)-sin2x}h$$$$=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2xcos2h+cos2xsin2h-sin2x}h=left(lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}hright)sin2x+left(lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}hright)cos2x.$$
      Since
      $$lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}h=lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}{2h}cdotfrac{2h}h=0cdot2=0$$
      while
      $$lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}{2h}cdotfrac{2h}h=1cdot2=2,$$
      this simplifies to
      $$frac d{dx}sin2x=0cdotsin2x+2cdotcos2x=boxed{2cos2x}.$$
      Note that, if we let $g(x)=2x$, then
      $$frac{2h}h=frac{g(x+h)-g(x)}h.$$






      share|cite









      $endgroup$













        Your Answer





        StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
        return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
        StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
        StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
        });
        });
        }, "mathjax-editing");

        StackExchange.ready(function() {
        var channelOptions = {
        tags: "".split(" "),
        id: "69"
        };
        initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

        StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
        // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
        if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
        StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
        createEditor();
        });
        }
        else {
        createEditor();
        }
        });

        function createEditor() {
        StackExchange.prepareEditor({
        heartbeatType: 'answer',
        autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
        convertImagesToLinks: true,
        noModals: true,
        showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
        reputationToPostImages: 10,
        bindNavPrevention: true,
        postfix: "",
        imageUploader: {
        brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
        contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
        allowUrls: true
        },
        noCode: true, onDemand: true,
        discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
        ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
        });


        }
        });














        draft saved

        draft discarded


















        StackExchange.ready(
        function () {
        StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3151008%2fwhat-is-the-purpose-or-proof-behind-chain-rule%23new-answer', 'question_page');
        }
        );

        Post as a guest















        Required, but never shown

























        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes








        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        2












        $begingroup$

        This is a good question in my opinion. WHY is the chain rule right?
        My quick answer is that you are using the chain rule already without knowing it in the product rule, power rule, ect:
        $$
        frac{d}{dx}x^n = nx^{n-1}cdot frac{d}{dx}x = nx^{n-1}
        $$

        So when you differentiate $sin x$ you are actually doing $cos x cdot x' = cos x$.
        For a more detailed answer, lets look at the definition of the derivative.



        $$
        F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{F(x)-F(y)}{x-y}
        $$

        so let $F(x) = f(g(x))$ and what do we get?
        $$
        F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{f(g(x)) - f(g(y))}{x-y}
        $$

        which we can't evaluate. Let us assume that $g(x) ne g(y)$ when $x$ is 'close' to $y$, then we can multiply the whole thing by 1 to get the product of two derivatives:
        $$
        F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{f(g(x)) - f(g(y))}{g(x)-g(y)}cdot lim_{yrightarrow x} frac{g(x)-g(y)}{x-y} = f'(g(x))g'(x)
        $$

        where if we want to be picky we can consider $g(x)=g(y)$ too.



        (What follows is quite informal) The chain rule actually says something fundamental about composition. We can think of the function $g(x)$ as 'stretching' or 'shrinking' the domain of $f$. When we differentiate we are differentiating with respect to $f$ under an 'unstretched' domain and must correct for our error by multiplying by the derivative of $g$ which is a measure of how severely the domain was stretched. This is why the power rule ect. do not seem to use the chain rule, the domain is unstretched, so our derivative doesn't need to be corrected at all!



        For your example of $sin 2x$ lets think about what is going on, we are essentially squeezing $sin x$ in the $x$ direction. But this will make the slope of the sine function increase in a predictable way, in fact the slope at every point of this squeezed graph is twice as big as the original sine graph, exactly as predicted by the chain rule!



        For more complicated $g(x)$ the chain rule measures the rate at which the domain is changing from $x$ at every point to make the derivative correct.






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$


















          2












          $begingroup$

          This is a good question in my opinion. WHY is the chain rule right?
          My quick answer is that you are using the chain rule already without knowing it in the product rule, power rule, ect:
          $$
          frac{d}{dx}x^n = nx^{n-1}cdot frac{d}{dx}x = nx^{n-1}
          $$

          So when you differentiate $sin x$ you are actually doing $cos x cdot x' = cos x$.
          For a more detailed answer, lets look at the definition of the derivative.



          $$
          F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{F(x)-F(y)}{x-y}
          $$

          so let $F(x) = f(g(x))$ and what do we get?
          $$
          F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{f(g(x)) - f(g(y))}{x-y}
          $$

          which we can't evaluate. Let us assume that $g(x) ne g(y)$ when $x$ is 'close' to $y$, then we can multiply the whole thing by 1 to get the product of two derivatives:
          $$
          F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{f(g(x)) - f(g(y))}{g(x)-g(y)}cdot lim_{yrightarrow x} frac{g(x)-g(y)}{x-y} = f'(g(x))g'(x)
          $$

          where if we want to be picky we can consider $g(x)=g(y)$ too.



          (What follows is quite informal) The chain rule actually says something fundamental about composition. We can think of the function $g(x)$ as 'stretching' or 'shrinking' the domain of $f$. When we differentiate we are differentiating with respect to $f$ under an 'unstretched' domain and must correct for our error by multiplying by the derivative of $g$ which is a measure of how severely the domain was stretched. This is why the power rule ect. do not seem to use the chain rule, the domain is unstretched, so our derivative doesn't need to be corrected at all!



          For your example of $sin 2x$ lets think about what is going on, we are essentially squeezing $sin x$ in the $x$ direction. But this will make the slope of the sine function increase in a predictable way, in fact the slope at every point of this squeezed graph is twice as big as the original sine graph, exactly as predicted by the chain rule!



          For more complicated $g(x)$ the chain rule measures the rate at which the domain is changing from $x$ at every point to make the derivative correct.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$
















            2












            2








            2





            $begingroup$

            This is a good question in my opinion. WHY is the chain rule right?
            My quick answer is that you are using the chain rule already without knowing it in the product rule, power rule, ect:
            $$
            frac{d}{dx}x^n = nx^{n-1}cdot frac{d}{dx}x = nx^{n-1}
            $$

            So when you differentiate $sin x$ you are actually doing $cos x cdot x' = cos x$.
            For a more detailed answer, lets look at the definition of the derivative.



            $$
            F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{F(x)-F(y)}{x-y}
            $$

            so let $F(x) = f(g(x))$ and what do we get?
            $$
            F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{f(g(x)) - f(g(y))}{x-y}
            $$

            which we can't evaluate. Let us assume that $g(x) ne g(y)$ when $x$ is 'close' to $y$, then we can multiply the whole thing by 1 to get the product of two derivatives:
            $$
            F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{f(g(x)) - f(g(y))}{g(x)-g(y)}cdot lim_{yrightarrow x} frac{g(x)-g(y)}{x-y} = f'(g(x))g'(x)
            $$

            where if we want to be picky we can consider $g(x)=g(y)$ too.



            (What follows is quite informal) The chain rule actually says something fundamental about composition. We can think of the function $g(x)$ as 'stretching' or 'shrinking' the domain of $f$. When we differentiate we are differentiating with respect to $f$ under an 'unstretched' domain and must correct for our error by multiplying by the derivative of $g$ which is a measure of how severely the domain was stretched. This is why the power rule ect. do not seem to use the chain rule, the domain is unstretched, so our derivative doesn't need to be corrected at all!



            For your example of $sin 2x$ lets think about what is going on, we are essentially squeezing $sin x$ in the $x$ direction. But this will make the slope of the sine function increase in a predictable way, in fact the slope at every point of this squeezed graph is twice as big as the original sine graph, exactly as predicted by the chain rule!



            For more complicated $g(x)$ the chain rule measures the rate at which the domain is changing from $x$ at every point to make the derivative correct.






            share|cite|improve this answer











            $endgroup$



            This is a good question in my opinion. WHY is the chain rule right?
            My quick answer is that you are using the chain rule already without knowing it in the product rule, power rule, ect:
            $$
            frac{d}{dx}x^n = nx^{n-1}cdot frac{d}{dx}x = nx^{n-1}
            $$

            So when you differentiate $sin x$ you are actually doing $cos x cdot x' = cos x$.
            For a more detailed answer, lets look at the definition of the derivative.



            $$
            F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{F(x)-F(y)}{x-y}
            $$

            so let $F(x) = f(g(x))$ and what do we get?
            $$
            F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{f(g(x)) - f(g(y))}{x-y}
            $$

            which we can't evaluate. Let us assume that $g(x) ne g(y)$ when $x$ is 'close' to $y$, then we can multiply the whole thing by 1 to get the product of two derivatives:
            $$
            F'(x) = lim_{yrightarrow x}frac{f(g(x)) - f(g(y))}{g(x)-g(y)}cdot lim_{yrightarrow x} frac{g(x)-g(y)}{x-y} = f'(g(x))g'(x)
            $$

            where if we want to be picky we can consider $g(x)=g(y)$ too.



            (What follows is quite informal) The chain rule actually says something fundamental about composition. We can think of the function $g(x)$ as 'stretching' or 'shrinking' the domain of $f$. When we differentiate we are differentiating with respect to $f$ under an 'unstretched' domain and must correct for our error by multiplying by the derivative of $g$ which is a measure of how severely the domain was stretched. This is why the power rule ect. do not seem to use the chain rule, the domain is unstretched, so our derivative doesn't need to be corrected at all!



            For your example of $sin 2x$ lets think about what is going on, we are essentially squeezing $sin x$ in the $x$ direction. But this will make the slope of the sine function increase in a predictable way, in fact the slope at every point of this squeezed graph is twice as big as the original sine graph, exactly as predicted by the chain rule!



            For more complicated $g(x)$ the chain rule measures the rate at which the domain is changing from $x$ at every point to make the derivative correct.







            share|cite|improve this answer














            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer








            edited 28 mins ago

























            answered 33 mins ago









            Kyle CKyle C

            564




            564























                1












                $begingroup$

                Visually, the derivative is the slope of the tangent line, and the derivative allows us to take a nonlinear function $f$ and approximate it locally with a linear function (that is, a function whose graph is a straight line). In other words, if we know the value of $f(x)$, we can approximate the value of $f$ at a nearby point $x + Delta x$ as follows:
                $$
                tag{1} f(x + Delta x) approx f(x) + f'(x) Delta x.
                $$



                Now suppose that $f(x) = g(h(x))$. Then we can approximate $f(x + Delta x)$ by using the above approximation twice, first with $h$ and then with $g$, as follows:
                begin{align}
                f(x + Delta x) &= g(h(x + Delta x)) \
                &approx g(h(x) + h'(x) Delta x) \
                &approx g(h(x)) + g'(h(x)) h'(x) Delta x.
                end{align}

                Comparing this result with equation (1), we see that
                $$
                f'(x) = g'(h(x)) h'(x).
                $$



                This is not yet a rigorous proof, but it shows how easy it is to discover the chain rule, and this derivation can be made into a rigorous proof without too much additional effort.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$


















                  1












                  $begingroup$

                  Visually, the derivative is the slope of the tangent line, and the derivative allows us to take a nonlinear function $f$ and approximate it locally with a linear function (that is, a function whose graph is a straight line). In other words, if we know the value of $f(x)$, we can approximate the value of $f$ at a nearby point $x + Delta x$ as follows:
                  $$
                  tag{1} f(x + Delta x) approx f(x) + f'(x) Delta x.
                  $$



                  Now suppose that $f(x) = g(h(x))$. Then we can approximate $f(x + Delta x)$ by using the above approximation twice, first with $h$ and then with $g$, as follows:
                  begin{align}
                  f(x + Delta x) &= g(h(x + Delta x)) \
                  &approx g(h(x) + h'(x) Delta x) \
                  &approx g(h(x)) + g'(h(x)) h'(x) Delta x.
                  end{align}

                  Comparing this result with equation (1), we see that
                  $$
                  f'(x) = g'(h(x)) h'(x).
                  $$



                  This is not yet a rigorous proof, but it shows how easy it is to discover the chain rule, and this derivation can be made into a rigorous proof without too much additional effort.






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$
















                    1












                    1








                    1





                    $begingroup$

                    Visually, the derivative is the slope of the tangent line, and the derivative allows us to take a nonlinear function $f$ and approximate it locally with a linear function (that is, a function whose graph is a straight line). In other words, if we know the value of $f(x)$, we can approximate the value of $f$ at a nearby point $x + Delta x$ as follows:
                    $$
                    tag{1} f(x + Delta x) approx f(x) + f'(x) Delta x.
                    $$



                    Now suppose that $f(x) = g(h(x))$. Then we can approximate $f(x + Delta x)$ by using the above approximation twice, first with $h$ and then with $g$, as follows:
                    begin{align}
                    f(x + Delta x) &= g(h(x + Delta x)) \
                    &approx g(h(x) + h'(x) Delta x) \
                    &approx g(h(x)) + g'(h(x)) h'(x) Delta x.
                    end{align}

                    Comparing this result with equation (1), we see that
                    $$
                    f'(x) = g'(h(x)) h'(x).
                    $$



                    This is not yet a rigorous proof, but it shows how easy it is to discover the chain rule, and this derivation can be made into a rigorous proof without too much additional effort.






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$



                    Visually, the derivative is the slope of the tangent line, and the derivative allows us to take a nonlinear function $f$ and approximate it locally with a linear function (that is, a function whose graph is a straight line). In other words, if we know the value of $f(x)$, we can approximate the value of $f$ at a nearby point $x + Delta x$ as follows:
                    $$
                    tag{1} f(x + Delta x) approx f(x) + f'(x) Delta x.
                    $$



                    Now suppose that $f(x) = g(h(x))$. Then we can approximate $f(x + Delta x)$ by using the above approximation twice, first with $h$ and then with $g$, as follows:
                    begin{align}
                    f(x + Delta x) &= g(h(x + Delta x)) \
                    &approx g(h(x) + h'(x) Delta x) \
                    &approx g(h(x)) + g'(h(x)) h'(x) Delta x.
                    end{align}

                    Comparing this result with equation (1), we see that
                    $$
                    f'(x) = g'(h(x)) h'(x).
                    $$



                    This is not yet a rigorous proof, but it shows how easy it is to discover the chain rule, and this derivation can be made into a rigorous proof without too much additional effort.







                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer










                    answered 40 mins ago









                    littleOlittleO

                    30k647110




                    30k647110























                        1












                        $begingroup$

                        When you said that the differentiation of $sin2x$ is $cos2x$, you didn't actually differentiate $sin 2x$ with respect to $x$, you differentiated it with respect to $2x$. Because the differentiation rule is that
                        $$ frac{d}{dx}sin x = cos x$$



                        so, only by replacing ALL $x$ in the formula above can you follow the same rule without breaking it, which is
                        $$ frac{d}{d(2x)}sin 2x = cos 2x$$



                        However, the question isn't asking you to find $frac{d}{d(2x)} sin 2x$, it is asking you to find $frac{d}{dx} sin 2x$. See the difference here?



                        Since you differentiated the outer function,$f$, with respect to $2x$, you differentiated it with respect to the inner function because $g(x)=2x$.
                        So you actually got $frac{df}{dg}=cos 2x$.
                        To get from $frac{df}{dg}$ to $frac{df}{dx}$, you just need to multiply by $frac{dg}{dx}$ because:
                        $$frac{df}{dg}timesfrac{dg}{dx} = frac{df}{dx} $$
                        after cancelling out the $dg$.
                        In this problem, $frac{dg}{dx} = frac{d}{dx}2x = 2$.
                        That is why you have to mulitply a $2$ to your $cos 2x$.






                        share|cite|improve this answer










                        New contributor




                        Carina Chen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.






                        $endgroup$













                        • $begingroup$
                          Great explanation, but I have to mention that "derive" does not mean "differentiate". The words are not interchangable.
                          $endgroup$
                          – dbx
                          34 mins ago










                        • $begingroup$
                          @dbx thanks for the catch! I've updated it.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Carina Chen
                          32 mins ago
















                        1












                        $begingroup$

                        When you said that the differentiation of $sin2x$ is $cos2x$, you didn't actually differentiate $sin 2x$ with respect to $x$, you differentiated it with respect to $2x$. Because the differentiation rule is that
                        $$ frac{d}{dx}sin x = cos x$$



                        so, only by replacing ALL $x$ in the formula above can you follow the same rule without breaking it, which is
                        $$ frac{d}{d(2x)}sin 2x = cos 2x$$



                        However, the question isn't asking you to find $frac{d}{d(2x)} sin 2x$, it is asking you to find $frac{d}{dx} sin 2x$. See the difference here?



                        Since you differentiated the outer function,$f$, with respect to $2x$, you differentiated it with respect to the inner function because $g(x)=2x$.
                        So you actually got $frac{df}{dg}=cos 2x$.
                        To get from $frac{df}{dg}$ to $frac{df}{dx}$, you just need to multiply by $frac{dg}{dx}$ because:
                        $$frac{df}{dg}timesfrac{dg}{dx} = frac{df}{dx} $$
                        after cancelling out the $dg$.
                        In this problem, $frac{dg}{dx} = frac{d}{dx}2x = 2$.
                        That is why you have to mulitply a $2$ to your $cos 2x$.






                        share|cite|improve this answer










                        New contributor




                        Carina Chen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.






                        $endgroup$













                        • $begingroup$
                          Great explanation, but I have to mention that "derive" does not mean "differentiate". The words are not interchangable.
                          $endgroup$
                          – dbx
                          34 mins ago










                        • $begingroup$
                          @dbx thanks for the catch! I've updated it.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Carina Chen
                          32 mins ago














                        1












                        1








                        1





                        $begingroup$

                        When you said that the differentiation of $sin2x$ is $cos2x$, you didn't actually differentiate $sin 2x$ with respect to $x$, you differentiated it with respect to $2x$. Because the differentiation rule is that
                        $$ frac{d}{dx}sin x = cos x$$



                        so, only by replacing ALL $x$ in the formula above can you follow the same rule without breaking it, which is
                        $$ frac{d}{d(2x)}sin 2x = cos 2x$$



                        However, the question isn't asking you to find $frac{d}{d(2x)} sin 2x$, it is asking you to find $frac{d}{dx} sin 2x$. See the difference here?



                        Since you differentiated the outer function,$f$, with respect to $2x$, you differentiated it with respect to the inner function because $g(x)=2x$.
                        So you actually got $frac{df}{dg}=cos 2x$.
                        To get from $frac{df}{dg}$ to $frac{df}{dx}$, you just need to multiply by $frac{dg}{dx}$ because:
                        $$frac{df}{dg}timesfrac{dg}{dx} = frac{df}{dx} $$
                        after cancelling out the $dg$.
                        In this problem, $frac{dg}{dx} = frac{d}{dx}2x = 2$.
                        That is why you have to mulitply a $2$ to your $cos 2x$.






                        share|cite|improve this answer










                        New contributor




                        Carina Chen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.






                        $endgroup$



                        When you said that the differentiation of $sin2x$ is $cos2x$, you didn't actually differentiate $sin 2x$ with respect to $x$, you differentiated it with respect to $2x$. Because the differentiation rule is that
                        $$ frac{d}{dx}sin x = cos x$$



                        so, only by replacing ALL $x$ in the formula above can you follow the same rule without breaking it, which is
                        $$ frac{d}{d(2x)}sin 2x = cos 2x$$



                        However, the question isn't asking you to find $frac{d}{d(2x)} sin 2x$, it is asking you to find $frac{d}{dx} sin 2x$. See the difference here?



                        Since you differentiated the outer function,$f$, with respect to $2x$, you differentiated it with respect to the inner function because $g(x)=2x$.
                        So you actually got $frac{df}{dg}=cos 2x$.
                        To get from $frac{df}{dg}$ to $frac{df}{dx}$, you just need to multiply by $frac{dg}{dx}$ because:
                        $$frac{df}{dg}timesfrac{dg}{dx} = frac{df}{dx} $$
                        after cancelling out the $dg$.
                        In this problem, $frac{dg}{dx} = frac{d}{dx}2x = 2$.
                        That is why you have to mulitply a $2$ to your $cos 2x$.







                        share|cite|improve this answer










                        New contributor




                        Carina Chen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.









                        share|cite|improve this answer



                        share|cite|improve this answer








                        edited 32 mins ago





















                        New contributor




                        Carina Chen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.









                        answered 39 mins ago









                        Carina ChenCarina Chen

                        113




                        113




                        New contributor




                        Carina Chen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.





                        New contributor





                        Carina Chen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.






                        Carina Chen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.












                        • $begingroup$
                          Great explanation, but I have to mention that "derive" does not mean "differentiate". The words are not interchangable.
                          $endgroup$
                          – dbx
                          34 mins ago










                        • $begingroup$
                          @dbx thanks for the catch! I've updated it.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Carina Chen
                          32 mins ago


















                        • $begingroup$
                          Great explanation, but I have to mention that "derive" does not mean "differentiate". The words are not interchangable.
                          $endgroup$
                          – dbx
                          34 mins ago










                        • $begingroup$
                          @dbx thanks for the catch! I've updated it.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Carina Chen
                          32 mins ago
















                        $begingroup$
                        Great explanation, but I have to mention that "derive" does not mean "differentiate". The words are not interchangable.
                        $endgroup$
                        – dbx
                        34 mins ago




                        $begingroup$
                        Great explanation, but I have to mention that "derive" does not mean "differentiate". The words are not interchangable.
                        $endgroup$
                        – dbx
                        34 mins ago












                        $begingroup$
                        @dbx thanks for the catch! I've updated it.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Carina Chen
                        32 mins ago




                        $begingroup$
                        @dbx thanks for the catch! I've updated it.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Carina Chen
                        32 mins ago











                        0












                        $begingroup$

                        Let $f(x)=sin2x$. Then
                        $$frac d{dx}sin2x=f'(x)=lim_{hto0}frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2(x+h)-sin2x}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin(2x+2h)-sin2x}h$$$$=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2xcos2h+cos2xsin2h-sin2x}h=left(lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}hright)sin2x+left(lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}hright)cos2x.$$
                        Since
                        $$lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}h=lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}{2h}cdotfrac{2h}h=0cdot2=0$$
                        while
                        $$lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}{2h}cdotfrac{2h}h=1cdot2=2,$$
                        this simplifies to
                        $$frac d{dx}sin2x=0cdotsin2x+2cdotcos2x=boxed{2cos2x}.$$
                        Note that, if we let $g(x)=2x$, then
                        $$frac{2h}h=frac{g(x+h)-g(x)}h.$$






                        share|cite









                        $endgroup$


















                          0












                          $begingroup$

                          Let $f(x)=sin2x$. Then
                          $$frac d{dx}sin2x=f'(x)=lim_{hto0}frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2(x+h)-sin2x}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin(2x+2h)-sin2x}h$$$$=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2xcos2h+cos2xsin2h-sin2x}h=left(lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}hright)sin2x+left(lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}hright)cos2x.$$
                          Since
                          $$lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}h=lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}{2h}cdotfrac{2h}h=0cdot2=0$$
                          while
                          $$lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}{2h}cdotfrac{2h}h=1cdot2=2,$$
                          this simplifies to
                          $$frac d{dx}sin2x=0cdotsin2x+2cdotcos2x=boxed{2cos2x}.$$
                          Note that, if we let $g(x)=2x$, then
                          $$frac{2h}h=frac{g(x+h)-g(x)}h.$$






                          share|cite









                          $endgroup$
















                            0












                            0








                            0





                            $begingroup$

                            Let $f(x)=sin2x$. Then
                            $$frac d{dx}sin2x=f'(x)=lim_{hto0}frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2(x+h)-sin2x}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin(2x+2h)-sin2x}h$$$$=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2xcos2h+cos2xsin2h-sin2x}h=left(lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}hright)sin2x+left(lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}hright)cos2x.$$
                            Since
                            $$lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}h=lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}{2h}cdotfrac{2h}h=0cdot2=0$$
                            while
                            $$lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}{2h}cdotfrac{2h}h=1cdot2=2,$$
                            this simplifies to
                            $$frac d{dx}sin2x=0cdotsin2x+2cdotcos2x=boxed{2cos2x}.$$
                            Note that, if we let $g(x)=2x$, then
                            $$frac{2h}h=frac{g(x+h)-g(x)}h.$$






                            share|cite









                            $endgroup$



                            Let $f(x)=sin2x$. Then
                            $$frac d{dx}sin2x=f'(x)=lim_{hto0}frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2(x+h)-sin2x}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin(2x+2h)-sin2x}h$$$$=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2xcos2h+cos2xsin2h-sin2x}h=left(lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}hright)sin2x+left(lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}hright)cos2x.$$
                            Since
                            $$lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}h=lim_{hto0}frac{cos2h-1}{2h}cdotfrac{2h}h=0cdot2=0$$
                            while
                            $$lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}h=lim_{hto0}frac{sin2h}{2h}cdotfrac{2h}h=1cdot2=2,$$
                            this simplifies to
                            $$frac d{dx}sin2x=0cdotsin2x+2cdotcos2x=boxed{2cos2x}.$$
                            Note that, if we let $g(x)=2x$, then
                            $$frac{2h}h=frac{g(x+h)-g(x)}h.$$







                            share|cite












                            share|cite



                            share|cite










                            answered 2 mins ago









                            bofbof

                            52.5k558121




                            52.5k558121






























                                draft saved

                                draft discarded




















































                                Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


                                • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                                But avoid



                                • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                                • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                                Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


                                To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                                draft saved


                                draft discarded














                                StackExchange.ready(
                                function () {
                                StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3151008%2fwhat-is-the-purpose-or-proof-behind-chain-rule%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                                }
                                );

                                Post as a guest















                                Required, but never shown





















































                                Required, but never shown














                                Required, but never shown












                                Required, but never shown







                                Required, but never shown

































                                Required, but never shown














                                Required, but never shown












                                Required, but never shown







                                Required, but never shown







                                Popular posts from this blog

                                Will tsunami waves travel forever if there was no land?Why do tsunami waves begin with the water flowing away...

                                Why do type traits not work with types in namespace scope?What are POD types in C++?Why can templates only be...

                                Should I use Docker or LXD?How to cache (more) data on SSD/RAM to avoid spin up?Unable to get Windows File...