Calculating Derivative of Integral w/ Chain Rule

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    Derivative Integral
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the derivative of an integral defined by the limits as functions of a variable, specifically using the chain rule. Participants explore the application of the chain rule in the context of differentiating an integral with variable limits, addressing both theoretical and mathematical reasoning aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that to calculate the derivative of the integral, one should express it as a composition of functions using the chain rule, leading to the formulation \( F'(x) = H'(G(x)) \cdot G'(x) \).
  • There is a discussion about the correct expression for \( G'(x) \), with some suggesting it should be represented as a vector of derivatives of its components, while others question the inclusion of the term \( \frac{dG(x)}{x} \).
  • Participants debate whether the derivative of \( H \) should be treated as a vector or a row vector, with some emphasizing the need for consistency in vector and matrix multiplication.
  • There is a proposal that the gradient of \( H \) at \( G(x) \) should be expressed in terms of partial derivatives evaluated at \( (g(x), h(x), x) \).
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the correctness of the expressions involving partial derivatives, particularly regarding the evaluation at specific points and the interpretation of the chain rule.
  • There is a discussion about the derivative of the integral concerning its limits, with participants providing different interpretations of how to apply the fundamental theorem of calculus in this context.
  • One participant suggests that there may be a sign error in the final expression for \( F'(x) \), prompting further examination of the terms involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on several points, including the correct formulation of derivatives, the interpretation of vector derivatives, and the application of the fundamental theorem of calculus. Multiple competing views remain regarding the treatment of derivatives and the correctness of expressions derived during the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential misunderstandings about the application of the chain rule, the treatment of partial derivatives, and the assumptions regarding the continuity and differentiability of the functions involved. There are unresolved questions about the correct interpretation of the gradient and the handling of limits in the context of differentiation.

mathmari
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Hey! :o

Let $I=[a,b]$, $J=[c,d]$ compact intervals in $\mathbb{R}$, $g,h:I\rightarrow J$ differentiable, $fI\times J\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ continuous and partial differentiable as for the first variable with continuous partial derivative.
Let $F:I\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$.
I want to calculate the derivative of $$F(x)=\int_{g(x)}^{h(x)}f(x,y)\, dy$$ using the chain rule.

Following hint is given:
Let $G:I\rightarrow \mathbb{R}^3$ and $H:J\times J\times I\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ defined by $G(x):=(g(x), h(x), x)=(u,v,w)$ and $H(u,v,w):=\int_u^vf(w,y)\, dy$. Then it is $F=H\circ G$. So, to calculate the derivative of the integral we have to calculate the derivative of $F(x)=H(G(x))$.

From the chain rule we have that $F'(x)=H'(G(x))\cdot G'(x)$.

The derivatives of the functions $H$ and $G$ are the following:
\begin{align*}G'(x)&=\frac{dG(x)}{dx}=\frac{dG(x)}{dg(x)}\cdot \frac{dg(x)}{dx}+\frac{dG(x)}{dh(x)}\cdot \frac{dh(x)}{dx}+\frac{dG(x)}{x}\cdot \frac{dx}{dx}\\ & =\frac{dG(x)}{dg(x)}\cdot \frac{dg(x)}{dx}+\frac{dG(x)}{dh(x)}\cdot \frac{dh(x)}{dx}+\frac{dG(x)}{x}\end{align*} The last term $\frac{dG(x)}{x}$ is not the same as $G'(x)$, is it?

For the derivative of $H$ do we use the total differential?

Or am I thinking wrong? (Wondering)
 
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mathmari said:
Let $G:I\rightarrow \mathbb{R}^3$ and $H:J\times J\times I\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ defined by $G(x):=(g(x), h(x), x)=(u,v,w)$ and $H(u,v,w):=\int_u^vf(w,y)\, dy$. Then it is $F=H\circ G$.

So, to calculate the derivative of the integral we have to calculate the derivative of $F(x)=H(G(x))$.

From the chain rule we have that $F'(x)=H'(G(x))\cdot G'(x)$.

The derivatives of the functions $H$ and $G$ are the following:
\begin{align*}G'(x)&=\frac{dG(x)}{dx}=\frac{dG(x)}{dg(x)}\cdot \frac{dg(x)}{dx}+\frac{dG(x)}{dh(x)}\cdot \frac{dh(x)}{dx}+\frac{dG(x)}{x}\cdot \frac{dx}{dx}\\ & =\frac{dG(x)}{dg(x)}\cdot \frac{dg(x)}{dx}+\frac{dG(x)}{dh(x)}\cdot \frac{dh(x)}{dx}+\frac{dG(x)}{x}\end{align*} The last term $\frac{dG(x)}{x}$ is not the same as $G'(x)$, is it?

Hey mathmari! (Wave)

Isn't in general the derivative of a vector function $\phi$ of multiple variables the matrix:
$$\phi'(x) = \left(\pd {\phi_i} {x_j}\right)$$
(Wondering)

So isn't it:
$$G'(x) = \begin{pmatrix}g(x)\\h(x)\\x\end{pmatrix}' = \begin{pmatrix}g'(x) \\h'(x)\\ 1\end{pmatrix}$$

mathmari said:
For the derivative of $H$ do we use the total differential?

Shouldn't it then be:
$$H'(u,v,w) = \left(\pd {H}{u}\quad \pd {H}{v}\quad \pd {H}{w}\right)$$
(Wondering)
 
I like Serena said:
Isn't in general the derivative of a vector function $\phi$ of multiple variables the matrix:
$$\phi'(x) = \left(\pd {\phi_i} {x_j}\right)$$
(Wondering)

So isn't it:
$$G'(x) = \begin{pmatrix}g(x)\\h(x)\\x\end{pmatrix}' = \begin{pmatrix}g'(x) \\h'(x)\\ 1\end{pmatrix}$$
Shouldn't it then be:
$$H'(u,v,w) = \left(\pd {H}{u} \pd {H}{v} \pd {H}{w}\right)$$
(Wondering)

At the derivative of $H$ you mean it as a vector, or not? (Wondering) Oh ok!

So, so we have the following?
\begin{align*}F'(x)=H'(G(x))\cdot G'(x)= \left(\pd {H}{g(x)} \pd {H}{h(x)} \pd {H}{x}\right)\cdot \begin{pmatrix}g'(x) \\h'(x)\\ 1\end{pmatrix}= \pd{H}{g(x)}\cdot g'(x)+ \pd {H}{h(x)}\cdot h'(x)+\pd {H}{x}\cdot 1\end{align*} (Wondering)
 
mathmari said:
At the derivative of $H$ you mean it as a vector, or not? (Wondering)

I meant it as the transpose of a vector (a row vector).

To be fair, there are different schools of thought whether it's a vector, a row vector, or a column vector.
However, we should be consistent to make sure we correctly multiply with another vector or matrix. (Nerd)
mathmari said:
Oh ok!

So, so we have the following?
\begin{align*}F'(x)=H'(G(x))\cdot G'(x)= \left(\pd {H}{g(x)} \pd {H}{h(x)} \pd {H}{x}\right)\cdot \begin{pmatrix}g'(x) \\h'(x)\\ 1\end{pmatrix}= \pd{H}{g(x)}\cdot g'(x)+ \pd {H}{h(x)}\cdot h'(x)+\pd {H}{x}\cdot 1\end{align*} (Wondering)

Almost.
But instead of $\pd H{g(x)}$ we should have $\pd Hu(g(x),h(x),x)$. (Worried)

That is, we can't take a partial derivative with respect to $g(x)$. We can only take a partial derivative with respect to a variable. In our case the variable is $u$ and not $g(x)$.
Then, after taking the partial derivative, we should substitute $G(x)=(g(x),h(x),x)$. After all, $\pd Hu$ is a scalar function of 3 variables. (Nerd)
 
Ah ok!

I thought about that again. (Thinking)

Do we have from the chain rule that $F'(x)=\frac{H(G(x))}{dx}=\nabla H(G(x))\cdot G'(x)$ ? (Wondering)

The derivative of the vector function $G$ is \begin{equation*}G'(x) = \begin{pmatrix}g(x)\\h(x)\\x\end{pmatrix}' = \begin{pmatrix}g'(x) \\h'(x)\\ 1\end{pmatrix}\end{equation*}

The gradient of the function $H$ is equal to \begin{equation*}\nabla H= \left(\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{u}} \ \ \ \frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{v}} \ \ \ \frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{w}}\right)\end{equation*} At the point $G(x)$ the gradient is equal to \begin{equation*}\nabla H(G(x))= \left(\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{u}}(g(x), h(x), x) \ \ \ \frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{v}}(g(x), h(x), x) \ \ \ \frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{w}}(g(x), h(x), x)\right)\end{equation*}

So we get:
\begin{align*}F'(x)&=\nabla H(G(x))\cdot G'(x)\\ & =\left(\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{u}}(g(x), h(x), x) \ \ \ \frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{v}}(g(x), h(x), x) \ \ \ \frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{w}}(g(x), h(x), x)\right)\cdot \begin{pmatrix}g'(x) \\h'(x)\\ 1\end{pmatrix} \\ & = \frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{u}}(g(x), h(x), x)\cdot g'(x)+\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{v}}(g(x), h(x), x)\cdot h'(x)+\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{w}}(g(x), h(x), x)\end{align*}

The derivative of an integral in respect to its upper limit is identical to the value of the integral at the upper limit, accordint to the differential and integral calculus, right? (Wondering)

So, we have that $\displaystyle{\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{u}}(u,v,w)=\frac{\partial}{\partial{u}}\left (\int_u^vf(w,y)\, dy\right )=f(w,u)}$ and $\displaystyle{\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{v}}(u,v,w)=\frac{\partial}{\partial{v}}\left (\int_u^vf(w,y)\, dy\right )=\frac{\partial}{\partial{v}}\left (-\int_v^uf(w,y)\, dy\right )=-\frac{\partial}{\partial{v}}\left (\int_v^uf(w,y)\, dy\right )=-f(w,v)}$.

We also have that $\displaystyle{\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{w}}(u,v,w)=\frac{\partial}{\partial{w}}\left (\int_u^vf(w,y)\, dy\right )=\int_u^v\frac{\partial}{\partial{w}}f(w,y)\, dy=\int_u^vf_w(w,y)\, dy}$.

Therefore, we get:
\begin{equation*}F'(x) = f(x, g(x))\cdot g'(x)-f(x, h(x))\cdot h'(x)+\int_{g(x)}^{h(x)}f_x(x,h(x))\, dy\end{equation*} Is everything correct? (Wondering)
 
mathmari said:
Do we have from the chain rule that $F'(x)=\frac{H(G(x))}{dx}=\nabla H(G(x))\cdot G'(x)$ ?

Indeed. The gradient is the same as the derivative.

mathmari said:
The derivative of an integral in respect to its upper limit is identical to the value of the integral at the upper limit, accordint to the differential and integral calculus, right?

So, we have that $\displaystyle{\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{u}}(u,v,w)=\frac{\partial}{\partial{u}}\left (\int_u^vf(w,y)\, dy\right )=f(w,u)}$

Let's see... suppose we integrate $\phi$ with anti-derivative $\Phi$, followed by differentiating with respect to the lower bound $u$.
Then:
$$\pd {}u \int_u^v \phi(x)dx = \pd{}u[ \Phi(v) - \Phi(u)] = -\phi(u)$$
isn't it? (Wondering)

I think it should be $-f(w,u)$. (Thinking)

mathmari said:
and $\displaystyle{\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{v}}(u,v,w)=\frac{\partial}{\partial{v}}\left (\int_u^vf(w,y)\, dy\right )=\frac{\partial}{\partial{v}}\left (-\int_v^uf(w,y)\, dy\right )=-\frac{\partial}{\partial{v}}\left (\int_v^uf(w,y)\, dy\right )=-f(w,v)}$.

We also have that $\displaystyle{\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{w}}(u,v,w)=\frac{\partial}{\partial{w}}\left (\int_u^vf(w,y)\, dy\right )=\int_u^v\frac{\partial}{\partial{w}}f(w,y)\, dy=\int_u^vf_w(w,y)\, dy}$.

Therefore, we get:
\begin{equation*}F'(x) = f(x, g(x))\cdot g'(x)-f(x, h(x))\cdot h'(x)+\int_{g(x)}^{h(x)}f_x(x,h(x))\, dy\end{equation*}

I think that a plus and minus sign should be exchanged. (Worried)
 
I like Serena said:
Let's see... suppose we integrate $\phi$ with anti-derivative $\Phi$, followed by differentiating with respect to the lower bound $u$.
Then:
$$\pd {}u \int_u^v \phi(x)dx = \pd{}u[ \Phi(v) - \Phi(u)] = -\phi(u)$$
isn't it? (Wondering)

I think it should be $-f(w,u)$. (Thinking)

Oh yes (Tmi)

We have that $\displaystyle{\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{u}}(u,v,w)=\frac{\partial}{\partial{u}}\left (\int_u^vf(w,y)\, dy\right )=\frac{\partial}{\partial{u}}\left (-\int_v^uf(w,y)\, dy\right )=-\frac{\partial}{\partial{u}}\left (\int_v^uf(w,y)\, dy\right )=-f(w,u)}$ and $\displaystyle{\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{v}}(u,v,w)=\frac{\partial}{\partial{v}}\left (\int_u^vf(w,y)\, dy\right )=f(w,v)}$, right? (Wondering) The derivative $\displaystyle{\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{w}}(u,v,w)=\frac{\partial}{\partial{w}}\left (\int_u^vf(w,y)\, dy\right )=\int_u^v\frac{\partial}{\partial{w}}f(w,y)\, dy=\int_u^vf_w(w,y)\, dy}$ is correct, or not? (Wondering)
I like Serena said:
I think that a plus and minus sign should be exchanged. (Worried)

So, we get \begin{align*}F'(x)&=\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{u}}(g(x), h(x), x)\cdot g'(x)+\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{v}}(g(x), h(x), x)\cdot h'(x)+\frac{\partial{H}}{\partial{w}}(g(x), h(x), x)\\ & = -f(x, g(x))\cdot g'(x)+f(x, h(x))\cdot h'(x)+\int_{g(x)}^{h(x)}f_x(x,h(x))\, dy\end{align*}
right? (Wondering)
 
Indeed. All correct. (Happy)
 
All of that can be encapsulated into "Leibniz's rule":

\frac{d}{dx}\int_{\alpha(x)}^{\beta(x)} F(x, t)dt= \frac{d\beta}{dx}F(x, \beta(x))- \frac{d\alpha(x)}{dx}F(x,\alpha(x))+ \int_{\alpha(x)}^{\beta(x)} \frac{\partial F(x,t)}{\partial x} dx
 
  • #10
Thank you very much! (Smile)
 

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