Derivative of Composite Function

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 2K views
Kenji Liew
Messages
25
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



\begin{equation}
f(x)=
\begin{cases}
5x+2 &, x \leq 1 \\
3x^2 &, 1<x<2\\
4-x &, x\geq 2
\end{cases}
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}
g(x)=
\begin{cases}
\frac{1}{5}(2+3 cos x) &, x <0 \\
4-sin x &, x \geq 0
\end{cases}
\end{equation}

Find [itex]h = f \circ g[/itex] and then by using chain rule to find the derivative of [itex]f \circ g[/itex] .

Homework Equations



\begin{equation}
h(x)=f\circ g =
\begin{cases}
4+3 cos x &, x <0 \\
sin x &, x \geq 0
\end{cases}
\end{equation}

The Attempt at a Solution


From [itex]h(x) = f \circ g[/itex] above, I directly differentiate and I get the following
\begin{equation}
h'(x)=
\begin{cases}
-3 sin x &, x < 0 \\
cos x &, x > 0
\end{cases}
\end{equation}

If chain rule are requested in finding the derivative, I know the formula is [itex]h'(x) = f' (g(x)) \cdot g'(x)[/itex]. Any idea to find the derivative using chain rule?

Thank you.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Kenji Liew said:

Homework Statement



\begin{equation}
f(x)=
\begin{cases}
5x+2 &, x \leq 1 \\
3x^2 &, 1<x<2\\
4-x &, x\geq 2
\end{cases}
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}
g(x)=
\begin{cases}
\frac{1}{5}(2+3 cos x) &, x <0 \\
4-sin x &, x \geq 0
\end{cases}
\end{equation}

Find [itex]h = f \circ g[/itex] and then by using chain rule to find the derivative of [itex]f \circ g[/itex] .

Homework Equations



\begin{equation}
h(x)=f\circ g =
\begin{cases}
4+3 cos x &, x <0 \\
sin x &, x \geq 0
\end{cases}
\end{equation}

The Attempt at a Solution


From [itex]h(x) = f \circ g[/itex] above, I directly differentiate and I get the following
\begin{equation}
h'(x)=
\begin{cases}
-3 sin x &, x < 0 \\
cos x &, x > 0
\end{cases}
\end{equation}

If chain rule are requested in finding the derivative, I know the formula is [itex]h'(x) = f' (g(x)) \cdot g'(x)[/itex]. Any idea to find the derivative using chain rule?

Thank you.

It seems overly pedantic to do it explicitly with the chain rule, but if you must do so, just write h(x) as a two piece formula like this:

If x ≥ 0, f(x) = 4-x, g(x) = 4 - sin(x) and [itex]h=f\circ g[/itex]
If x < 0 f(x) = 5x+2, g(x) = (1/5)(2+3cos(x)) and [itex]h=f\circ g[/itex]
Then do the chain rule on each piece.
 
LCKurtz said:
It seems overly pedantic to do it explicitly with the chain rule, but if you must do so, just write h(x) as a two piece formula like this:

If x ≥ 0, f(x) = 4-x, g(x) = 4 - sin(x) and [itex]h=f\circ g[/itex]
If x < 0 f(x) = 5x+2, g(x) = (1/5)(2+3cos(x)) and [itex]h=f\circ g[/itex]
Then do the chain rule on each piece.

Thank you for the reply. I got the idea from it. This is because my lecturer want us to compare whether the answer obtained from directly differentiate [itex]h(x)[/itex] is the same
as the answer obtained from the chain rule. :smile: