Differentiation of sin function where's my mistake?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the differentiation of the sine function, specifically the derivative of sin(3x). The user initially misapplies the chain rule, resulting in the incorrect equation 3cos(3x) = cos(3x), leading to the erroneous conclusion that 3 = 1. The correct application of the chain rule shows that d/dx sin(3x) = 3cos(3x), clarifying the misunderstanding of notation between dy/dx and d/dx. The key takeaway is the importance of correctly applying the chain rule in differentiation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic calculus concepts, particularly differentiation.
  • Familiarity with the chain rule in calculus.
  • Knowledge of trigonometric functions and their derivatives.
  • Ability to differentiate composite functions.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the chain rule in detail, focusing on its application in composite functions.
  • Practice differentiating various trigonometric functions using the chain rule.
  • Review the notation differences between dy/dx and d/dx in calculus.
  • Explore advanced differentiation techniques, including implicit differentiation.
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Students learning calculus, educators teaching differentiation, and anyone seeking to clarify their understanding of the chain rule and trigonometric derivatives.

Hawksteinman
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I was thinking and came up with this. I know it's wrong but can't find the mistake :(

dy/dx sin(x) = cos(x)
dy/dx sin(kx) = kcos(kx)

So dy/dx sin(3x) = 3cos(3x)
Now let Y = 3x
dy/dx sin(Y) = cos(Y) = cos(3x)

3cos(3x) = cos(3x)
3 = 1

Where is the mistake?
 
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Hawksteinman said:
I was thinking and came up with this. I know it's wrong but can't find the mistake :(

dy/dx sin(x) = cos(x)
dy/dx sin(kx) = kcos(kx)

So dy/dx sin(3x) = 3cos(3x)
Now let Y = 3x
dy/dx sin(Y) = cos(Y) = cos(3x)

3cos(3x) = cos(3x)
3 = 1

Where is the mistake?
## \dfrac{d}{dx}\sin(Y) \neq \cos(Y)##
You've made the chain rule vanish by pretending ##Y=y##.
 
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Your notation doesn’t make sense.
dy/dx is the derivative of y with respect to x. “dy/dx sin(x)” is not a well-defined expression.

What you nean is d/dx sin(x). And suddenly the issue disappears:

d/dx sin(3x)=3cos(3x)
d/dx sin(y)=? - here we need the chain rule and d/dx 3x = 3:
d/dx sin(y) = cos(y) d/dx y = cos(y) * 3 = 3cos(3x)
 
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mfb said:
Your notation doesn’t make sense.
dy/dx is the derivative of y with respect to x. “dy/dx sin(x)” is not a well-defined expression.

What you nean is d/dx sin(x). And suddenly the issue disappears:

d/dx sin(3x)=3cos(x)
d/dx sin(y)=? - here we need the chain rule and d/dx 3x = 3:
d/dx sin(y) = cos(y) d/dx y = cos(y) * 3

I haven't done the chain rule yet I'll need to look into that :)
 
Basically:
If y =3x changes three times as fast as x, and sin(y) changes cos(y) times as fast as y, then sin(y)=sin(3x) changes 3*cos(y) = 3*cos(3x) times as fast as x.
 
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Hawksteinman said:
So dy/dx sin(3x) = 3cos(3x)
As already noted, the above should be ##\frac d {dx}\left(\sin(3x)\right) = 3\cos(3x)##
##\frac{dy}{dx}## is the derivative of y with respect to x, so it is a thing, a noun.
##\frac d{dx}## is the operator that signifies taking the derivative of something with respect to x. It is an action that hasn't completed yet, a verb. Don't confuse these two things.

Hawksteinman said:
I haven't done the chain rule yet I'll need to look into that :)
Actually, you used the chain rule in the first line of what I quoted, above. The chain rule is what gives you that leading factor of 3.
 
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Mark44 said:
As already noted, the above should be ##\frac d {dx}\left(\sin(3x)\right) = 3\cos(3x)##
##\frac{dy}{dx}## is the derivative of y with respect to x, so it is a thing, a noun.
##\frac d{dx}## is the operator that signifies taking the derivative of something with respect to x. It is an action that hasn't completed yet, a verb. Don't confuse these two things.

Actually, you used the chain rule in the first line of what I quoted, above. The chain rule is what gives you that leading factor of 3.

I don't know, I just used a table of derivatives :/
 
Hawksteinman said:
I don't know, I just used a table of derivatives :/
They were using the chain rule in the table.
 

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