How do you differentiate f(x)=cot(3x) using the chain rule?

1 Answer
Feb 9, 2016

frac{du}{dx} = -3csc^2(3x)

Explanation:

First, I assume you know that the derivative of cotx is -csc^2x.

We substitute u=3x.

Therefore,

frac{du}{dx} = 3.

Now we use the chain rule.

frac{d}{dx}(cot(3x)) = frac{d}{dx}(cot(u))

= frac{d}{du}(cot(u))*frac{du}{dx}

= -csc^2(u) * 3

= -3csc^2(3x)