If #f(x)= csc 7 x # and #g(x) = 3x^2 -5 #, how do you differentiate #f(g(x)) # using the chain rule?

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Answer 1 · 2016-02-13T21:43:30

#d/dx(f(g(x)))=-42xcsc(21x^2-35)cot(21x^2-35)#

First, note the chain rule states that

#d/dx[f(g(x))]=f'(g(x))*g'(x)#

Let's focus on the first part, #f'(g(x))#.

We must find #f'(x)#. Ironically, in order to do so, the chain rule must be used once more.

In the case of a cosecant function, the chain rule states that

#d/dx(csc(h(x)))=-csc(h(x))cot(h(x))*h'(x)#

Thus, since in #csc(7x)# we see that #h(x)=7x#, and #h'(x)=7#,

#f'(x)=-7csc(7x)cot(7x)#

Thus to find #f'(g(x))# we plug #g(x)# into every #x# in #f'(x)#:

#f'(g(x))=-7csc(21x^2-35)cot(21x^2-35)#

Now, we should find the second term of the original chain rule expression, #g'(x)#. This requires only the power rule.

#g'(x)=6x#

Multiplying #f'(g(x))# and #g'(x)# we see that the derivative of the entire composite function is

#d/dx(f(g(x)))=-42xcsc(21x^2-35)cot(21x^2-35)#