How do you differentiate #f(x) = (1-sqrt(3x-1))^2 # using the chain rule?

1 Answer
Jun 19, 2016

#y = u^2#

#u = (1 - sqrt(3x - 1))#

The chain rule states #dy/dx = dy/(du) xx (du)/dx#.

We must therefore differentiate both functions.

#y' = 2u#

#u# is a little more complicated: we will have to apply the chain rule to the radical.

The derivative of any constant #c# is always #0#, so we don't have to worry about the #1#, thankfully.

#u = -v^(1/2)#

#v = 3x - 1#

#u' = -1/(2v^(1/2))#

#v' = 3#

#dy/dx = dy/(du) xx (du)/dx#

#dy/dx = 3 xx -1/(2v^(1/2))#

#dy/dx = -3/(2v^(1/2))#

Now that we know the derivative of #u#, we can use the chain rule again to determine the derivative of #f(x)#.

#f'(x) = -3/(2v^(1/2)) xx 2u#

#f'(x) = -3/(2(3x - 1)^(1/2)) xx 2(1 - sqrt(3x - 1))#

#f'(x) = -3/(2(3x - 1)^(1/2)) xx 2 - 2sqrt(3x - 1)#

#f'(x) = (-3(2 - 2sqrt(3x - 1)))/(2(3x - 1)^(1/2)#

#f'(x) = (-6 + 6sqrt(3x- 1))/(2sqrt(3x - 1))#

#f'(x) = (-6(1 - 1sqrt(3x - 1)))/(2sqrt(3x - 1)#

#f'(x) = (-3(1 - 1sqrt(3x - 1)))/(sqrt(3x - 1)#

#f'(x) = (-3 + 3sqrt(3x- 1))/(sqrt(3x - 1)#

#f'(x) = (3sqrt(3x - 1) - 3)/(sqrt(3x - 1)#

It's long, but it works!

Hopefully you understand this complicated problem better now!