Question

How do you differentiate `y =2x^3(x^3 - 3)^4` using the chain rule?

Answer 1

`dy/dx = 6x^2(x^3 - 3)^4 +24x^5(x^3 - 3)^3`

Explanation:

This problem actually requires the application of both the product rule and the chain rule.

The product rule states that
`d/dx f(x)g(x) = f'(x)g(x) + f(x)g'(x)`

And the chain rule states that
`d/dx f(g(x)) = f'(g(x))g'(x)`

We'll start by applying the product rule:
`dy/dx = 6x^2(x^3 - 3)^4 +2x^3(d/dx (x^3 - 3)^4)`

Now we use the chain rule to differentiate the parenthetical term:
`= 6x^2(x^3 - 3)^4 +2x^3(4(x^3 - 3)^3 * 3x^2)`

We can simplify a bit to make things cleaner and combine terms:
`= 6x^2(x^3 - 3)^4 +24x^5(x^3 - 3)^3`