How do you find the derivative of #y=1/cosx#?

1 Answer
Dec 19, 2016

# dy/dx = secx *tanx #

Explanation:

If you are studying maths, then you should learn the Chain Rule for Differentiation, and practice how to use it:

If # y=f(x) # then # f'(x)=dy/dx=dy/(du)(du)/dx #

I was taught to remember that the differential can be treated like a fraction and that the "#dx#'s" of a common variable will "cancel" (It is important to realise that #dy/dx# isn't a fraction but an operator that acts on a function, there is no such thing as "#dx#" or "#dy#" on its own!). The chain rule can also be expanded to further variables that "cancel", E.g.

# dy/dx = dy/(dv)(dv)/(du)(du)/dx # etc, or # (dy/dx = dy/color(red)cancel(dv)color(red)cancel(dv)/color(blue)cancel(du)color(blue)cancel(du)/dx) #

So with # y = 1/cosx #, Then:

# { ("Let "u=cosx, => , (du)/dx=-sinx), ("Then "y=1/u, =>, dy/(du)=-1/u^2 ) :}#

Using # dy/dx=(dy/(du))((du)/dx) # we get:

# \ \ \ \ \ dy/dx = (-1/u^2)(-sinx) #
# :. dy/dx = 1/cos^2x *sinx #
# :. dy/dx = 1/cosx *sinx/cosx #
# :. dy/dx = secx *tanx #