The Chain Rule:

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

=
n n 1
'
d
f x n f x f x
dx


Example: Find the derivative of following functions.

a.
( )
3
2
f(x) x 2 =
Solution:
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

= = =
3 1 ' 2 2
' 2 2 2 2
f (x) 3 x 2 x 2 3 x 2 2x 6x x 2

b.
2
1
f(x)
x 3x
=
+

Solution :
( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
( )

= + +

= + +

= + = +

+

+
=

1 1 '
' 2 2
2
' 2
1
' 2
2
2
'
2
2
f (x) 1 x 3x x 3x
f (x) 1 x 3x 2x 3
1
f (x) 1 2x 3 f(x) x 3x
x 3x
2x 3
f (x)
x 3x


c.
7
2t 1
f(t)
t 3
+ | |
=
|

\

Solution :

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )

+ + | | | |
=
| |

\ \
| |
+
+ | |
|
=
|
|
\
\
| |

+ | |
|
=
|
|
\
\
| |
+ + | |
|
=
|
|
\
\
+ |
=

\
7 1 '
'
' '
6
'
2
6
'
2
6
'
2
'
2t 1 2t 1
f (t) 7
t 3 t 3
2t 1 t 3 t 3 2t 1
2t 1
f (t) 7
t 3
t 3
2 t 3 1 2t 1
2t 1
f (t) 7
t 3
t 3
2t 1 2t 6 2t 1
f (t) 7
t 3
t 3
2t 1
f (t) 7
t 3
( )
( )
( )
( )
| |
|
|

|
|

\
| |
+ | |
|
=
|
|
\
\
| |
+
|
=
|

\
6
2
6
'
2
6
'
3
5
t 3
2t 1 35
f (t)
t 3
t 3
35 2t 1
f (t)
t 3





Higher Order Derivatives: Collectively the second, third, fourth, etc. derivatives are
called higher order derivatives.
Example: Find the fourth derivative of the function
= +
3 2
f(x) 5x 3x 10x 5
.

By this point we should be able to differentiate this function without any problems. Doing
this we get,



Now, this is a function and so it can be differentiated. Here is the notation that well use for
that, as well as the derivative.
( )
( )
'
'' '
( ) 30 6 f x f x x = =

This is called the second derivative and
'
( ) f x is now called the first derivative.

Again, this is a function so we can differentiate it again. This will be called the third
derivative. Here is that derivative as well as the notation for the third derivative.
( )
( )
'
''' ''
( ) 30 f x f x = =

Continuing, we can differentiate again. This is called, oddly enough, the fourth derivative.
Were also going to be changing notation at this point. We can keep adding on primes, but
that will get cumbersome after awhile.



This process can continue but notice that we will get zero for all derivatives after this point.

Example: Find the fourth derivative of the function =
5 3
2
1
f(x) 4 x x
8x
.



Homework

1. Find the derivative of each function.

a.
( )
5
2
f(x) x x 4 = + b.
( )
20
2
f(x) 3x 5x = + c.
( )
7
5 2
f(x) x 3x 6 = +

d.
( )
1
3 2
3
f(x) 2x x 15

= + e.
( )
2
2
2
f(x)
5x 3x 1
=
+
f.
2
1
f(x)
4x 1
=
+

g. ( ) ( )
5 3
f(x) x 1 3x 1 = + h. ( )
3
2
3
f(x) x 1 5x

| |
= + +
|
\
i.
3
3x 9
f(x)
2x 4
| |
=
|
+
\

j.
2x 1
f(t)
3x 1

=
+
k. ( )
5
2
f(x) 2x 3 x 2x =


2. Find the second derivative of each function.
a.
2
f(x) 3x 7x 2 = + b.
( )
7
2
f(x) x 1 = + c.
2
x
f(x)
x 1
=

3. Find the third derivative of each function.

a.
4 3
f(x) 5x 3x = b.
2
f(x)
x
= c. f(x) 3x 2 =

4.
x 3
f(x) f '(9) ?
3
x
= + = 5.
20
f(x) (2x 5) f '(2) ? = =

6.
3
x 2
f(x) f '(3) ?
x 2
+ | |
= =
|

\
7.
4 5
(3x 1)(2x 3) '(1) ? = + =

8.
2 3
f(x) (x 4x)(x 2x) f '(1) ? = + = 9.
3 2
f(x) x 3x 5 f '(x) ? = + + =

10.
4 3 2
f(x) x 2x 3x 5 f '(x) ? = + + = 11.
3 2 3
f(x) (x 2x) f '(x) ? = + =

12.
( )
2 2
d
f(x) x x f (x) ?
dx
= + = (Find the !econd "ri#e)