LESSON 8: Higher-Order Derivatives and the Chain Rule

TIME FRAME: 4 hours

LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of the lesson, the learner shall be able to:

1. Compute higher-order derivatives of functions;

2. Illustrate the Chain Rule of differentiation; and
3. Solve problems using the Chain Rule.

LESSON OUTLINE:

1. Definition of higher order derivatives

2. Examples on computing higher order derivatives
3. The Chain Rule
4. Examples and problems

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 TOPIC 8.1: Higher-Order Derivatives of Functions

DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON

(A) INTRODUCTION

Consider the polynomial function f (x) = x4 + 3x3 4x + 2. Its derivative,

f 0 (x) = 4x3 + 9x2 4,

is again differentiable. Therefore, we may still differentiate f 0 to get

(f 0 )0 (x) = f 00 (x) = 12x2 + 18x.

This is again another differentiable function. We call f 00 and its subsequent derivatives
the higher-order derivatives of f . Like f 0 , which we interpret as the slope of the tangent
line, the function f 00 will have an interpretation on the graph of f (This will be a lesson in
college). It also has an important interpretation in physics if f denotes the displacement
of a particle. For now, this lesson will reinforce our skills in differentiating functions.

(B) LESSON PROPER

dy
Consider the function y = f (x). The derivative y 0 , f 0 (x), Dx y or is called the first
dx
derivative of f with respect to x. The derivative of the first derivative is called the second
derivative of f with respect to x and is denoted by any of the following symbols:

d2 y
y 00 , f 00 (x) , Dx2 y ,
dx2
The third derivative of f with respect to x is the derivative of the second derivative and
is denoted by any of the following symbols:

d3 y
y 000 , f 000 (x) , Dx3 y ,
dx3
In general, the nth derivative of f with respect to x is the derivative of the (n 1)st
derivative and is denoted by any of the following symbols:
dn y
y (n) , f (n) (x) , Dxn y ,
dxn
Formally, we have the following definition.

Definition 4. The nth derivative of the function f is defined recursively by

f (x + ∆x) f (x)
f 0 (x) = lim for n = 1, and
∆x!0 ∆x

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 f (n 1) (x
+ ∆x) f (n 1) (x)
f (n) (x) = lim for n > 1,
∆x!0 ∆x
provided that these limits exist. Thus, the nth derivative of f is just the derivative of the
(n 1)st derivative of f .

Remark 1:
(a) The function f can be written as f (0) (x).
(b) In the notation f (n) (x), n is called the order of the derivative.

EXAMPLE 1:
1. Find the fourth derivative of the function f (x) = x5 3x4 + 2x3 x2 + 4x 10.

Solution. We differentiate the function repeatedly and obtain

f 0 (x) = 5x4 12x3 + 6x2 2x + 4

f 00 (x) = 20x3 36x2 + 12x 2
f 000 (x) = 60x2 72x + 12
(4)
f (x) = 120x 72.

2. Find the first and second derivatives of the function defined by

y = (3x2 4)(x2 3x).

Solution. Using the Product Rule, we compute the first derivative:

y 0 = (3x2 4)Dx (x2 3x) + (x2 3x)Dx (3x2 4)

= (3x2 4)(2x 3) + (x2 3x)(6x)
= 6x3 9x2 8x + 12 + 6x3 18x2
= 12x3 27x2 8x + 12.

Similarly, we obtain the second derivative:

y 00 = Dx (12x3 27x2 8x + 12)

= 36x2 54x 8.

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 3x + 5 d2 y
3. Let y = . Find .
x2 + 4 dx2
Solution. Using the Quotient Rule twice, we have

dy (x2 + 4)Dx (3x + 5) (3x + 5)Dx (x2 + 4)

=
dx (x2 + 4)2
2
(x + 4)(3) (3x + 5)(2x)
=
(x2 + 4)2
3x2 + 12 6x2 10x
=
(x2 + 4)2
12 10x 3x2
= ,
(x2 + 4)2
and

d2 y d 12 10x 3x2
✓ ◆
=
dx2 dx (x2 + 4)2
d 12 10x 3x2
✓ ◆
=
dx x4 + 8x2 + 16
d d 4
(x4 + 8x2 + 16) (12 10x 3x2 ) (12 10x 3x2 ) (x + 8x2 + 16)
= dx dx
(x4 + 8x2 + 16)2
(x4 + 8x2 + 16)( 10 6x) (12 10x 3x2 )(4x3 + 16x)
=
(x4 + 8x2 + 16)2
6x5 + 30x4 48x3 + 80x2 288x 160
= .
(x4 + 8x2 + 16)2
.

4. Find the third derivative of the function defined by g(x) = 4x2 ex + 5xex 10ex .

Solution. We differentiate repeatedly (applying the Product Rule) and obtain

g (1) (x) = [( 4x2 )(ex ) + (ex )( 8x)] + [(5x)(ex ) + (ex )(5) 10 · ex ]

= 4x2 ex 3xex 5ex
= ex ( 4x2 3x 5).

g (2) (x) = (ex )( 8x 3) + ( 4x2 3x 5)(ex )

= ex ( 4x2 11x 8).

g (3) (x) = (ex )( 8x 11) + ( 4x2 11x 8)(ex )

= ex ( 4x2 19x 19).

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 .

5. If f (x) = ex sin x 3ex cos x, find f (5) (x).

Solution. We differentiate repeatedly (applying the Product Rule) and obtain

f (1) (x) = [(ex )(cos x) + (sin x)(ex )] 3 · [(ex )( sin x) + (cos x)(ex )]
= ex cos x + ex sin x + 3ex sin x 3ex cos x
= ex (4 sin x 2 cos x).

f (2) (x) = ex [4(cos x) 2( sin x)] + (4 sin x 2 cos x)(ex )

= ex (2 cos x + 6 sin x).

f (3) (x) = ex [2( sin x) + 6(cos x)] + (2 cos x + 6 sin x)(ex )

= ex (8 cos x + 4 sin x).

f (4) (x) = ex [8( sin x) + 4(cos x)] + (8 cos x + 4 sin x)(ex )

= ex (12 cos x 4 sin x).

f (5) (x) = ex [12( sin x) 4(cos x)] + (12 cos x 4 sin x)(ex )
= ex (8 cos x 16 sin x).

(C) EXERCISES

1. Find y 0 , y 00 , y 000 , and y 0000 for the following expressions:

1
a. y = x4 d. y = x 3

7
b. y = x e. y = x3.2
22
c. y = x 7 f. y = x 3.5

2. Find the first and second derivatives of the following:

p t
a. y = x x e. k(t) = p
1 t2
t
b. f (u) = 3 p
pu s3 s
f. h(s) = p
c. f (t) = 3 t 3
s
1
d. g(x) = 2 p
x x
160
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 3. If f (x) = 6x5 5x4 + 3x3 7x2 + 9x 14, then find f (n) (x) for all n 2 N.
⇣⇡ ⌘ ⇣⇡ ⌘ ⇣⇡ ⌘
4. Find f 0 , f 00 , and f 000 , given f (x) = sin x.
6 6 6
5. If g(x) = sin x, then find g (n) (x) for all n 2 N.
p
6. Find f (5) (x) if f (x) = 3 3x + 2.
?7. Find Dx55 (cos x) and Dx56 (cos x).
Answer: Dx55 (cos x) = sin x and Dx56 (cos x) = cos x
?8. Find f (n) (x) for all n 2 N where f (x) = e x. (Hint: Write f (x) as a quotient.)
Answer: f (n) (x) = e x if n is odd while f (n) (x) = e x when n is even.
?9. Let p(x) be a polynomial of degree n with leading coefficient 1. What is p(k) (x) if (a)
k = n; and if (b) k > n.
Answer: (a) n!; (b) 0

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TOPIC 8.2: The Chain Rule

DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON

(A) INTRODUCTION

Consider the following functions:

(a) f (x) = (3x2 2x + 4)2

(b) y = sin 2x

Teaching Tip
Ask the students to find the derivatives f 0 (x) and y 0 of the functions above, before
continuing with your lecture.

Expect some students to use the Power Rule (even when it is not applicable):

Dx [(3x2 2x + 4)2 ] = 2(3x2 2x + 4). (This is incorrect!)

Some may expand the expression first to get

f (x) = 9x4 + 4x2 + 16 12x3 + 24x2 16x = 9x4 12x3 + 28x2 16x + 16

before differentiating:

f 0 (x) = 36x3 36x2 + 56x 16. (This is correct!)

Some may even use product rule and first write the function

f (x) = (3x2 2x + 4)2 = (3x2 2x + 4)(3x2 2x + 4).

Hence,

f 0 (x) = (3x2 2x + 4)Dx (3x2 2x + 4) + (3x2 2x + 4)Dx (3x2 2x + 4)

= 2 · (3x2 2x + 4)(6x 2)
= (36x3 24x2 + 48x) (12x2 8x + 16)
= 36x3 36x2 + 56x 16. (This is correct!)

Ask them if the last two (correct) methods will be doable if

f (x) = (3x2 2x + 4)200 .

162
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 On the other hand, for the function y = sin 2x, some of them may have used a trigonometric
identity to first rewrite y into

y = sin 2x = 2 sin x cos x.

In this case

y 0 = 2[(sin x)( sin x) + (cos x)(cos x)]

= 2(cos2 x sin2 x)
= 2 cos(2x).

In this lesson, students will learn a rule that will allow them to differentiate a given
function without having to perform any preliminary multiplication, or apply any special
formula.
(B) LESSON PROPER

The Chain Rule below provides for a formula for the derivative of a composition of functions.

Theorem 9 (Chain Rule). Let f be a function differentiable at c and let g be a function

differentiable at f (c). Then the composition g f is differentiable at c and

Dx (g f )(c) = g 0 (f (c)) · f 0 (c).

Remark 1: Another way to state the Chain Rule is the following: If y is a differentiable
function of u defined by y = f (u) and u is a differentiable function of x defined by u = g(x),
then y is a differentiable function of x, and the derivative of y with respect to x is given by
dy dy du
= · .
dx du dx

In words, the derivative of a composition of functions is the derivative of the outer function
evaluated at the inner function, times the derivative of the inner function.

EXAMPLE 1:

(a) Recall our first illustration f (x) = (3x2 2x + 4)2 . Find f 0 (x) using the Chain Rule.

Solution. We can rewrite y = f (x) = (3x2 2x + 4)2 as y = f (u) = u2 where

u = 3x2 2x + 4, a differentiable function of x. Using the Chain Rule, we have

dy du
f 0 (x) = y 0 = ·
du dx
= (2u)(6x 2)
2
= 2(3x 2x + 4)(6x 2)
3 2
= 36x 36x + 56x 16.

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 (b) For the second illustration, we have y = sin(2x). Find y 0 using the Chain Rule.

Solution. We can rewrite y = sin(2x) as y = f (u) where f (u) = sin u and u = 2x.
Hence,

dy du
y0 = ·
du dx
= cos u · 2
= 2 cos(2x).

.
dz 4
(c) Find if z = 2 , where a is a real number.
dy (a y 2 )2
4
Solution. Notice that we can write z = as z = 4(a2 y2) 2. Applying
(a2 y 2 )2
the Chain Rule, we have

dz d 2
= 4· 2(a2 y2) 2 1
· (a y2)
dy dy
= 8(a2 y2) 3
· 2y
2 2 3
= 16y(a y )
16y
= .
(a2 y 2 )3
.

Now, suppose we want to find the derivative of a power function of x. That is, we are
interested in Dx [f (x)n ]. To derive a formula for this, we let y = un where u is a differentiable
function of x given by u = f (x). Then by the Chain Rule,

dy dy du
= ·
dx du dx
= nun 1 · f 0 (x)
= n[f (x)]n 1
· f 0 (x)

Thus, Dx [f (x)]n = n[f (x)]n 1 · f 0 (x). This is called the GENERALIZED POWER RULE.

EXAMPLE 2:

(a) What is the derivative of y = (3x2 + 4x 5)5 ?

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 Solution.

Dx [(3x2 + 4x 5)5 ] = 5 · (3x2 + 4x 5)5 1

· Dx (3x2 + 4x 5)
= 5(3x2 + 4x 5)4 (6x + 4).

.
dy p
(b) Find where y = 3x3 + 4x + 1.
dx
Solution.
dy 1 1
= (3x3 + 4x + 1) 2 1 Dx (3x3 + 4x + 1)
dx 2
1 1
= (3x3 4x + 1) 2 (9x2 + 4)
2
9x2 + 4
= p .
2 3x3 4x + 1
.
dy
(c) Find where y = (sin 3x)2 .
dx
Solution.
dy d
= 2 · (sin 3x)2 1
(sin 3x)
·
dx dx
d
= 2(sin 3x) · cos 3x · (3x)
dx
= 2(sin 3x)(cos 3x) · 3
= 6 sin 3x cos 3x.

(d) Differentiate (3x2 5)3 .

Solution.
d(3x2 5)3
= 3(3x2 5)3 1
· Dx (3x2 5)
dx
= 3(3x2 5)2 · 6x
= 18x(3x2 5)2 .

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 dy
(e) Consider the functions y = 3u2 + 4u and u = x2 + 5. Find .
dx
dy dy du dy du
Solution. By the Chain Rule, we have = · where = 6u + 4 and = 2x.
dx du dx du dx
Thus,

dy dy du
= ·
dx du dx
= (6u + 4)(2x)
h i
= 6(x2 + 5) + 4 (2x)
= (6x2 + 34)(2x)
= 12x3 + 68x.

(C) EXERCISES
dy
1. Use the Chain Rule to find in terms of x.
dx
1
a. y = (u 2)3 and u =
p 2x + 1
b. y = u and u = 5x2 3
1 1
c. y = and u =
u+1 x+1
dy
2. Solve for and simplify the result.
dx
a. y = (3x 2)5 (2x2 + 5)6
5x 1 3
✓ ◆
b. y =
2x + 3
p
c. y = x 4 x2
3. Find the derivatives of the following functions as specified:

a. y = sin x2 , y 00 d. g(x) = (x2 + 1)17 , g (2) (x)

p 3.2
b. h(z) = (9z + 4) 2 ,
3
h(3) (z) e. y = (t3 t) , y 00
1 2 d2 y
c. f (x) = sin(cos x), f 00 (x) f. y = x 3 (1 x) 3 ,
dx2

4. Find the first and second derivatives of the following:

a. y = ecos x d. g(x) = 3xe3x

b. f (x) = (ax + b)7 e. y = ex e x

5
c. h(t) = cot3 (et ) f. s =
3 + et
dy p
5. Find if y = sin( x3 + 1).
dx

166
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 ⇣⇡ ⌘ ⇣⇡ ⌘
⇡
6. Find h0 , h00 3 , and h000 , given h(x) = sin x cos 3x.
3 3
7. If f (x) = 6x5 5x4 + 3x3 7x2 + 9x 14, then find f (n) (x) for all x 2 N.

For problems (8) and (9), please refer to the table below:

x f (x) g(x) f 0 (x) g 0 (x) (f g)(x) (f g)0 (x)

2 2 1 1 1
1 1 2 0 2
0 2 1 2 1
1 0 2 1 2
2 1 0 1 1

8. Use the table of values to determine (f g)(x) and (f g)0 (x) at x = 1 and x = 2.
9. Use the table of values to determine (f g)(x) and (f g)0 (x) at x = 2, 1 and 0.
10. Show that z 00 + 4z 0 + 8z = 0 if z = e 2x (sin 2x + cos 2x).
11. If f (x) = x4 and g(x) = x3 , then f 0 (x) = 4x3 and g 0 (x) = 3x2 . The Chain Rule
4
multiplies derivatives to get 12x5 . But f (g(x)) = x3 = x12 and its derivative is NOT
12x5 . Where is the flaw?

167
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