Derivatives of Compositions

The first thing to notice when finding the derivative of this function is that it is a composition of two functions, as shown below:

V

=

cos()

where

=

tan(t)

The Chain Rule (Derivative Rule for Compositions):

The derivative of a composition is the product of the derivative of the outer function (with the inner function plugged in) and the derivative of the inner function.

If   z = f( g(x) ) then the derivative of z is   z' = ( f(g(x)) )'     = f '(g(x)) g '(x)

Or, if   z = f( ), where = g(x) then the derivative of z is   z' = ( f( ) )'     = f '( ) ( )'     = f '( ) g '(x)

So our example,

V

=

cos()

where

=

tan(t)

V

=

f( )

, where

=

g(t)

=

tan(t)

V '	= (	f( )		)'
	=	f '( )	( )'
	=	( cos() )'	( tan(t) )'

( cos() )'	=	(-1)*sin()	(by the derivative rules for basic functions)
( tan(t) )'	=	( 1 / (cos(t))2 )	(by the derivative rules for basic functions)

V '	=	(-1)*sin()	( 1 / (cos(t))2 )
	=	(-1)*sin(tan(t))	( 1 / (cos(t))2 )
	=	(-1)*sin(tan(t)) (1 / (cos(t))2)