| Original Rule |
Generalized Rule (Chain Rule) |
d
 dx |
f(x) = g(x) |
|
d
 dx |
f(u) = g(u) |
du
 dx |
|
General form of Chain Rule |
d
 dx |
xn = nx n 1 |
|
|
Generalized Power Rule |
|
|
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Example |
d
 dx |
sin x = cos x |
|
d
 dx |
sin u = cos u |
du
 dx |
|
(Press here for text on trig functions.) |
d
 dx |
logb(x) |
= |
1
 x ln(b) |
|
d
 dx |
logb(u)
| = |
1
 u ln(b) |
du
 dx |
|
(Logarithm with arbitary base) |
d
 dx |
ln x |
= |
1
 x |
|
|
(Natural Logarithm) |
| The Above Rule in Words:The derivative of the natural logarithm of a quantity is the reciprocal of that quantity, times the derivative of that quantity.
|
d
 dx |
bx |
= |
bx ln(b) |
|
d
 dx |
bu
| = |
bu ln(b) |
du
 dx |
|
 |
d
 dx |
ex |
= |
ex |
|
d
 dx |
eu
| = |
eu |
du
 dx |
|
 |
| The Above Rule in Words:The derivative of e raised to a quantity is e raised to that quantity, times the derivative of that quantity.
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