Rules for Derivatives and Chain Rule Counterparts

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 n1
d

dx
un = nun1
du

dx
Generalized Power Rule
d

dx
4x1 = 4x2
d

dx
4u1 = 4u2
du

dx
Example
d

dx
sin x = cos x
d

dx
sin u = cos u
du

dx
(Press herefor 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
d

dx
ln (u) =
1

u
du

dx
(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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