Table of contents
- 0. Functions7h 52m
- Introduction to Functions16m
- Piecewise Functions10m
- Properties of Functions9m
- Common Functions1h 8m
- Transformations5m
- Combining Functions27m
- Exponent rules32m
- Exponential Functions28m
- Logarithmic Functions24m
- Properties of Logarithms34m
- Exponential & Logarithmic Equations35m
- Introduction to Trigonometric Functions38m
- Graphs of Trigonometric Functions44m
- Trigonometric Identities47m
- Inverse Trigonometric Functions48m
- 1. Limits and Continuity2h 2m
- 2. Intro to Derivatives1h 33m
- 3. Techniques of Differentiation3h 18m
- 4. Applications of Derivatives2h 38m
- 5. Graphical Applications of Derivatives6h 2m
- 6. Derivatives of Inverse, Exponential, & Logarithmic Functions2h 37m
- 7. Antiderivatives & Indefinite Integrals1h 26m
- 8. Definite Integrals4h 44m
- 9. Graphical Applications of Integrals2h 27m
- 10. Physics Applications of Integrals 2h 22m
3. Techniques of Differentiation
The Chain Rule
Problem 3.19
Textbook Question
Find the derivatives of the functions in Exercises 1–42.
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𝓻 = sin √ 2θ

1
Identify the function to differentiate: \( r = \sin(\sqrt{2\theta}) \). This is a composition of functions, involving a sine function and a square root function.
Apply the chain rule for differentiation, which states that the derivative of a composite function \( f(g(x)) \) is \( f'(g(x)) \cdot g'(x) \). Here, \( f(x) = \sin(x) \) and \( g(x) = \sqrt{2\theta} \).
Differentiate the outer function \( f(x) = \sin(x) \) with respect to its argument: \( f'(x) = \cos(x) \).
Differentiate the inner function \( g(x) = \sqrt{2\theta} \) with respect to \( \theta \). First, express \( \sqrt{2\theta} \) as \( (2\theta)^{1/2} \) and use the power rule: \( \frac{d}{d\theta}(2\theta)^{1/2} = \frac{1}{2}(2\theta)^{-1/2} \cdot 2 \).
Combine the results using the chain rule: \( \frac{dr}{d\theta} = \cos(\sqrt{2\theta}) \cdot \frac{1}{2}(2\theta)^{-1/2} \cdot 2 \). Simplify the expression to find the derivative.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Derivatives
A derivative represents the rate of change of a function with respect to its variable. It is a fundamental concept in calculus that allows us to determine how a function behaves at any given point. The derivative can be interpreted as the slope of the tangent line to the curve of the function at a specific point.
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Derivatives
Chain Rule
The chain rule is a formula for computing the derivative of a composite function. If a function is composed of two or more functions, the chain rule states that the derivative of the outer function is multiplied by the derivative of the inner function. This is particularly useful when dealing with functions that involve nested expressions, such as trigonometric functions of other functions.
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Trigonometric Functions
Trigonometric functions, such as sine and cosine, relate angles to ratios of sides in right triangles. In calculus, these functions are essential for modeling periodic phenomena and are often involved in differentiation and integration. Understanding their properties and derivatives is crucial for solving problems involving angles and oscillatory behavior.
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Introduction to Trigonometric Functions
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