Using Chain and/or Product Rule

Vertciel

Junior Member
Joined
May 13, 2007
Messages
78
Hello everyone:

I am wondering if it is possible to use both the chain rule and product rule to differentiate something.

For example, if I am trying to find the second derivative of \(\displaystyle f(x) = \cos x\):

\(\displaystyle f(x) = \cos x\)

\(\displaystyle f'(x) = -\sin x\)

Applying the Product Rule:

\(\displaystyle f''(x) = 0 + (-1)(\cos x)\)

\(\displaystyle f''(x) = -\cos x\)

When I apply the Chain Rule:

\(\displaystyle f(x) = \sin x\), \(\displaystyle f'(x) = cos x\)
\(\displaystyle g(x) = -x\), \(\displaystyle g'(x) = -1\)

Therefore:

\(\displaystyle f''(x) = -\cos(-x)\)

This is different from when I got by using the product rule.
 
It's not different.\(\displaystyle -cos(-x) = -cos(x)\)
 
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