Introduction
In this Section we will see how to obtain the derivative of a composite function (often referred to as a ‘function of a function’). To do this we use the chain rule . This rule can be used to obtain the derivatives of functions such as (the exponential function of a polynomial); (the sine function of the natural logarithm function); (the square root function of a polynomial).
Prerequisites
- be able to differentiate standard functions
- be able to use the product and quotient rule for finding derivatives
Learning Outcomes
- differentiate a function of a function using the chain rule
- differentiate a power function
Contents
1 The meaning of a function of a function2 The derivative of a function of a function
3 Power functions