Chain Rule

AP Calculus · Axiom Academy

The most important rule in calculus Step 1: What is a Composite Function? A composite function is a function inside another function. For example: The outer function is and the inner function is Most complicated-looking functions are actually composites. The Chain Rule tells us how to differentiate them. Follow these steps when using the Chain Rule: Identify the outer and inner functions. Ask: "What's applied last?" Write down the inner function. Often denoted as Find the derivative of the outer function. Treat u as your variable. Find the derivative of the inner function. This is Multiply them together. This is your answer. You've mastered the Chain Rule! Next: Derivatives of trigonometric functions using the rules you've learned.

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