If f(x) =sinx and g(x) = (x+3)^3 , what is f'(g(x)) ?

1 Answer
Apr 4, 2018

Read below.

Explanation:

Hmm...

Let's let g(x)=y

We now apply this to f(x).

=>f(y)=sin(y) Substitute y with (x+3)^3

=>f(g(x))=sin((x+3)^3)

If you meant to find just f'(g(x))...

Just find the derivative of sin(y)

Since derivative of sin(x) is cos(x)...

=>f'(g(x))=cos((x+3)^3)

If you meant to ask for d/dx[f(g(x))], you use the chain rule:

d/dx[f(g(x))]=f'(g(x))*g'(x)

We already know that f'(g(x))=cos((x+3)^3)

=>d/dx[f(g(x))]=cos((x+3)^3)*d/dx[(x+3)^3]

We use the power rule:

d/dx[x^n]=nx^(n-1) if n is a constant.

=>d/dx[f(g(x))]=cos((x+3)^3)*3(x+3)^(3-1)*d/dx[x^1+3x^0]

Note here that the chain rule is applied again.

=>d/dx[f(g(x))]=cos((x+3)^3)*3(x+3)^2*1*x^(1-1)+3*0*x^(0-1)

=>d/dx[f(g(x))]=cos((x+3)^3)*3(x+3)^2*1*1+0

=>d/dx[f(g(x))]=cos((x+3)^3)*3(x+3)^2

That is the entire derivative calculated.