Derivative Calculator

Derivative of $\sin\left(x^{2}\right)$

Differentiated with respect to x. Edit the function · Differentiation rules

Step-by-step solution

Input function
$$\sin\left(x^{2}\right)$$
Start of the differentiation
$$\frac{d}{dx}{\left[\sin\left(x^{2}\right)\right]}$$

Yellow: the expression being replaced. Green: its replacement.

Step 1 — Derivative of Sine (Chain Rule) Differentiation rule
📖 Rule
$$\frac{d}{dx}\sin\left(u\right)=\cos\left(u\right)\cdot u'$$
With:
  • $u = x^{2}$

Why: Differentiate the outer function while keeping its inner argument u. Multiply by u' and evaluate that inner derivative in its own step.

How does this rule work? Wikipedia
🧮 Current expression
$$\bbox[#fff1b8, padding:0.15em]{{\color{black}{\vphantom{\dfrac{d}{dx}}\,\frac{d}{dx}{\left[\sin\left(x^{2}\right)\right]}\,}}}$$
✨ After: Derivative of Sine (Chain Rule)
$$\bbox[#d6f5df, padding:0.15em]{{\color{black}{\vphantom{\dfrac{d}{dx}}\,\cos\left(x^{2}\right)\,\frac{d}{dx}{\left[x^{2}\right]}\,}}}$$
Step 2 — Power Rule (special case) Differentiation rule
📖 Rule
$$\frac{d}{dx}\left(u^{c}\right)=c\,u^{c-1}$$
With:
  • $u = x$
  • $c = 2$

Why: Bring the current exponent down as a multiplier and subtract one from the exponent. Evaluate that small calculation in a separate step.

Changed part: $\frac{d}{dx}{\left[x^{2}\right]} \;\Longrightarrow\; 2\,x^{2 - 1}$
How does this rule work? Wikipedia
🧮 Current expression
$$\cos\left(x^{2}\right)\,\bbox[#fff1b8, padding:0.15em]{{\color{black}{\vphantom{\dfrac{d}{dx}}\,\frac{d}{dx}{\left[x^{2}\right]}\,}}}$$
✨ After: Power Rule (special case)
$$\cos\left(x^{2}\right) \cdot \bbox[#d6f5df, padding:0.15em]{{\color{black}{\vphantom{\dfrac{d}{dx}}\,2\,x^{2 - 1}\,}}}$$
Step 3 — Evaluate numbers Simplification
📖 Rule

Why: Evaluate only the highlighted numeric expression, preserving exact fractions and decimals.

Changed part: $2 - 1 \;\Longrightarrow\; 1$
🧮 Current expression
$$\cos\left(x^{2}\right) \cdot 2\,x^{\bbox[#fff1b8, padding:0.15em]{{\color{black}{\vphantom{\dfrac{d}{dx}}\,2 - 1\,}}}}$$
✨ After: Evaluate numbers
$$\cos\left(x^{2}\right) \cdot 2\,x^{\bbox[#d6f5df, padding:0.15em]{{\color{black}{\vphantom{\dfrac{d}{dx}}\,1\,}}}}$$
Step 4 — Power with exponent one Simplification
📖 Rule
$$a^1=a$$

Why: An expression to the first power is the expression itself.

Changed part: $x^{1} \;\Longrightarrow\; x$
🧮 Current expression
$$\cos\left(x^{2}\right) \cdot 2\,\bbox[#fff1b8, padding:0.15em]{{\color{black}{\vphantom{\dfrac{d}{dx}}\,x^{1}\,}}}$$
✨ After: Power with exponent one
$$\cos\left(x^{2}\right) \cdot 2\,\bbox[#d6f5df, padding:0.15em]{{\color{black}{\vphantom{\dfrac{d}{dx}}\,x\,}}}$$
Step 5 — Order the factors Simplification
📖 Rule
$$u\cdot c=c\cdot u$$

Why: The order of factors may be changed (commutative law). Usual order: number, constants, powers of the variable, other factors.

🧮 Current expression
$$\bbox[#fff1b8, padding:0.15em]{{\color{black}{\vphantom{\dfrac{d}{dx}}\,\cos\left(x^{2}\right) \cdot 2\,x\,}}}$$
✨ After: Order the factors
$$\bbox[#d6f5df, padding:0.15em]{{\color{black}{\vphantom{\dfrac{d}{dx}}\,2\,x\,\cos\left(x^{2}\right)\,}}}$$
Final result
$$2\,x\,\cos\left(x^{2}\right)$$
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Cross-check with a computer algebra system

The derivative computed directly by the computer algebra system Maxima:

$$2\,x\,\cos\left(x^{2}\right)$$
Step-by-step result ↔ Maxima: identical ✓