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Theorem

Chain Rule

Analysis

The chain rule is a formula in calculus that gives the derivative of a composed function built from two differentiable functions. If a function h is formed by first applying a function y and then applying a function z to the result, the chain rule states that the derivative of h at a point equals the derivative of z at the value y takes at that point, multiplied by the derivative of y at that point. In the notation where z depends on y and y depends on x, this is usually written as the derivative of z with respect to x equals the derivative of z with respect to y multiplied by the derivative of y with respect to x. The rule is one of the basic tools of differential calculus, since it lets a complicated function built out of simpler functions be differentiated by differentiating each simpler piece separately.

Facts
Statement
The chain rule expresses the derivative of the composition of two differentiable functions z and y in terms of the derivatives of z and y. 1
Classification
Statement Form
Identity or Equation 1
Connections

Has Statement Form

Equation, Concepts

Entity-backed identity for the statement-form enum value this theorem already carries, resolved to a mathematics concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The statement-form fact itself stays on the theorem unchanged.

Identity, Concepts

Entity-backed identity for the statement-form enum value this theorem already carries, resolved to a mathematics concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The statement-form fact itself stays on the theorem unchanged.

In Branch

Source Chain rule (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Chain rule (Wikipedia)
Lead sentence
Quote, Lead sentence
In calculus, the chain rule is a formula that expresses the derivative of the composition of two differentiable functions z and y in terms of the derivatives of z and y.
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