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derivative of e^x^2

What is the derivative of e^x^2?

What is the derivative of e^{x^2}?

Using the chain rule, we will prove that the derivative of e^{x^2} is 2xe^{x^2}.

Proof. Let h(x) = e^{x^2}, f(u) = e^u and g(x) = x^2. We will use the chain rule to determine the derivative, i.e.:
\begin{align*}
h'(x) = \frac{d}{dx}f(g(x)) = f'(g(x))g'(x).
\end{align*}
The derivative of e^x is e^x, which can be verified here. Then we have
\begin{align*}
f'(u) = e^u \quad \text{and} \quad g'(x) = 2x.
\end{align*}
Substituting everything together, we get
\begin{align*}
h'(x) &= f'(g(x))g'(x) \\
&= e^{x^2} \cdot 2x \\
&= 2xe^{x^2}.
\end{align*}
So the derivative of e^{x^2} is 2xe^{x^2}.

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