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Chain Rule Implicit Differentiation Worksheet with Answers – AP Calculus AB (Free PDF)

Last updated: October 22, 2026 · Written by the Math Made Easy math teachers

AP Calculus AB Math Worksheets – Mathbot, the Math Made Easy robot coach, with free printable worksheets for AP Calculus AB

These 20 problems follow AP Calculus AB Unit 3: the chain rule, implicit differentiation, derivatives of inverse functions and inverse trigonometric functions, and higher-order derivatives. Early problems isolate one layer of a composition; later ones combine several rules.

The final six problems mix contexts and multi-step reasoning, including a pressure model, a camera angle and a curve with horizontal and vertical tangents.

Standards: AP Calculus AB Unit 3 · Level: Grade 12 AP Calculus AB

Problem 2 Chain rule with a root ★★★

Compute the derivative of f(x) = √(3x2 + 16).

Problem 3 Chain rule with e ★★★

Find f′(x) for f(x) = ex2 − 3x.

Problem 4 Chain rule with a logarithm ★★★

Find f′(x) for f(x) = ln(x2 + 4x).

Problem 5 Chain rule with sine ★★★

Find f′(x) for f(x) = sin(3x2).

Problem 6 Chain rule at a point ★★★

Let f(x) = (2x2 − 1)3. Evaluate f′(1).

Problem 7 Chain rule from a table ★★★

Let h(x) = f(g(x)). Use the table to find h′(1).

x 1 2
g(x) 2 1
g′(x) 4 2
f(x) 5 7
f′(x) 6 −3

Problem 8 Product rule with the chain rule ★★★

Use the product rule together with the chain rule to differentiate f(x) = x3e−2x.

Problem 9 Quotient rule with the chain rule ★★★

Find f′(x) for f(x) = sin 2xx2.

Problem 10 Slope on a circle ★★★

The circle x2 + y2 = 169 contains the point (5, 12). Find dydx and the slope of the tangent line at (5, 12).

−6−4−2246−6−4−2246xy(5, 12)
Circle of radius 13.

Problem 11 Implicit differentiation with a product ★★★

The curve x2y + y3 = 10 contains (1, 2). Find dydx at that point.

Problem 12 Tangent line to an implicit curve ★★★

Write the equation of the line tangent to x2 + xy + y2 = 7 at (2, 1).

Problem 13 Derivative of an inverse function ★★★

Let f(x) = x3 + x, which is one-to-one, and let g be its inverse. Find g′(10).

−4−2246−4−2246xy(1, 2)(2, 1)
Graph of f and its inverse g.

Problem 14 Inverse derivative from a table ★★★

The function f is differentiable and one-to-one with the values shown. If g is its inverse, find g′(7).

x 1 2 3
f(x) 4 7 11
f′(x) 2 3 5

Problem 15 Inverse trigonometric derivatives ★★★

Find the derivative of

  1. arctan(4x)
  2. arcsin(x2)

Problem 16 Second derivative of a sum ★★★

Let f(x) = x5 − 4x3 + e2x. Find f″(x) and f″(0).

Problem 17 Second derivative of an implicit curve ★★★

On the circle x2 + y2 = 36, find d2ydx2 at the point (0, 6).

Problem 18 Pressure on a climbing balloon ★★★

Air pressure, in kilopascals, at height h kilometers is P(h) = 100e−0.2h. A balloon’s height is h(t) = 5 + 3t km after t hours. Find the rate of change of pressure at t = 2.

Problem 19 Camera tracking a rocket ★★★

A camera sits 20 feet from the base of a launch pad and tracks a rocket at height x feet. The angle of elevation is θ = arctan(x/20). Find dθdx when x = 15.

θ20 ftheight x ftcamerarocket
Camera and rocket.

Problem 20 Horizontal and vertical tangents ★★★

Find all points on x2 − xy + y2 = 3 where the tangent line is horizontal and all points where it is vertical.

−3−2−1123−3−2−1123xy
The curve x2 − xy + y2 = 3.

View the Chain Rule Implicit Differentiation worksheet answer key

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