Derivative of Tangent Function

Theorem

 * $D_x \left({\tan x}\right) = \sec^2 x = \dfrac 1 {\cos^2 x}$, when $\cos x \ne 0$.

Proof

 * From the definition of the tangent function, $\tan x = \dfrac {\sin x} {\cos x}$.
 * From Derivative of Sine Function we have $D_x \left({\sin x}\right) = \cos x$.
 * From Derivative of Cosine Function we have $D_x \left({\cos x}\right) = -\sin x$.

Then:

This is valid only when $\cos x \ne 0$.

The result follows from the definition of the secant function.