TITLE: Why is the following NOT a proof of The Chain Rule?
QUESTION [7 upvotes]: In Leibniz notation of the chain rule, 
$$\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{dy}{du} \cdot \frac{du}{dx}$$
Where $y\left ( u\left ( x \right ) \right )$ is a composite function of x.
I understand that the du's don't simply cancel out because $\frac{dy}{du}$ and $\frac{du}{dx}$ are defined as specific limits making the numerator and denominator infinitesimals and thus making the whole thing indeterminate and inoperable on. 
But applying the definition of a derivative, we can express the above like so: 
$$\lim_{\Delta x\to 0} \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} = \lim_{\Delta u\to 0} \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta u} \cdot \lim_{\Delta x\to 0} \frac{\Delta u}{\Delta x}$$
At this point we can't use the Product Law of Limits to combine the two limits on the right. 
But if we consider a coordinate system u vs x, doesn't $\Delta u \rightarrow 0$ when $\Delta x \rightarrow 0$ ? And if so,  then whenever $\Delta u \rightarrow 0$ we necessarily have $\Delta x \rightarrow 0$. 
Then can't we rewrite the above limit equation as: 
$$\lim_{\Delta x\to 0} \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} = \lim_{\Delta x\to 0} \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta u} \cdot \lim_{\Delta x\to 0} \frac{\Delta u}{\Delta x}$$
And then can't we use the Product Law of Limits to say: 
$$\lim_{\Delta x\to 0} \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} = \lim_{\Delta x\to 0} \left (  \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta u} \cdot \frac{\Delta u}{\Delta x} \right )$$
And since $\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta u}$ and $\frac{\Delta u}{\Delta x}$ within the quantity who's limit is being taken are no longer "quotients" infinitesimals,  Δu's can cancel, leaving us with: 
$$\lim_{\Delta x\to 0} \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} = \lim_{\Delta x\to 0}   \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} $$
Which in Leibniz notations looks like: 
$$\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{dy}{dx}$$
Q.E.D (Since we manipulated the right hand side of the equation into looking the same as the left hand side).

REPLY [3 votes]: The proof given in question is almost rigorous and correct but written in reverse (as pointed out by Wazul). Moreover this is a very standard proof of the chain rule. Contrary to what many students think this proof is not based on infinitesimals. But we do need to add some details.

Let $u = g(x)$ be differentiable and $y = f(u)$ be also differentiable. Then $y = f(g(x)) = (f \circ g)(x)$ and the Chain Rule says that $$\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{dy}{du}\cdot\frac{du}{dx}$$ or $$(f\circ g)'(x) = f'(u)g'(x) = f'(g(x))g'(x)$$ The proof in the question needs to be supplemented with proper definitions of $\Delta u, \Delta y$.
We have $\Delta u = g(x + \Delta x) - g(x)$ and $$\frac{du}{dx} = g'(x) = \lim_{\Delta x \to 0}\frac{g(x + \Delta x) - g(x)}{\Delta x} = \lim_{\Delta x \to 0}\frac{\Delta u}{\Delta x}$$ And similarly with $\Delta y = f(u + \Delta u) - f(u)$ we have $$\frac{dy}{du} = f'(u) = \lim_{\Delta u \to 0}\frac{f(u + \Delta u) - f(u)}{\Delta u} = \lim_{\Delta u \to 0}\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta u}$$ We then have
\begin{align}
\frac{dy}{dx} &= (f\circ g)'(x) = \lim_{\Delta x \to 0}\frac{(f \circ g)(x + \Delta x) - (f \circ g)(x)}{\Delta x}\notag\\
&= \lim_{\Delta x \to 0}\frac{f(g(x + \Delta x)) - f(g(x))}{\Delta x}\notag\\
&= \lim_{\Delta x \to 0}\frac{f(g(x) + \Delta u) - f(g(x))}{\Delta x}\notag\\
&= \lim_{\Delta x \to 0}\frac{f(u + \Delta u) - f(u)}{\Delta x}\notag\\
&= \lim_{\Delta x \to 0}\frac{f(u + \Delta u) - f(u)}{\Delta u}\cdot\frac{\Delta u}{\Delta x}\text{ (assume }\Delta u \neq 0)\notag\\
&= \lim_{\Delta x \to 0}\frac{f(u + \Delta u) - f(u)}{\Delta u}\cdot\frac{g(x + \Delta x) - g(x)}{\Delta x}\notag\\
&= \lim_{\Delta u \to 0}\frac{f(u + \Delta u) - f(u)}{\Delta u}\cdot\lim_{\Delta x \to 0}\frac{g(x + \Delta x) - g(x)}{\Delta x}\notag\\
&= f'(u)g'(x)\notag\\
&= \frac{dy}{du}\cdot\frac{du}{dx}
\end{align}
We have assumed in the above that $\Delta u \neq 0$ when $\Delta x \to 0$. Also by continuity of $u = g(x)$ (note that differentiability implies continuity) we have $\Delta u \to 0$ as $\Delta x \to 0$.

The above argument fails when $\Delta u = g(x + \Delta x) - g(x)$ vanishes for infinitely many values of $\Delta x$ as $\Delta x \to 0$. In this case we we have $du/dx = g'(x) = 0$. Why? Because if $g'(x) \neq 0$ then the ratio $\Delta u / \Delta x \neq 0$ for all small values of $\Delta x$ and hence $\Delta u \neq 0$ for all small values of $\Delta x$.
Hence if $\Delta u = 0$ for infinitely many small values of $\Delta x$ then $du/dx = g'(x) = 0$. We show that in this case $dy/dx = 0$. Clearly for those values of $\Delta x$ for which $\Delta u = 0$ we also have $\Delta y = f(u + \Delta u) - f(u) = 0$ so that the ratio $\Delta y/\Delta x = 0$. For values of $\Delta x$ where $\Delta u \neq 0$ we know that $\Delta y/\Delta u$ is bounded (because the derivative $dy/du$ exists) and the ratio $\Delta u/\Delta x$ can be made arbitrarily small (because its limit is $du/dx = 0$). Hence the overall product $$\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} = \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta u}\cdot\frac{\Delta u}{\Delta x}$$ can be made arbitrarily small by choosing $\Delta x$ sufficiently small. It follows that $\Delta y / \Delta x$ can be made arbitrary small for all sufficiently small values of $\Delta x$. It follows that $$\frac{dy}{dx} = \lim_{\Delta x \to 0}\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} = 0$$ and therefore the chain rule holds true in this case also.
Note that most common textbooks of calculus omit the discussion of the case when $\Delta u = 0$. Also it is much better to type and understand if $\Delta x$ is replaced by $h$ and $\Delta u$ is replace by $k$. However I have tried to stick to the notation used by OP.