Section 3.

3 Derivatives of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

Derivatives of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

THEOREM: The function f (x) = loga x is differentiable and

1
f (x) =
x ln a

Proof: We have:

d loga (x + h) loga x 1 x+h
(loga x) = lim = lim loga
dx h0 h h0 h x

1 h 1 x h
= lim loga 1 + = lim loga 1 +
h0 h x h0 x h x
" x/h # " 1/(h/x) #
1 h 1 h
= lim loga 1 + = lim loga 1 +
x h0 x x h0 x

" 1/(h/x) # h
1 h i 1 1 ln e 1
= loga lim 1 + = lim (1 + u)1/u = e = loga e = =
x h0 x u0 x x ln a x ln a

COROLLARY: We have
d 1
(ln x) =
dx x

REMARK: In general,

1 1
(loga u) = u and (ln u) = u
u ln a u

EXAMPLES:
1 2x
(a) If f (x) = log5 (x2 + 1), then f (x) = [log5 (x2 + 1)] = (x2 + 1) = 2 .
(x2 + 1) ln 5 (x + 1) ln 5

1 1
(b) If f (x) = ln(ln x), then f (x) = [ln(ln x)] = (ln x) = .
ln x x ln x

x
(c) Find f (x) if f (x) = log

.
1 + x2

1
Section 3.3 Derivatives of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

x
(c) If f (x) = log , then
1 + x2

x 1 x
f (x) = log = x
1 + x2 ln 10 1 + x2
1 + x2


(1 + x2 ) 1

x
= x
(1 + x2 )
ln 10 1 + x2
2

1+x

1 + x2

x
=
x ln 10 1 + x2

1 + x2 x (1 + x2 ) x(1 + x2 )
=
x ln 10 (1 + x2 )2

1 + x2 1 (1 + x2 ) x 2x
=
x ln 10 (1 + x2 )2

1 + x2 1 + x2 2x2
=
x ln 10 (1 + x2 )2

1 + x2 1 x2
=
x ln 10 (1 + x2 )2

1 x2
=
x(1 + x2 ) ln 10
or

x
= log x log(1 + x2 )


f (x) = log
1 + x2
1 1
= 2
(1 + x2 )
x ln 10 (1 + x ) ln 10
1 2x
=
x ln 10 (1 + x2 ) ln 10

1 + x2 2x2
=
x(1 + x2 ) ln 10 x(1 + x2 ) ln 10

1 + x2 2x2
=
x(1 + x2 ) ln 10

1 x2
=
x(1 + x2 ) ln 10

2
Section 3.3 Derivatives of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

THEOREM: We have
d x
(a ) = ax ln a
dx
In particular, if a = e, then
(ex ) = ex

Proof 1: Let y = ax . We should prove that y = ax ln a. We have

y = ax = ln y = ln ax = x ln a

therefore
1
(ln y) = (x ln a) = ln a (x) = ln a = y = ln a
y
so
y = y ln a = ax ln a

Proof 2: Let y = ax , then loga y = x. We have

1
(loga y) = x = y = 1
y ln a
so
y = y ln a = ax ln a

Proof 3: Let f (x) = loga x. Note that f 1 (x) = ax . Since

1 1
(f 1 ) (x) = and f (x) = (loga x) =
f (f 1 (x)) x ln a

we have
1 1
(ax ) = = 1 = ax ln a
f (f 1 (a)) ax ln a

REMARK: In general,

(au ) = au ln a u and (eu ) = eu u

EXAMPLES:
1. Find (2sin 3x ) .

1x
2. Find (xe ).

3
Section 3.3 Derivatives of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

EXAMPLES:
1. (2sin 3x ) = 2sin 3x ln 2 (sin 3x) = 2sin 3x ln 2 cos 3x (3x) = 2sin 3x ln 2 cos 3x 3

1x

1x

1x

1x

1x

2. (xe ) = x e + x(e ) =e + xe ( 1 x)

1 xe 1x
=e 1x
+ xe 1x
(1 x) = e 1x
2 1x 2 1x

Logarithmic Differentiation
Note that we cant apply the rules (un ) = nun1 u or (au ) = au ln a u to functions like
f (x) = xx .

EXAMPLES:

1. Let f (x) = xx . Find f (x).

Solution: We logarithm and then differentiate both sides of f (x) = xx . We have
f (x) = xx = ln f (x) = ln xx = x ln x = [ln f (x)] = [x ln x]
therefore
1 1
f (x) = x ln x + x(ln x) = 1 ln x + x = ln x + 1
f (x) x
hence
f (x) = f (x)(ln x + 1) = xx (ln x + 1)

2. Let f (x) = (sin x)cos x . Find f (x).

Solution: We logarithm and then differentiate both sides of f (x) = (sin x)cos x . We have
f (x) = (sin x)cos x = ln f (x) = ln(sin x)cos x = cos x ln(sin x)
therefore
[ln f (x)] = [cos x ln(sin x)]
hence
1
f (x) = (cos x) ln(sin x) + cos x(ln(sin x))
f (x)
1
= sin x ln(sin x) + cos x (sin x)
sin x
1
= sin x ln(sin x) + cos x cos x
sin x
= sin x ln(sin x) + cos x cot x
From this it follows that
f (x) = f (x)( sin x ln(sin x) + cos x cot x) = (sin x)cos x ( sin x ln(sin x) + cos x cot x)
3
3. Let f (x) = (sin 2x)x . Find f (x).

4
Section 3.3 Derivatives of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

3
3. Let f (x) = (sin 2x)x . Find f (x).
3
Solution: We logarithm and then differentiate both sides of f (x) = (sin 2x)x . We have
3 3
f (x) = (sin 2x)x = ln f (x) = ln(sin 2x)x = x3 ln(sin 2x)
therefore
[ln f (x)] = x3 ln(sin 2x)

hence
1
f (x) = (x3 ) ln(sin 2x) + x3 (ln(sin 2x))
f (x)
1
= 3x2 ln(sin 2x) + x3 (sin 2x)
sin 2x
1
= 3x2 ln(sin 2x) + x3 cos 2x(2x)
sin 2x
1
= 3x2 ln(sin 2x) + x3 cos 2x 2
sin 2x
= 3x2 ln(sin 2x) + 2x3 cot 2x
From this it follows that
3
f (x) = f (x) 3x2 ln(sin 2x) + 2x3 cot 2x = (sin 2x)x (3x2 ln(sin 2x) + 2x3 cot 2x)

EXAMPLE: Find the derivative of

x x+1
y=
3
x + 2(x + 3)5

Solution: We have (see Appendix I, Example 5)

x x+1 1 1
ln y = ln = ln x + ln(x + 1) ln(x + 2) 5 ln(x + 3)
3
x + 2(x + 3)5 2 3
therefore
1 1
(ln y) = ln x + ln(x + 1) ln(x + 2) 5 ln(x + 3)
2 3
so
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5
y = + 5 = +
y x 2 x+1 3 x+2 x+3 x 2(x + 1) 3(x + 2) x + 3
It follows that

1 1 1 5 x x+1 1 1 1 5
y =y + = +
x 2(x + 1) 3(x + 2) x + 3 3
x + 2(x + 3)5 x 2(x + 1) 3(x + 2) x + 3

EXAMPLE: Find the derivative of

x2 3 7x 14
y=
(1 + x2 )4

5
Section 3.3 Derivatives of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

EXAMPLE: Find the derivative of

x2 3 7x 14
y=
(1 + x2 )4

Solution: We have (see Appendix I, Example 6)

2
x 3 7x 14 1
ln y = ln 2 4
= 2 ln x + ln(7x 14) 4 ln(1 + x2 )
(1 + x ) 3
therefore
1 2
(ln y) = 2 ln x + ln(7x 14) 4 ln(1 + x )
3
so
1 2 7 2x 2 1 8x
y = + 4 2
= +
y x 3(7x 14) 1+x x 3x 6 1 + x2
It follows that

x2 3 7x 14 2

2 1 8x 1 8x
y =y + = +
x 3x 6 1 + x2 (1 + x2 )4 x 3x 6 1 + x2

EXAMPLE: Find the derivative of

3

x2 8 x3 + 1
y=
1 x(x + 2)3 (x6 7x + 5)5

Solution: We have (see Appendix I, Example 7)

3
!
x2 8 x3 + 1
ln y = ln
1 x(x + 2)3 (x6 7x + 5)5

1 1 1
= ln(x2 8) + ln(x3 + 1) ln(1 x) + 3 ln(x + 2) 5 ln(x6 7x + 5)
3 2 2
therefore

1 2 1 3 1 6
(ln y) = ln(x 8) + ln(x + 1) ln(1 x) + 3 ln(x + 2) 5 ln(x 7x + 5)
3 2 2
so
1 2x 3x2 1 3 30x5 35
y = + + +
y 3(x2 8) 2(x3 + 1) 2(1 x) x + 2 x6 7x + 5
It follows that
3x2 30x5 35

2x 1 3
y =y

+ + +
3(x2 8) 2(x3 + 1) 2(1 x) x + 2 x6 7x + 5

3
x2 8 x3 + 1 3x2 30x5 35

2x 1 3
= + + +
1 x(x + 2)3 (x6 7x + 5)5 3(x2 8) 2(x3 + 1) 2(1 x) x + 2 x6 7x + 5

6
Section 3.3 Derivatives of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

Appendix I

1. ln (x(x + 1)) = ln x + ln(x + 1)

x
2. ln = ln x ln(x + 2)
x+2

x(x + 1)
3. ln = ln x(x + 1) ln(x + 2) = ln x + ln(x + 1) ln(x + 2)
x+2

x(x + 1)
4. ln = ln x(x + 1) ln (x + 2)(x + 3)
(x + 2)(x + 3)

= ln x + ln(x + 1) ln(x + 2) + ln(x + 3)

= ln x + ln(x + 1) ln(x + 2) ln(x + 3)

x(x + 1)1/2

x x+1
5. ln = ln
3
x + 2(x + 3)5 (x + 2)1/3 (x + 3)5

= ln x(x + 1)1/2 ln (x + 2)1/3 (x + 3)5

= ln x + ln(x + 1)1/2 ln(x + 2)1/3 + ln(x + 3)5

= ln x + ln(x + 1)1/2 ln(x + 2)1/3 ln(x + 3)5

1 1
ln(x + 1) ln(x + 2) 5 ln(x + 3)
= ln x +
2 3
2
x2 (7x 14)1/3

x 3 7x 14
2 1/3

6. ln = ln = ln x (7x 14) ln(1 + x2 )4
(1 + x2 )4 (1 + x2 )4
= ln x2 + ln(7x 14)1/3 ln(1 + x2 )4

1
ln(7x 14) 4 ln(1 + x2 )
= 2 ln x +
3
!
3
x2 8 x3 + 1 (x2 8)1/3 (x3 + 1)1/2

7. ln = ln
1 x(x + 2)3 (x6 7x + 5)5 (1 x)1/2 (x + 2)3 (x6 7x + 5)5

2 1/3 3 1/2 1/2 3 6 5
= ln (x 8) (x + 1) ln (1 x) (x + 2) (x 7x + 5)

2 1/3 3 1/2 1/2 6 5
= ln(x 8) + ln(x + 1) ln(1 x) + ln(x + 2)
3
+ ln(x 7x + 5)

= ln(x2 8)1/3 + ln(x3 + 1)1/2 ln(1 x)1/2 ln(x + 2)3 ln(x6 7x + 5)5

1 1 1
= ln(x2 8) + ln(x3 + 1) ln(1 x) + 3 ln(x + 2) 5 ln(x6 7x + 5)
3 2 2

7
Section 3.3 Derivatives of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

Appendix II

The following problem was given in Fall 2013 (Calculus I, Midterm Exam II). None of the 86
test takers got the right answer.

1
Let f (x) = log2 , then f (x) is
1 + log3 x

1
A
x(1 + log3 x) ln 2 ln 3
1
B
x(1 log3 x) ln 2 ln 3
1
C
x(1 log3 x) ln 2 ln 3
1
D
x ln 2 ln(3x)

E None of the above

See the next page for the solution.

8
Section 3.3 Derivatives of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

1
Let f (x) = log2 , then f (x) is
1 + log3 x
1
A
x(1 + log3 x) ln 2 ln 3
1
B
x(1 log3 x) ln 2 ln 3
1
C
x(1 log3 x) ln 2 ln 3
1
D Correct
x ln 2 ln(3x)
E None of the above

Solution: We first note that

1
log2 = log2 (1 + log3 x)1 = (1) log2 (1 + log3 x) = log2 (1 + log3 x)
1 + log3 x
or

1
log2 = log2 1 log2 (1 + log3 x) = 0 log2 (1 + log3 x) = log2 (1 + log3 x)
1 + log3 x
Therefore

1
log2 = [ log2 (1 + log3 x)] = [log2 (1 + log3 x)]
1 + log3 x
1
= (1 + log3 x)
(1 + log3 x) ln 2
1 1
=
(1 + log3 x) ln 2 x ln 3
1
=
(1 + log3 x)x ln 2 ln 3
1
=
ln x
1+ x ln 2 ln 3
ln 3
1
=
ln x
1 ln 3 + ln 3 x ln 2
ln 3
1
=
(ln 3 + ln x) x ln 2
1
=
ln(3x) x ln 2