Topic: Logarithmic differentiation

Question: Use logarithmic differentiation to find the derivative.

y = 35x

Answer choices:

A y′ = 155x (ln 3)

B y′ = 34x (5 ln 3)

C y′ = 35x (5 ln 3)

D y′ = 35x (ln 15)

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Solution: C

To use logarithmic differentiation to find the derivative, we’ll take the

natural log of both sides.

y = 35x

ln y = ln (35x)

When you have an exponent in your log function like this, you can move it
out to the front.

ln y = 5x ln 3

Then take the derivative of both sides. You’ll need implicit differentiation
on the left, since y isn’t just a variable, it’s a function, and you’ll need
product rule on the right side.

1
(y′) = (5)(ln 3) + (5x)(0)
y

1
(y′) = 5 ln 3
y

y′ = 35x (5 ln 3)

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Topic: Logarithmic differentiation

Question: Find the derivative.

f (x) = 3 ln(5x)

Answer choices:

5
A f′(x) =
x

3
B f′(x) =
x

3
C f′(x) =
5x

15
D f′(x) =
x

324
Solution: B

The derivative of ln x is given by

d 1
ln x =
dx x

So the derivative of the given function

f (x) = 3 ln(5x)

is

1
f′(x) = (3) (5)
5x

15
f′(x) =
5x

3
f′(x) =
x

325
Topic: Logarithmic differentiation

Question: Differentiate the function.

f (x) = ln (6x 2 − 3x + 9)
4x

Answer choices:

A f′(x) = 4 ln (6x 2 − 3x + 9)

48x 2 − 12x
B f′(x) = 2
6x − 3x + 9
2
48x − 12x
C f′(x) = 4 ln (6x 2 − 3x + 9) + 2
6x − 3x + 9

1
D f′(x) = 4 ln (6x 2 − 3x + 9) +
6x 2 − 3x + 9

326
Solution: C

When you’ve got a power function inside the log function, you can move
the exponent out in front of the logarithm.

f (x) = ln (6x 2 − 3x + 9)
4x

f (x) = 4x ln (6x 2 − 3x + 9)

Now we’ll need to use product rule to take the derivative. The derivative of
ln x is given by

d 1
ln x =
dx x

So the derivative of

f (x) = 4x ln (6x 2 − 3x + 9)

is

( 6x 2 − 3x + 9 )
1
f′(x) = (4)[ln (6x 2 − 3x + 9)] + (4x) (12x − 3)

48x 2 − 12x
f′(x) = 4 ln (6x − 3x + 9) + 2
2
6x − 3x + 9

327