Calculus Derivatives of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

The table below give the rules for the derivatives of logarithmic and exponential functions.

Function Natural Base e

Logarithmic Exponential
Type Logarithmic Exponential

Function
f(x) = LogB g(x) f(x) = ln ( g(x) ) f(x) = B g(x) f(x) = e g(x)
Rule

Derivative !"($) ! "($)

f ’(x) = f ’ (x) = f ’ (x) = B g(x) ln (B) g’(x) f ’ (x) = e g(x) g’(x)
Formula !($) ∙ ()(*) !($)

Examples

!"($)
1) f(x) = Log7 (2x3 + 3x – 5) f(x) = LogB g(x) f ’(x) =
!($) ∙ ()(*)

B=7 g(x) = 2x3 + 3x – 5 g ‘ (x) = 6x2 + 3

!"($) 2
6𝑥 + 3
f ’(x) = f ’(x) =
!($) ∙ ()(*) (2𝑥3 +3x−5) ∙ ()(+)

! "($)
2) f(x) = ln (4x2 – 2x + 1) f(x) = ln ( g(x) ) f ’ (x) =
!($)

g(x) = 4x2 – 2x + 1 g ‘ (x) = 8x – 2

! "($) !" $ %
f ’ (x) = f ’(x) =
!($) &"! $ %" ' (

3) f(x) = 3(4x + 7) f(x) = B g(x) f ’ (x) = B g(x) ln (B) g’(x)

B=3 g(x) = 4x + 7 g ‘ (x) = 4

f ’ (x) = B g(x) ln (B) g’(x) f ’(x) = 3(4x + 7) • ln (3) • 4

4) f(x) = e(sin x) f(x) = e g(x) f ’ (x) = e g(x) g’(x)

g(x) = sin x g ‘ (x) = cos x

f ’ (x) = e g(x) g’(x) f ’(x) = e(sin x) • cos x