LOGARITHMIC AND EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Differentiation of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

 
d a u  a u ln a  d  u 
d  eu   eu  d  u 
1
d  log a u    d u 
u ln a
1
d  ln u    d  u 
u

Given the formulas of the derivative of logarithmic and exponential functions and following the
basic rules in differentiation, we can now easily find the derivative.

Note: Always consider the properties of exponential and logarithmic functions (please refer to the index).


Example: 1. y  ln x 2  4 x 
1
Let u  x2  4 x and following the formula for d  ln u    d  u  , then
u

y' 
1
x  4x
2 
 d x2  4x 
deriving x 2  4 x and simplifying,

2x  4
y' 
x2  4 x

Example 2: y  2sin x

 
Let u  sin x and a  2 and following the formula d a u  a u ln a  d  u  ,

y '  2sin x  ln 2  d  sin x 

y '  2sin x  ln 2  cos x
 
Example 3: y  ln x 2  4 x 

 
1

y  ln  x  4 x   y  ln  x  4 x 
2 2 2

 
Applying first the chain rule, d u n  n  u n1  du and letting u  sin 1 x , then

  d  ln  x 
1

ln  x 2  4 x   4x
1 
y'  2 2

Next, get the derivative of ln x 2  4 x , we have  

 1 
 
1

ln  x 2  4 x 
1 
y'  2
 2   2x  4 
2  x  4x 

1  1 
y'   2  2  x  2 
 x  4x
  
1

2 ln  x 2  4 x  2

y' 
 x  2
  x
1

ln  x 2  4 x  2 2
 4x 

Example 4: y  e
1 2 x

1
Applying first the formula of the derivative of the exponential function and letting u  1  2 x  2 ,
 
1 1
1 2 x  2
y'  e  d  1  2 x  2 
 
and applying the chain rule, d u  n  u  du
n n 1
 
1 
1 1
1 2 x  2
 1  2 x  2   2 

y'  e 
2 
1
1 2 x  2
e
y'   1
1  2 x  2
 1
Example 5: y  4 x 2  e x

1
Let u  x and v  e , following the product rule d  uv   u  dv  v  du ,
2 x

 2  1x  1x 
y '  4  x  d  e   e  d  x 2 
   
 2  1x 1  1x 
 4  x   e   2   e   2 x 
  x  
1
y '  4e  1  2 x 
x

x
Example 6: y  e xy  x 2  2
y

Applying first the formula for the derivative of exponential function and derivative of algebraic
functions,
y 1  x  y '
e xy d  xy   2 x 
y2
y  xy '
e xy  x  y ' y 1  2 x 
y2
 y  xy '  2
y 2  xy ' e xy  ye xy  2 x   y
 y 2 
y '  xy 2e xy   y 3e xy  2 xy 2  y  xy '

Putting all terms with y ' in the left-hand side,

y '  xy 2e xy   xy '  y  y 3e xy  2 xy 2
y '  xy 2e xy  x   y  y 3e xy  2 xy 2

Dividing both sides by xy 2e xy  x ,

y '  xy 2e xy  x  y  y 3e xy  2 xy 2

 xy e
2 xy
 x  xy 2e xy  x 
y  y 3e xy  2 xy 2
y' 
 xy 2e xy  x 
 x
Example 7: y  log3 tan
1 x
1
Applying first the formula for the derivative of logarithmic function, d  log a u    d u 
u ln a
 x 
Let u  tan   and a  3 , then we have
1 x 
1   x 
y'   d  tan  
 x    1  x  
tan    ln 3
1 x 
Next, derive the tangent function using the formula d  tan u   sec2 u  d  u 
x
Let u  , then
1 x
1  x   x 
y'   sec 2  d  
 x   1 x  1 x 
tan    ln 3
1 x 
1  x   1  x   x  1 
  sec 2   
 x   1  x   1  x 
2


tan    ln 3
1 x 
sin u 1
Using the identity tan u  and sec u  and simplifying,
cos u cos u
1 1  1 
   
 x  2 x   1  x 2 
sin   cos    
 1  x   ln 3 1 x 
 x 
cos  
1 x 
 x 
cos  
1 x  1 1  1 
 1   
 x  ln 3 2  x   1  x 2 
sin   cos    
1 x  1 x 
1
y' 
 x   x 
ln 3  1  x   sin 
2
 cos  
1 x  1 x 
 EXERCISES

Derivative of Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

1. y  x tan 1 x  ln x 2  1 ans. y '  tan 1 x

2x
2. y  ln 3 2 x3  5 ans. y ' 
2 x3  5

ln x 1  ln x
3. y  ans. y ' 
x x2

1
4. y  ln  ln x  ans. y ' 
x ln x

1 1  ln x
5. y  ln x ans. y ' 
x x2

sin 2 x 3
6. y  ln ans. y '  cot x 
x3 2x

7. y  e x x
ans. y '   2 x  1 e x x
2 2

ex ex  x  2
8. y  2 ans. y ' 
x x3

9. y  e y  y  x ans. y '  e y

4 x3  3x  ln 3
10. 3  5  x  y
x y 4
ans. y '  y
5  ln 5  1