UNIT 5

Differentiation and Integration

of Exponential and Logarithmic
Functions

Overview

To complete this relatively short Calculus course, we will look at the derivatives of ex and
ln x (i.e. the natural logarithm of x), functions which were covered in the work on
Introductory Algebra. This will lead to several integrals and to the process known as
‘logarithmic differentiation’. At this point we will be able to finally differentiate the
function 2t and solve the problem which we encountered in our very first unit!

I hope you have benefited from the work we have covered. Although the work has been
challenging at times, it has probably opened your eyes to a world of mathematics that you
never knew existed – a world you hopefully want to explore a little more at a later date.

ME 22A Unit 5 157

Learning Objectives

After you have completed this unit, you should be able to:

1. Find the derivative of ef(x).

2. Find the derivative of ln [f(x)].

3. Find the integral of eax + b .

k
4. Find the integral of .
ax + b

k f' (x)
5. Find the integral of .
f(x)

6. Find the derivative of ax by means of ‘logarithmic differentiation’.

158 ME 22A Unit 5

Session 5.1

The derivative of ef(x) and the integral of

eax + b

The graphs of y = 2x and y = e x were drawn in session 3.6 of the Introductory Algebra
course. How did these two graphs differ? Not by much, I’m sure you’ll agree! However, if
we were to examine the diagrams carefully, we would see that the gradients of the curves at
specific values of x were not quite the same. We will particularly concentrate on the value
of the gradient at the point (0, 1).

Fig. 1

The gradient of the curve y = 2x at the point (0, 1) is approximately 0.693, whereas the
gradient of the curve y = ex at the same point is exactly 1. This fact serves as a criterion for
distinguishing y = ex from y = ax in general, and is a result we will use in finding the
derivative of ex.

ME 22A Unit 5 159

 d x
Finding (e ) from first principles
dx

Fig. 2

x  f(x + h) – f(x)  e x + h – e x 

By definition, if f(x) = e , f'(x) = lim   = lim  
h
0  h  h
0 
 h 

e x (e h - 1) x e h - 1 
= lim = lim (e )
lim  .
h0 h h 0 h 0 
 h 

 e h - 1  x
But lim   is the gradient of the curve y = e at the point (0, 1), as can be seen in
h
0 
 h 


eh - 1
Fig. 3 below, where the gradient of the chord AP = .
h

Fig. 3

160 ME 22A Unit 5

 x x x
Therefore, if f(x) = ex , f'(x) = lim (e )
1 = e
1 = e .
h 0

d x
Therefore (e ) = e x.
dx

Clearly, this is a result that nobody forgets!

Example 1
3x 4x-1
Find the derivative of (i) e , (ii) e .

3x
(i) Put y = e and let u = 3x. Therefore y = eu.

dy dy du dy
Using the chain rule in the form =
, = e u
3 = 3e 3x .
dx du dx dx

4x-1 u
(ii) Putting y = e and u = 4x – 1, y = e . Again using the chain rule

dy dy du dy
=
, = e u
4 = 4e4x-1 .
dx du dx dx

At this point you have probably realized that the derivative of the general exponential
function ef(x) could be found in a similar way, i.e.

dy
putting y = ef(x) and u = f(x), y = eu, making = e u
f' (x)
dx

d  f ( x)  f ( x)
Therefore e = e
f' (x)
dx  

ME 22A Unit 5 161

 Example 2
x 2 2x
Find the derivative of (i) e , (ii) (4x - 3x + 1) e .

1 x
dy -1 e
. 1 x2 =
x 2 x
(i) If y = e = ex , = e .
dx 2 2 x

(ii) Clearly we must differentiate this function as a product, i.e. writing y = uv where

dy dv du
u = 4x2 - 3x + 1 and v = e 2x , = u + v .
dx dx dx

dy 2x 2x 2 2x 2
Therefore = (8x – 3)e + 2e (4x - 3x + 1) = e (8x – 3 + 8x - 6x + 2)
dx

2x
= e (8x2 + 2x – 1).

A CTIVITY 5 .1

2 e 4x +1
(i) Find the derivative of (a) e 2x -3x+1
, (b) .
x2 - 3

2
(ii) Find the gradient of the tangent to the curve y = (3x - 2x + 1) e 2x at
the point (0, 1).

Integral of eax + b

d
As
dx
(e x ) = e x , clearly
e x
dx = e x + c.

162 ME 22A Unit 5

 d
Also, as
dx
[
e ax + b ] = a e ax + b ,

eax + b

eax + b dx = + c.
a

Example 1
9x + 2
Find the integral of (i) e 3x-1 , (ii) e .

(i)
e 3x-1
dx = 1
3
e
3x-1
+ c.

e 9x+2
(ii)
e 9x+2
dx =
9
+ c.

Example 2

Fig. 4

ME 22A Unit 5 163

 2x-3
Calculate, to 3 significant figures, the above shaded area enclosed by the curve e , the x-
axis and the ordinates x = 2, x = 3.

3
3 3
The shaded area =
e 2x- 3
dx = [ 1
2
e 2x-3 ] 2
= 1
2 [e ]
2x- 3
2
= 1
2
(e 3 - e) = 8.68 (to 3 sig. fig.)
2

Example 3
2
x2 ex
Explain why
e dx is NOT
2x
+ c.

d
x2  2
The error has arisen from correctly realizing that  e  = 2x e x , but then thinking
dx  
erroneously that you can simply divide by ‘2x’ to obtain the solution. This ‘correction’ by
division (or multiplication) can only be done using a constant.

d
e x 
2 2 2 2
2x e x . 2x – 2e x e x (4x2 - 2)
Clearly   = = !
dx  2x  4x2 4x 2

164 ME 22A Unit 5


A CTIVITY 5 .2

1x
6x+ 3
(i) Find the integral of (a) e 3 , (b) e .

(ii)

Find, in an exact form (in terms of ), the volume of the solid generated when
the shaded region is rotated through 360º about the x-axis.

2x 2 -1 2x 2 -1
(iii) Explain why the integral of 4x e IS e + c. By similar reasoning, find
2x 3 +3

18x 2
e dx.

ME 22A Unit 5 165

Exercise 5.1

1. Find the derivatives of

3
2 4x 4x – 1
(i) e 3x , (ii) (x - 4x + 3) e , (iii)
x
.
e

2.

Find the shaded area illustrated above, giving your answer correct to 3 significant
figures.

3.

Find the volume of the solid generated when the shaded region illustrated above is
rotated through 360º about the x-axis.

166 ME 22A Unit 5

4.

Prove that the volume of the solid formed when the shaded region is rotated

through 360º about the x-axis is 1

2

(1 + 3e 4 ).

x
5. Find the gradient of the tangent to the curve y = (4x – 1)e at the point (1, 3e).

6. The mass, m grams, of a radioactive solution, present at time t days after first being
-0.05t
observed, is given by the formula m = 30 e .

Find the rate at which the mass is decreasing when t = 20.

x
7. Show that the curve y = e – 2e-x has no turning points.

8.

ME 22A Unit 5 167

 Find the area of the above shaded region (giving your answer in terms of e).

2 4x dy
9. Given that y = x e , write down an expression for and hence find the
dx
coordinates of the stationary points. Determine also whether each stationary point
is a maximum or a minimum.

168 ME 22A Unit 5

Session 5.2

The derivative of ln x and related

integrals

d 1
In order to establish the result that (ln x) = , we will make use of the fact that
dx x
f -1 f (x) = x (given in session 3.1 of the Introductory Algebra course). This result is pretty
-1
obvious, as f takes x to y (say) and f then takes y back to x.

-1 x
As the inverse of ln x is ex, it would follow (putting f (x) = ln x and f (x) = e ) that

e ln x = x. Differentiating each side of this equation with respect to x, and using the fact
d d
that
dx
[ ]
e f(x) = e f(x) . f '(x), we obtain e lnx .
dx
(ln x) = 1.

d
Therefore x. (ln x) = 1, and
dx

d 1
(ln x) =
dx x

Example
Differentiate ln (4x – 1) with respect to x.

Let y = ln (4x – 1) and u = 4x – 1. Therefore y = ln u.

dy dy du dy 1 4
Using the chain rule =
, =
4 = .
dx du dx dx u (4x – 1)

ME 22A Unit 5 169

 d
Finding
dx
[ln {f(x)}]

Putting y = ln [ f(x)] and u = f(x), y = ln u.

dy dy du 1 f' (x)
Therefore =
= x f'(x) = . Therefore
dx du dx u f(x)

d f'(x)
dx
[ln {f(x)}] = f(x)

Example 1
Differentiate with respect to x

(i) ln (3x3 - 2x2 + 7),

3x2 - 1
(ii) ,
ln (4x)

(iii) e 3x-1 . ln (2x2 + 5).

d 1 9x2 - 4x
ln (3x 3 - 2x2 + 7)] = 2
(i)
(9x - 4x) = .
dx 3x 3 - 2x 2 + 7 3x3 - 2x 2 + 7

3x 2 -1 dy ( )
6x ln (4x) – 4 (3x 2 - 1)
4x
6x ln (4x) –
(3x - 1)
x
(ii) If y = , = =
ln (4x) dx 2 2
[
ln (4x) ] [
ln (4x) ]

6x 2 ln (4x) – 3x2 + 1
= .
2
x[ln (4x)]

170 ME 22A Unit 5

 3x-1 dy 4x e 3x-1
(iii) If y = e ln (2x 2 + 5), = 3e3x-1 ln (2x 2 + 5) + (differentiating as a
dx 2x2 + 5
product).

A CTIVITY 5 .3

(i) Differentiate with respect to x

(a) ln (2x
2
- 5x + 3), (b) (5x – 2)3 ln (3x) (c) ln ( x) .

3x – 1
(ii) Find the gradient of the curve y = at the point (e, 3e – 1).
ln x

1
Integral of
ax + b

d 1 1
Clearly, as
dx
[ ln x] =
x
, then
x dx = ln x + c.
d a
A more general result is obtained when we observe that
dx
[ ln (ax + b)] = (ax + b) .

It would then follow that

1 1

dx = ln (ax + b) + c
ax + b a

ME 22A Unit 5 171

Example 1

Find (i)
3xdx– 1, (ii)
5x 4+ 2 dx

(i)
3xdx– 1 = 1
3
ln (3x – 1) + c.

(ii)
5x 4+ 2 dx = 4
5x dx+ 2 =
4
5
ln (5x + 2) + c.

Example 2

Fig. 5

Find

(i) the shaded area A (giving your answer in the form of a logarithm),

(ii) the volume of the solid generated when the area A is rotated through 360º about
the x-axis.

172 ME 22A Unit 5

 2
1 2
8
(i) Area A =
3x + 2 dx = [ 13 ln (3x + 2) ]0 = 1
3 [ ln 8 – ln 2] = 1
3
ln   =
 2
1
3
ln 4.
0

[We are using the fact that log a – log b = log (a/b), covered in session 3.6 of the
Introductory Algebra course.]

2 2 2 2
1  (3x + 2)-1   -1 
(ii) Vx =
 (3x + 2) 2
dx =
(3x + 2) dx =


 -1  3 0
 =

-2
 3(3x + 2) 
 0
0 0

 -1  -1  1 1

=
 –
 =
 – = .
 24 6
   6 24  8

[Note that
(3x +1 2) 2

dx is NOT a log function!]

Example 3
1 2
Find
d
dx
[ 3
]
ln (1 + 3x . Hence prove that
1 18x
+ 3x 3
dx = ln 16.
0

d  9x 2 2 1
As
dx 
ln 1 + 3x3  =
(  ) 1 + 3x 3
,
1 18x
+ 3x 3 [
dx = 2 ln(1 + 3x3 ) ] 0
= 2[ ln 4 – ln 1]
0

= 2 ln 4 = ln 4 2 = ln 16.

ME 22A Unit 5 173


A CTIVITY 5 .4

dx 4
(i) Find (a)
2x – 1, (b)
5x + 3 dx.

(ii)

Find

(a) the area of the shaded region,

(b) the volume of the solid generated when the shaded region is rotated
through 360º about the x-axis.

d
(iii) Show that
dx
[ x ln x] = 1 + ln x. Hence find the shaded area (to 2 decimal
places) illustrated below.

174 ME 22A Unit 5

Exercise 5.2

1. Differentiate with respect to x

3 2
2 2x ln (6x – 1)
(i) ln (3x ), (ii) e 4x -1
, (iii) (2x - 3x + 1) e , (iv)
5x + 3

4 3x
(v) (2x – 5) e .

2. Using your answer to question 1(v), find the coordinates of the turning points on
4 3x
the curve y = (2x – 5) e .

3. Find

3 8x3
(i)
e
4x+3
dx, (ii)
6x – 1
dx , (iii)
2x4 - 1
dx

4.

1
The shaded region A is enclosed by the curve y = , the axes and the ordinate
(2x + 1)
x = 4. Find

ME 22A Unit 5 175

(i) the area A,

(ii) the volume of the solid generated when the shaded region A is rotated through
360º about the x-axis.

5.

Find (to 2 decimal places, where appropriate)

(i) the x-coordinate of P,

(ii) the area of the shaded region,

(iii) the volume of the solid generated when the shaded region is rotated
through 360º about the x-axis.

6. (i)

Prove that the area of the shaded region B is 12(1 – ln 2).

176 ME 22A Unit 5

(ii) Find the volume of the solid generated when the shaded region is rotated through
360º about the x-axis.

3
7. A curve y = f(x) has gradient function and passes through the point
4x - 1

( 12 , 3) . Find f(x).

2
8. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve y = ln(x + 2x) at the point

(1, ln 3).

ME 22A Unit 5 177

Session 5.3

Logarithmic Differentiation

This short session brings us to the end of our course. At last we will be able to solve our
initial problem, that of finding the gradient of the curve n = 2t at the point where t = 3.
dn
We once asked the question “Why is not equal to t.2t-1?” Do you know why? The
dt
d n
answer is that the result (ax ) only applies when a and n are constants. How then can
dx
we approach the task of finding the derivative of 2t? The answer, quite strangely, is to use
logarithms!

If n = 2 t , we take natural logarithms of each side, obtaining ln n = ln (2t ).

But ln (2t) = t ln 2, making ln n = t ln 2.

Now we can differentiate each side with respect to t (remembering that ln 2 is a constant).

1 dn dn
Therefore . = ln 2 and = n ln 2.
n dt dt

dn dn
Putting t = 3, n = 23 = 8 and = 8 ln2 , which is the exact answer. Also, = 5.545 to 4
dt dt
significant figures, which confirms the answer given in session 1.1.

Logarithmic differentiation can also be used to simplify the task of finding the derivatives

x 2e x
of quite complicated functions. For example, if we need to find the derivative of ,
3
( x -1)
we could proceed as follows

x 2e x
If y =
(x – 1)3
2 x
[ 3
, ln y = ln(x ) + ln(e ) – ln (x – 1) . ]

Therefore ln y = 2 ln x + x – 3 ln (x – 1).

Now we differentiate each side with respect to x, obtaining

ME 22A Unit 5 179

1 dy 2 3 dy 2 3 
x2 e x 
= + 1 – , making = + 1 –
.
y dx x x – 1 dx x x – 1 
 (x – 1)3 

Example 1
lnx
Find the gradient of the curve y = 3 at the point (e, 3).

lnx 1 dy ln 3
If y = 3 , ln y = lnx. ln3. Therefore = ( as ln 3 is a constant).
y dx x

dy y ln 3 dy 3 ln 3
Therefore = . If x = e, y = 3, = .
dx x dx e

Example 2

dy x + 1
Find if y = 3 .
dx x - 1

1

x + 1 3 1
x + 1 1
If y =   , ln y = 3 ln   = 3 [ln (x + 1) – ln (x – 1)].
 x – 1  x – 1

Differentiating each side with respect to x,

1 dy 1
1 1  1
x – 1 – (x + 1)
= 3 – = .
y dx  (x + 1) (x – 1)  3
 (x + 1)(x – 1) 

1
1 dy 1

-2  dy 1
- 2 
x + 1 3
Therefore = 3 , and = 3   .
y dx  x2 - 1 dx  x 2 -1   x - 1 

180 ME 22A Unit 5


A CTIVITY 5 .5

x x2
(i) Find the derivative of (a) a (where a is a constant) , (b) 3 .

x
(ii) Find the equation of the tangent to the curve y = 2 at the point (0, 1).

(iii) Use logarithmic differentiation to find the derivative of

x – 1 (3x – 1) x
(a) , (b) .
2x + 1 (x + 4) 3

This is the end of our introductory calculus course. Many topics await, including the
derivatives of trigonometric and hyperbolic functions. We have also only touched the
topic of integration. As I said before, I hope your appetite has been whetted and the
complexity of some topics has not been too much to take! Till we meet again, then, all the
best!

ME 22A Unit 5 181

Exercise 5.3

1. Find the gradient of the curve y = 4x at the point (1, 4).

2. Use logarithmic differentiation to prove that

d
x3  x 2 (x – 9)
  = .
dx  (x – 3)2  (x – 3) 3

x3
Confirm this result by differentiating as a quotient.
(x – 3)2

3. Find the derivative of

(2x + 1)2
(a) x . 10-x , (b) .
e 3x x

4. Using your answer to question 3 (a), find the x-coordinate of the turning point on
-x
the curve y = x . 10 . Determine also whether this is a local maximum or a local
minimum.

x
5. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve y = x at the point (2, 4).

182 ME 22A Unit 5