100 CHAPTER 2.

DERIVATIVES AND DIFFERENTIATION

2.3 Derivatives of Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

In this section, we compute for the derivatives of functions that involve logarithmic and exponential
functions.

At the end of this section, the student will be able to:

• perform differentiation involving logarithmic functions;

• find the derivative using logarithmic differentiation;

• differentiate functions of the form f (x)g(x) ; and

• perform differentiation involving exponential functions.

2.3.1 Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions

Our goal is to find the derivatives of logarithmic functions. We begin with the natural logarithmic
function and will find later that its derivative appears simplest among all logarithmic functions.
Let x > 0. Then
ln(x + ∆x) − ln x
Dx (ln x) = lim
∆x
∆x→0

1 x + ∆x
= lim ln
∆x→0 ∆x x
 
1 x ∆x
= lim ln 1 +
∆x→0 x ∆x x
" x #
1 ∆x ∆x
= lim ln 1 +
x ∆x→0 x
"  x #
1 ∆x ∆x
= ln lim 1 + , by continuity of ln .
x ∆x→0 x

∆x
Let h = . Then h → 0 if and only if ∆x → 0. Thus,
x
 
1 1 1 1
Dx (ln x) = ln lim (1 + h) = ln e = .
h
x h→0 x x
Interestingly, the derivative of the ln function, one that cannot be expressed using a finite number
of operations (including extraction of nth roots) on polynomials, is a simple algebraic expression.
In contrast, the derivatives of circular functions are products of their fellow circular functions.

Now, since any logarithmic function can be expressed as the ln function times a constant, one easily
obtains its derivative. Indeed,
 
ln x 1 1 1 1
Dx (loga x) = Dx = Dx (ln x) = · = .
ln a ln a ln a x x ln a
2.3. DERIVATIVES OF EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS 101

Now, let f (x) = ln |x| on R \ {0}. Since x 6= 0, |x| > 0, so ln |x| is defined. Moreover, using the
chain rule,

√ 1 1 2x 1
Dx (ln |x|) = Dx (ln x2 ) = √ · √ · 2x = 2 = .
2
x 2 x 2 2x x
We summarize the preceding computations into the following theorem.

Theorem 2.3.1.
1
1. Dx (ln x) = for all x > 0.
x
1
2. Dx (loga x) = for all x > 0.
x ln a
1
3. Dx (ln |x|) = for all x 6= 0.
x

dy
Example 2.3.2. Find .
dx
1. y = log2 x

Solution.
dy 1
=
dx x ln 2

2. y = ln(3x2 + 2)

Solution.
dy 1 6x
= 2 · 6x = 2
dx 3x + 2 3x + 2

3. y = ln |7 − cos(2x)|

Solution.
dy 1 2 sin(2x)
= · sin(2x) · 2 =
dx 7 − cos(2x) 7 − cos(2x)

4. y = ln [sin (log5 x)]

Solution.
dy 1 1
= · cos (log5 x) ·
dx sin (log5 x) x ln 5

5. y = x2 log x

Solution.
dy 1 x
= 2x · log x + x2 · = 2x log x +
dx x ln 10 ln 10
102 CHAPTER 2. DERIVATIVES AND DIFFERENTIATION

2.3.2 Logarithmic Differentiation

Consider the function given by the equation
√
(x2 − 1)3 ( 3 1 + x + x3 )(sec4 x)
y= √ .
( csc x)( x45 )

dy
Suppose you are asked to find . One could imagine the excessive computations that would
dx
be brought about by repeated application of the product, quotient, power and chain rules. We
shall therefore introduce a process called logarithmic differentiation, a technique helpful in
differentiating an expression involving many products and quotients. In using this technique given
an equation in x and y:

1. Take the absolute value of both sides of the equation and apply properties of the absolute
value.

2. Take the natural logarithm of both sides and apply properties of logarithms to obtain a sum.

dy
3. Take the derivative of both sides implicitly with respect to x and solve for .
dx

Example 2.3.3.
√
3
dy x+1
1. Find if y = √ .
dx csc (x) 1 − x2
5

Solution.
We begin by taking the absolute value of both sides of the equation. Simplifying the result, we
get
√
3
x+1
|y| = √
csc5 (x) 1 − x2
1
|x + 1| 3
= 1
| csc x|5 |1 − x2 | 2

Next, we take the natural logarithm of both sides of the function. Using the properties of
logarithms, we rewrite the equation as a sum.
1
!
|x + 1| 3
ln |y| = ln 1
| csc x|5 |1 − x2 | 2
1 1
= ln |x + 1| 3 − ln | csc x|5 − ln |1 − x2 | 2
1 1
= ln |x + 1| − 5 ln | csc x| − ln |1 − x2 |
3 2
2.3. DERIVATIVES OF EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS 103

Finally, we take the derivatives of both sides of the equation implicitly with respect to x and
dy
solve for ,
dx
 
1 1 2
Dx (ln |y|) = Dx ln |x + 1| − 5 ln | csc x| − ln |1 − x |
3 2
1 dy 1 1 5 1 1
· = · ·1− · (− csc x cot x) − · · (−2x)
y dx 3 x+1 csc x 2 1 − x2
 
dy 1 x
=y + 5 cot x +
dx 3(x + 1) 1 − x2
 √3
 
x+1 1 x
= √ + 5 cot x +
csc5 (x) 1 − x2 3(x + 1) 1 − x2

√3
dy x2 tan4 x
2. Find if y = .
dx (2x2 + 1)3 log x

Solution.
Once again, we begin by taking the absolute value of both sides of the equation. Thus,
2
|x| 3 | tan x|4
|y| = .
|2x2 + 1|3 | log x|

Then, we take the natural logarithm of both sides and rewrite the equation as a sum using the
properties of logarithms to obtain

2
ln |y| = ln |x| + 4 ln | tan x| − 3 ln |2x2 + 1| − ln | log x|.
3

dy
Finally, we take the derivative of both sides implicitly with respect to x and solve for ,
dx
1 dy 2 1 1 1 1 1
· sec2 x − 3 · 2


= · +4· · (4x) − ·
y dx 3 x tan x 2x + 1 log x x ln 10
√3 2 4 2
 
dy x tan x 2 4 sec x 12x 1
= + − 2 − .
dx (2x2 + 1)3 log x 3x tan x 2x + 1 (log x)(x ln 10)

2.3.3 Derivatives of Exponential Functions

Next, we determine the derivatives of exponential functions, which we give in the following theorem.

Theorem 2.3.4.

1. Dx (ax ) = ax ln a (a > 0 and a 6= 1)

2. Dx (ex ) = ex
104 CHAPTER 2. DERIVATIVES AND DIFFERENTIATION

Proof. Consider the exponential function of base a,

y = ax .

This is equivalent to the logarithmic equation

x = loga y,

and taking the derivative of both sides of the equation implicitly with respect to x, we obtain

Dx (x) = Dx (loga y)
1 dy
1= · .
y ln a dx
dy
Solving for , we obtain
dx
dy
= y ln a = ax ln a.
dx
dy
This proves the first statement of Theorem 2.3.4. Observe that if a = e, then = ex ln e = ex ,
dx
which proves the second statement of Theorem 2.3.4.

Thus, we obtain a function whose derivative is itself. (Is this the only function with this property?)

dy
Example 2.3.5. Find .
dx
1. y = 4x

Solution.
dy
= 4x ln 4
dx
3
2. y = ex

Solution.
dy 3
= ex · 3x2
dx
3. y = 24x csc(ex )

Solution.
dy
= 24x ln 2 · 4 csc(ex ) + 24x [− csc (ex ) cot (ex ) · ex ]
 
dx

As a consequence also, if r ∈ R and x > 0, then

 
  1
Dx (xr ) = Dx er ln x = er ln x · r · = xr · rx−1 = rxr−1 .
x

Hence, the power rule holds even for irrational exponents. We state this as a theorem:
2.3. DERIVATIVES OF EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS 105

Theorem 2.3.6. (Power Rule) If f (x) = xr where r ∈ R, then f 0(x) = rxr−1.

√ √ √
For example, Dx (xπ ) = πxπ−1 and Dx ((cos x) 2) = 2(cos x) 2−1 (− sin x).

2.3.4 Derivative of f (x)g(x) , where f (x) > 0

To differentiate expressions of the form f (x)g(x) , we either use logarithmic differentiation or rewrite
f (x)g(x) as eg(x) ln f (x) .
dy
Example 2.3.7. Find .
dx
1. y = xx , x > 0

Solution.
Using logarithmic differentiation, we have
ln y = ln (xx ) (no need to take absolute values since x > 0)
ln y = x ln x
1 dy 1
= 1 · ln x + x ·
y dx x
dy
= y(ln x + 1)
dx
dy
= xx (ln x + 1)
dx
Alternatively, we have
y = ex ln x
 
dy x ln x 1
=e 1 · ln x + x ·
dx x
dy
= xx (ln x + 1)
dx
2. y = (sin x)cos x , sin x > 0

Solution.
ln y = cos x ln(sin x)
 
1 dy 1
= (− sin x) · ln(sin x) + cos x · · cos x
y dx sin x
cos2 x
 
dy cos x
= (sin x) − sin x ln(sin x) +
dx sin x
106 CHAPTER 2. DERIVATIVES AND DIFFERENTIATION

2.3.5 Exercises
Exercises for Discussion
dy
A. Find . Use logarithmic differentiation whenever appropriate.
dx
1. y = log5 (2x5 − 1) sec x 6. y = x2 · 35x−3
 

2. y = cos(ln |4 − x|)
√ 7. ln(x2 + y 2 ) = ex+y − ex−y
3. y = x5 (x2 − 1)4 sin x
xy )
(1 + x − x2 )3 8. ln 2 = (x2 − 1)π + 5(e
4. y = √ √
sec 4x(x − log x)6 9. y = (log4 x)e
x

x2 cot4 x
5. y = √ 2
3
5x − 2(log4 x)10 10. y = (tan 3x)1−x

B. Find the equation of the normal line to the graph of f (x) = 2x log2 x at the point where
x = 1.

Supplementary Exercises
dy
A. Find . Use logarithmic differentiation whenever appropriate.
dx

csc(log3 x) 8. y = 2x + 3x − 5x
1. y = √
x − ln(5x) 
4 − 14x

  9. y = log8
2. sin x2 − y 2 = tan log 1 x 1 − x2


4
3. y = logx2 +4 3 10. y = e4x−1 + ln x2 + e


√
esin 2x + ln(1 + x)
4. y = 1 + x − log12 x
2log5 x 11. y =
log2 2 − x + log5 (2x + 1)
5. y = (x + 2x )sin 5x
2

6. y x = xy 12. ln |x − cos y| = y 2 + x − 2

7. ln(x − y) = (tan x)y 13. x tan y − sin [(x − 1) ln y] = x