DERIVATIVES OF TRANSCENDENTAL FUNCTIONS

In the previous lessons, we restricted our discussions of derivatives to algebraic

functions. We now consider the differentiation of transcendental functions. Transcendental
function is a function which is not an algebraic function. In other words, a function which
"transcends," i.e., cannot be expressed in terms of, algebra. Examples of transcendental
functions include the trigonometric functions, inverse trigonometric functions, exponential
functions, and logarithmic functions. The derivatives of these functions are also based from the
definition of derivative that if the function y = f(x) then,
𝑓(𝑥+ℎ)− 𝑓(𝑥)
y’ = f’(x) = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

DERIVATIVES OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

The basic trigonometric functions include the six function: sine(sin x), cosine(cos x),
tangent(tan x), cotangent(cot x), secant(sec x) and cosecant(csc x). All these functions are
continuous and differentiable in their domains. Below we make a list of derivatives for these
functions.

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Example 1: Find the derivative of each of the following.

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a) f(x) = sin 5x c) f(x) =
sin 𝑥

cos x
b) f(x) = cos(4x – 3) d) f(x) =
sin x

Solutions:

a) f(x) = sin 5x
f ’(x) = (cos 5x) . (5x)’
= (cos 5x) . 5
f ‘(x) = 5cos 5x

b) f(x) = cos(4x – 3)
f ’(x) = –sin(4x – 3) . (4x – 3)’
= –sin(4x – 3) . (4)
f ‘(x) = –4sin(4x – 3)

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c) f(x) =
sin 𝑥
sin x . (0) −1 . (cos x)
f ‘(x) =
sin2 x
− cos x
= = – csc x cot x
sin2 x
1 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥
Note that = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝑥
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥

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 Another solution:

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c) f(x) = = (sin x)-1
sin 𝑥
f ‘(x) = –(sin x)-2 . cos x
= –cos x (sin x)-2
− cos x
f ‘(x) = = – csc x cot x
sin2 x

cos x
d) f(x) =
sin x
sin x .(− sin x)−cos x .cos x
f ‘(x) =
sin x . sin x

− (sin2 x + cos2 x)
=
sin2 x
−1
=
sin2 x
f ‘(x) = – csc2 x

Example 2:

Example 3:

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Example 4:

Example 5:

Example 6:

DERIVATIVES OF EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTION

Exponential Function
Definition: If a > 0 with a ≠ 1 the function defined by f(x) = bx is an exponential function with
base a.
The following are examples of exponential functions.
f(x) = 5x 2) h(x) = 2x + 1 3) k(x) = (1/2)x

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Derivative of Exponential Function
Theorem: If a is any positive number not equal to one and u is a differentiable function of x,
then d(au) = au ln a .du
Examples: Differentiate the following functions
a) f(x) = 8x b) k(x) = (2/3)1 – 2x
Solutions:
a) f(x) = 8x
f ’(x) = 8x ln 8. d(x)
= 8x ln 8 . 1
f ‘(x) = 8x ln 8
b) k(x) = (2/3)1 – 2x
k‘(x) = (2/3)1 – 2x ln (2/3) d(1 – 2x)
= (2/3)1 – 2x ln (2/3) . –2
k‘(x) = –2 ln (2/3) (2/3)1 – 2x

Derivative of Natural Exponential Function

Theorem: If u is a differentiable function of x and e is a constant equal to 2.71828. . ., then
d(eu) = eu.du
Examples: Differentiate the following functions
a) f(x) = e2x b) k(x) = 5x e1 – 3x c) h(x) = e2x tan x
Solutions:
a) f(x) = e2x
f ’(x) = e2x . d(2x)
f ‘(x) = 2e2x

b) k(x) = 5x e1 – 3x
k‘(x) = 5x . d(e1 – 3x ) + e1 – 3x d(5x) Derivative of a product

= 5x . (–3 e1 – 3x) + 5e1 – 3x

= –15x e1 – 3x + 5e1 – 3x
k‘(x) = 5e1 – 3x (– 3x + 1) or 5e1 – 3x (1 – 3x)

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 c) h(x) = e2x tan x
h‘(x) = e2x. d(tan x ) + tan x d(e2x ) Derivative of a product

= e2x. sec2 x + tan x . 2e2x )

h‘(x) = e2x( sec2 x + 2tan x ) .

Example. Given e(x + y) = 2xey, find dy/dx using implicit differentiation.

Solution:

e(x + y) d(x + y) = 2x . d(ey ) + ey . d(2x)

e(x + y) (1 + dy/dx) = 2x . (ey . dy/dx) + ey . 2

e(x + y) + e(x + y) dy/dx) = 2xey dy/dx + 2ey

e(x + y) dy/dx – 2xey dy/dx = 2ey – e(x + y)

dy/dx [e(x + y) – 2xey] = 2ey – e(x + y) Note: e(x + y) = ex . ey

2ey − ex . ey
dy/dx =
ex . ey − 2xey

ey (2 − ex )
dy/dx = x
ey (e − 2x)

2 − ex
dy/dx =
𝑒 𝑥 − 2x

Logarithmic Function
Definition: If a > 0 with a ≠ 1 the function defined by f(x) = loga x is called the logarithmic
function with base a. In symbols y = loga x if and only if x = ay.
The following are examples of exponential functions.
1) f(x) = log5 x 2) h(x) = log (2x + 3) 3) k(x) = log2 (1/x)
Note: If the base is not indicated it is understood to be 10.

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Derivative of Logarithmic Function
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐚 𝐞
Theorem: If u is a differentiable function of x, then d(loga u) = . 𝐝𝐮 or
𝐮
𝟏
d(loga u) = . 𝐝𝐮
𝐮 𝐥𝐧 𝐚
Examples: Differentiate the following functions
a) f(x) = log2 3x b) k(x) = log5 (1/x) c) h(x) = log (2 – 5x)
Solutions:
a) f(x) = log2 3x
1
f ’(x) = . d(3x)
3𝑥 . ln 2
3
=
3𝑥 . ln 2
1 log2 e
f ‘(x) = or
𝑥 . ln 2 x

b) k(x) = log5 (1/x)

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k‘(x) = . d(1/x)
(1/𝑥) . ln 5
x −1
= .
ln 5 x2
−1 −log5 e
k‘(x) = or
𝑥 ln 5 x

c) h(x) = log (2 – 5x)

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h‘(x) = . d(2 – 5x)
(2−5𝑥) . ln 10
1
= .–5
(2−5x) ln 10
−5 5
h’(x) = or
(2−5x) ln 10 (5x − 2) ln 10

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Derivative of Natural Logarithmic Function
𝟏 𝐝𝐮
Theorem: If u is a differentiable function of x and u(x) > 0, then d(ln u) = . 𝐝𝐮 = .
𝐮 𝐮
Examples: Differentiate the following functions
𝑥+1
a) f(x) = ln (x2 + 1) b) k(x) = 9x ln (1/x) c) h(x) = ln
𝑥−1
Solutions:
a) f(x) = ln (x2 + 1)
d(x2 + 1)
f ’(x) =
x2 + 1
2x
f ‘(x) =
x2 + 1

b) k(x) = 9x ln (1/x)
k‘(x) = 9x . d(ln 1/x ) + ln (1/x) . d(9x) Derivative of a product

= 9x . (–1/x2) + 9 ln (1/x)
= –9x3 + 9 ln (1/x)
k‘(x) = 9 [ln (1/x) – x3]

𝑥+1
c) h(x) = ln
𝑥−1
x+1
d( )
x−1
h‘(x) = x+1
x−1
−2
(𝑥−1 )2
= x+1
x−1
−2 x−1
= .
( x−1)2 x+1
−2
=
(x − 1 )( 𝑥 + 1 )
−2
h’(x) =
𝑥2 −1

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Example. Given ln (x + y) = ln (xy), find y’ using implicit differentiation.
Solution:

ln (x + y) = ln (xy)
1 + y′ xy′ +y(1)
=
x+y xy

xy(1 + y’) = (x + y) (xy’ + y)

xy + xyy’ = x2y’ + xy + xyy’ + y2
–x2y’ = y2
y2
y’ = −
x2

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