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Lecture76 Slides

This document discusses differentiating really general exponential functions using logarithmic differentiation. It provides the formulas for differentiating constant exponents and bases. Examples are given of differentiating functions of the form f(x)g(x) and finding the derivatives requires taking the natural log of both sides and applying logarithm rules before taking the derivative. More complex examples are worked out applying this process of logarithmic differentiation.

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huy.nguyenbuiquoc
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10 views

Lecture76 Slides

This document discusses differentiating really general exponential functions using logarithmic differentiation. It provides the formulas for differentiating constant exponents and bases. Examples are given of differentiating functions of the form f(x)g(x) and finding the derivatives requires taking the natural log of both sides and applying logarithm rules before taking the derivative. More complex examples are worked out applying this process of logarithmic differentiation.

Uploaded by

huy.nguyenbuiquoc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

CALCULUS I

Derivatives of Really General Exponential


Functions

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Even More General Exponential Functions

We have the differentiation formulas


d n
x = nx n−1 if n is constant
dx
and
d x
a = (ln a)ax if a is constant.
dx
So what is the derivative of f (x) = x x ?
d x
Since the exponent is not constant, dx x is NOT x · x x−1 (which is x x ).

d x
Since the base is not constant, dx x is NOT (ln x)x x .

For a REALLY general exponential function of the form f (x)g (x) ,


we use logarithmic differentiation.

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More Examples
Find the derivatives of the following functions:
1 f (x) = x x

First, we set y = x x , and then take natural logs of both sides:


ln y = ln x x .
Next, use the “Power” Law of Logarithms, ln(ar ) = r ln a,
to eliminate exponents:
ln y = x ln x.
Finally, take derivatives, with respect to x, of both sides:
1 0 1
y = 1 · ln x + x ·
y x
and then multiply both sides by y , recalling that y = x x :
y 0 = y (ln x + 1) = x x (ln x + 1).
Hence f 0 (x) = x x (ln x + 1).
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More Examples

2 f (x) = (x 2 + 3)tan x

Again using logarithmic differentiation, we set y = (x 2 + 3)tan x , and


have

ln y = ln (x 2 + 3)tan x
 

= (tan x) ln(x 2 + 3);


1 0 1
y = (sec2 x) ln(x 2 + 3) + (tan x) 2 · 2x;
y x +3
 
2x tan x
y 0 = y (sec2 x) ln(x 2 + 3) + 2 .
x +3

 
0 2 tan x 2 2 2x tan x
Hence f (x) = (x + 3) (sec x) ln(x + 3) + 2 .
x +3

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More Examples
Note: Logarithmic differentiation is necessary only if both the base and
exponent are non-constant. It will work with normal exponential and power
functions, using the fact that the derivative of a constant function is 0.
3 +4
3 Use logarithmic differentiation to find the derivative of f (x) = 5x .
3 +4
Set y = 5x , so that
3 +4
ln y = ln(5x ) = (x 3 + 4) ln 5.
Since ln 5 is just a constant, taking derivatives we get
1 0
y = 3x 2 ln 5,
y
3 +4
and so y 0 = y · 3x 2 ln 5. Hence f 0 (x) = 3x 2 (ln 5)5x .
d x
This is the same answer we would get using dx 5 = (ln 5)5x ,
but requires much more work.
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More Examples

4 Use logarithmic differentiation to differentiate f (x) = (x 3 + 4)5 .

Set y = (x 3 + 4)5 , so that


ln y = ln[(x 3 + 4)5 ] = 5 ln(x 3 + 4).
Since 5 is just a constant, taking derivatives we get
1 0 1
y =5· 3 · 3x 2 ,
y x +4
and so
5 · 3x 2
y 0 = (x 3 + 4)5 · .
x3 + 4
Hence f 0 (x) = 5(x 3 + 4)4 · 3x 2 .
d 5
This is the same answer we would get using dx x = 5x 4 ,
but again requires much more work.
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