DIFFERENTIATION OF LOGARITHMIC AND

4.3 EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

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Introduction
 In this section we differentiate these new functions and
use their derivatives for graphing, optimization, and
finding rates of change.

 We emphasize natural (base e) logs and exponentials,

since most applications use these exclusively.

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Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions
The rule for differentiating the natural logarithm function is
as follows:

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Example 1 – DIFFERENTIATING A LOGARITHMIC FUNCTION

Differentiate f(x) = x3 ln x.

Solution:
The function is a product, x3 times ln x, so we use the
Product Rule.

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Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions
The preceding rule, together with the Chain Rule, shows
how to differentiate the natural logarithm of a function. For
any differentiable function f(x) that is positive:

Notice that the right-hand side does not involve logarithms

at all.

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Example 2 – DIFFERENTIATING A LOGARITHMIC FUNCTION

←Derivative of x2 + 1
←Original function (without the ln)

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Derivatives of Exponential
Functions

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Derivatives of Exponential Functions
The rule for differentiating the exponential function ex is as
follows:

The function ex is unchanged by the operation of

differentiation.

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Derivatives of Exponential Functions
This rule can be interpreted graphically:
if y = ex, then y' = ex, so that y = y'.

This means that on the graph of

y = ex, the slope y' always equals
the y-coordinate, as shown in the
graph on the right.

Since y' and y″ both equal ex, they are always

positive and the graph is always
increasing and concave upwards.
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Example 4 – FINDING A DERIVATIVE INVOLVING ex

Find

Solution:
Since the function is a quotient, we use the Quotient Rule:

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Derivatives of Exponential Functions
The rule for differentiating ex, together with the Chain Rule,
shows how to differentiate ef(x).
For any differentiable function f(x):

That is, to differentiate ef(x) we simply “copy” the original

ef(x) and then by the derivative of the exponent.

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Example 6 – DIFFERENTIATING AN EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION

Reversing the order

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Derivatives of Exponential Functions
The formulas for differentiating natural logarithmic and
exponential functions are summarized as follows, with f(x)
written simply as f.

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Example 8 – DIFFERENTIATING A LOGARITHMIC AND EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION

Find the derivative of ln (1 + ex).

Solution:

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Derivatives of Exponential Functions

This formula says that the rate of change (the derivative) of

ekx is proportional to itself. That is, the function satisfies the
differential equation
y' = ky
We noted this earlier when we observed that in exponential
growth a quantity grows in proportion to itself.

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Derivatives of Exponential Functions
These differentiation formulas enable us to find
instantaneous rates of change of logarithmic and
exponential functions.

In many applications the variable stands for time, so we

use t instead of x.

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Example 9 – FINDING A RATE OF IMPROVEMENT OF A SKILL

After t weeks of practice a pole vaulter can vault

H(t) = 15 – 11e–0.1t
feet. Find the rate of change of the athlete’s jumps after
a. 0 weeks (at the beginning of training)
b. 12 weeks

Solution:
We differentiate to find the rate of change
Differentiating
15 – 11e–0.1t

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Example 9 – Solution cont’d

a. For the rate of change after 0 weeks:

H'(0) = 1.1e–0.1(0) = 1.1e0 = 1.1 H'(t) = 1.1e–0.1t with t = 0

b. After 12 weeks:
H'(12) = 1.1e–0.1(12)
H'(t) = 1.1e–0.1t with t =12
= 1.1e–1.2 ≈ 1.1(0.30)
= 0.33

At first, the vaults increased by 1.1 feet per week. After 12

weeks, the gain was only 0.33 foot (about 4 inches) per
week.

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Derivatives of Exponential Functions
This result is typical of learning a new skill: early
improvement is rapid, later improvement is slower.

This trend is called diminishing returns, and may be seen in

the leveling off of the polevault heights in the graph below.

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Maximizing Consumer Expenditure

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Maximizing Consumer Expenditure
The amount of a commodity that consumers will buy
depends on the price of the commodity.

For a commodity whose price is p, let the consumer

demand be given by a function D(p). Multiplying the
number of units D(p) by the price p gives the total
consumer expenditure for the commodity.

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Example 10 – MAXIMIZING CONSUMER EXPENDITURE

If consumer demand for a commodity is

D(p) = 10,000e– 0.02p units per week, where p is the selling
price, find the price that maximizes consumer expenditure.

Solution:
Using the preceding formula for consumer expenditure,
E(p) = p . 10,000 e–0.02p E(p) = p . D(p)

= 10,000pe–0.02p
To maximize E(p) we differentiate: Using the Product
Rule to differentiate
E'(p) = 10,000e –0.02p + 10,000p(–0.02)e–0.02p E(p) = 10,000p . e–0.02p

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Example 10 – Solution cont’d

= 10,000e–0.02p – 200pe–0.02p Simplifying

= 200e–0.02p(50 – p) Factoring

Critical number from

CN: p = 50 (50 – p) (since e to a
power is never zero)

We calculate E" for the second-derivative test:

E"(p) = 200(–0.02)e–0.02p(50 – p) + 200e–0.02p(–1)

From E'(p) =
200e–0.02p . (50 – p)
using the
Product Rule

= –4e–0.02p(50 – p) – 200e–0.02p Simplifying

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Example 10 – Solution cont’d

At the critical number p = 50,

E"(50) = –4e–0.02(50)(50 – 50) – 200e–0.02(50) Substituting p
= 50

= –200e–1 Simplifying

E" is negative, so the expenditure E(p) is maximized at

p = 50:
Consumer expenditure is maximized at price $50.

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Graphing Logarithmic and
Exponential Functions

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Graphing Logarithmic and Exponential Functions
To graph logarithmic and exponential functions using a
graphing calculator, we first find critical points and possible
inflection points, and then graph the function on a window
including these points.

(If graphing “by hand,” we would make sign diagrams for

the first and second derivatives and then sketch the graph).

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Example 11 – GRAPHING AN EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION

Graph f(x) =

Solution:
As before, we write the function as f(x) = .
The derivative is

CN: x = 0 Critical number is 0

y=1 From y = evaluated at x = 0
The second derivative is

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Example 11 – Solution cont’d

Simplifying

Factoring

Rearranging

Factoring

Where f" = 0

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Graphing Logarithmic and Exponential Functions
Based on these values, we choose the graphing window as
follows.
For the x-values we choose [–3, 3]
(to include 0 and ±1 and beyond),
and for the y-values we choose
[–1, 2] (to include 1 and 0.6 and
above and below).
This window gives the graph on the
right.

(Many other windows would be just as good, and after

seeing the graph you might want to adjust the window.)
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