The Derivative of the Natural Logarithm

 

Derivation of the Derivative

Our next task is to determine what is the derivative of the natural logarithm.  We begin with the inverse definition.  If

        y  =  ln x

then

        ey  =  x

Now implicitly take the derivative of both sides with respect to x remembering to multiply by dy/dx on the left hand side since it is given in terms of y not x.

        ey dy/dx  =  1

From the inverse definition, we can substitute x in for ey to get

       x dy/dx  =  1

Finally, divide by x to get

        dy/dx  =  1/x

We have proven the following theorem

 

Theorem (The Derivative of the Natural Logarithm Function)

If f(x)  =  ln x, then 

               f '(x)  =  1/x

 

 


Examples

Find the derivative of

        f(x)  =  ln(3x - 4)

 

Solution

We use the chain rule.  We have

        (3x - 4)'  =  3

and 

        (ln u)'  =  1/u  

Putting this together gives

        f '(x)  =  (3)(1/u)

                  3
         =                         
               3x - 4      


Example

find the derivative of 

        f(x)  =  ln[(1 + x)(1 + x2)2(1 + x3)3 ]

 

Solution

The last thing that we want to do is to use the product rule and chain rule multiple times.  Instead, we first simplify with properties of the natural logarithm.  We have

        ln[(1 + x)(1 + x2)2(1 + x3)3 ]  =  ln(1 + x) + ln(1 + x2)2 + ln(1 + x3)

        =  ln(1 + x) + 2 ln(1 + x2) + 3 ln(1 + x3)

Now the derivative is not so daunting.  We have use the chain rule to get

                            1                 4x                   9x2  
        f '(x)  =                   +                     +                      
                         1 + x            1 + x2             1 + x3

        


Exponentials and With Other Bases

 

              

           Definition  

Let a > 0 then

         
a x = ex ln a

 

 

Examples

Find the derivative of

        f (x) = 2x

Solution

We write

        2x = ex ln 2

Now use the chain rule

        f '(x)  =  (ex ln 2)(ln 2)  =  2x ln 2



Logs With Other Bases

    We define logarithms with other bases by the change of base formula.

         

Definition  

                       ln x 
      loga x =            
                       ln a

 

    
Remark:  The nice part of this formula is that the denominator is a constant.  We do not have to use the quotient rule to find a derivative


Examples

Find the derivative of the following functions

  1. f(x) = log4

  2. f(x) = log (3x + 4)

  3. f(x) = x log(2x) 

Solution

  1. We use the formula

                         ln x    
            f(x)  =            
                         ln 4

    so that 
                              1    
            f '(x)  =              
                           x ln 4


  2. We again use the formula

                           ln(3x + 4)
             f(x)  =                       
                             ln 10

           

    now use the chain rule to get

                                     3
             f '(x)  =                          
                            (3x + 4) ln 10

  3. Use the product rule to get

            f '(x) = log(2x) + x(log(2x))'

    Now use the formula to get

                                 ln(2x)
            log (2x) =                        
                                 ln 10

    The chain rule gives

                                                    2                                   1
            f '(x)  =  log(2x) + x                       =  log(2x) +            
                                             (2x) ln 10                           ln 10
           

     


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