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17Calculus Derivatives - Logarithm Functions

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The logarithm rule is not as simple as the exponential derivative but it is still very straightforward.

Basic Logarithm Rule

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d}{dt}[\ln(t)] = \frac{1}{t} }\)

Logarithm With Chain Rule

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d}{dt}[\ln(u)] = \frac{1}{u}\frac{du}{dt} }\)

It is probably not clear just from the equation that the derivative of \(\ln(x)\) is \(1/x\). Here is a great video explaining, first intuitively, then from the limit, where this derivative comes from. Although he says you can stop the video after the intuitive explanation, watching the entire video will help you a lot (it's not very long).

MathTV - The Derivative of the Natural Log Function [12min-15secs]

video by MathTV

Many times, it helps to simplify a logarithmic expression before taking the derivative. Here are a few rules that should help you.

\( \ln(xy) = \ln(x) + \ln(y) \)

\( \ln(x/y) = \ln(x) - \ln(y) \)

\( \ln(x^y) = y \ln(x) \)

review logarithms

Here is a short video clip that goes through these equations again.

PatrickJMT - Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions and Examples [1min-29secs]

video by PatrickJMT

Before jumping into some practice problems, take a couple of minutes to watch this next video. It will help you see some common mistakes that you can avoid when taking the derivative of logarithm functions.

MathTV - Common Mistakes for Natural Logs and the Chain Rule [3min-43secs]

video by MathTV

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Practice

Unless otherwise instructed, calculate the derivative of these functions.

Here are a few practice problems that do not require the chain rule.

\(\displaystyle{f(x)=\frac{1}{\ln(x)}}\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(\displaystyle{f(x)=\frac{1}{\ln(x)}}\)

Solution

Krista King Math - 1071 video solution

video by Krista King Math

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\(f(x)=\sqrt{x}\ln(x)\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(f(x)=\sqrt{x}\ln(x)\)

Solution

PatrickJMT - 1085 video solution

video by PatrickJMT

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\(\displaystyle{y=\frac{\ln x}{1+\ln(2x)}}\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(\displaystyle{y=\frac{\ln x}{1+\ln(2x)}}\)

Solution

Although the chain is not required here, the instructor in this video does use the chain rule to calculate the derivative. You can use a logarithm rule to get \(\ln(2x) = \ln(2)+\ln(x)\) before taking the derivative, in order to avoid the chain rule.

PatrickJMT - 1091 video solution

video by PatrickJMT

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\(y=\ln(x)+2^x+\sin(x)\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(y=\ln(x)+2^x+\sin(x)\)

Solution

PatrickJMT - 1080 video solution

video by PatrickJMT

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These practice problems require the chain rule.

Basic

\(f(x)=\ln(x^2+10)\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(f(x)=\ln(x^2+10)\)

Solution

PatrickJMT - 1084 video solution

video by PatrickJMT

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\(y=\ln(x^2+x)\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(y=\ln(x^2+x)\)

Solution

PatrickJMT - 1088 video solution

video by PatrickJMT

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\(\displaystyle{ \ln(3x^2+9x-5) }\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of this function and give your final answer in completely factored form. \(\displaystyle{ \ln(3x^2+9x-5) }\)

Final Answer

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{3(2x+3)}{3x^2+9x-5} }\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of this function and give your final answer in completely factored form. \(\displaystyle{ \ln(3x^2+9x-5) }\)

Solution

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d}{dx}[ \ln(3x^2+9x-5) ] }\)

Apply the chain rule.

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{1}{3x^2+9x-5} \cdot \frac{d}{dx}[3x^2+9x-5] }\)

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{1}{3x^2+9x-5} \cdot (6x+9) }\)

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{3(2x+3)}{3x^2+9x-5} }\)

Using the substitution \( u = 3x^2+9x-5 \) this could have solved more explicitly.

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d}{dx}[ \ln(3x^2+9x-5) ] }\)

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d}{du}[\ln(u)] \cdot \frac{d}{dx}[3x^2+9x-5] }\)

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{1}{u} \cdot (6x+9) }\)

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{1}{3x^2+9x-5} \cdot [ 3(2x+3) ] }\)

Final Answer

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{3(2x+3)}{3x^2+9x-5} }\)

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\(h(x)=\ln(x^2+3x+4)\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(h(x)=\ln(x^2+3x+4)\)

Solution

PatrickJMT - 1081 video solution

video by PatrickJMT

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\(f(x)=\ln(5x^2+2x-7)\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(f(x)=\ln(5x^2+2x-7)\)

Solution

MathTV - 1156 video solution

video by MathTV

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\(g(x)=\log_4(x^3+8x)\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(g(x)=\log_4(x^3+8x)\)

Solution

PatrickJMT - 1082 video solution

video by PatrickJMT

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\(\displaystyle{f(x)=\ln\sqrt[3]{x^3-x}}\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(\displaystyle{f(x)=\ln\sqrt[3]{x^3-x}}\)

Final Answer

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{3x^2-1}{3x(x^2-1)} }\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(\displaystyle{f(x)=\ln\sqrt[3]{x^3-x}}\)

Solution

Krista King Math - 1070 video solution

video by Krista King Math

Final Answer

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{3x^2-1}{3x(x^2-1)} }\)

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\(\displaystyle{f(x)=\ln\left(x\sqrt{x^2+1}\right)}\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(\displaystyle{f(x)=\ln\left(x\sqrt{x^2+1}\right)}\)

Solution

Krista King Math - 1072 video solution

video by Krista King Math

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Calculate the first three derivatives of \(\displaystyle{ f(x)=\ln(2+3x) }\) and give your answers in completely factored form.

Problem Statement

Calculate the first three derivatives of \(\displaystyle{ f(x)=\ln(2+3x) }\) and give your answers in completely factored form.

Solution

First Derivative

\(\displaystyle{ f'(x) = \frac{d}{dx}[ \ln(2+3x) ] }\)

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{1}{2+3x} \frac{d}{dx}[2+3x] }\)

\(\displaystyle{ \frac{1}{2+3x} (3) = \frac{3}{2+3x} }\)

Second Derivative
We can use the either quotient rule or product rule here. The product rule is the easiest here because of the constant in the numerator but we need to rewrite the first derivative as \(\displaystyle{ \frac{3}{2+3x} = 3(2+3x)^{-1} }\).

\(\displaystyle{ f''(x) = \frac{d}{dx} \left[ 3(2+3x)^{-1} \right] }\)

\(\displaystyle{3(-1)(2+3x)^{-2} \frac{d}{dx}[2+3x] }\)

\(\displaystyle{-3(2+3x)^{-2} (3) = \frac{-9}{(2+3x)^{2}} }\)

Third Derivative
Again, we can use either the quotient rule or product rule and we choose the product rule.

\( f^{(3)}(x) = \displaystyle{ \frac{d}{dx}\left[ -9(2+3x)^{-2} \right]} \)

\(\displaystyle{-9(-2)(2+3x)^{-3}\frac{d}{dx}[2+3x]} \)

\( 18(2+3x)^{-3} (3) \)

\(\displaystyle{\frac{54}{(2+3x)^3} }\)

Final Answers

\(\displaystyle{f'(x) = \frac{3}{2+3x}}\)

\(\displaystyle{f''(x) = \frac{-9}{(2+3x)^{2}}}\)

\(\displaystyle{ f^{(3)}(x)=\frac{54}{(2+3x)^3} }\)

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Intermediate

\(\displaystyle{f(x)=\ln\left[\frac{(2x+1)^5}{\sqrt{x^2+1}}\right]}\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(\displaystyle{f(x)=\ln\left[\frac{(2x+1)^5}{\sqrt{x^2+1}}\right]}\)

Solution

Krista King Math - 1073 video solution

video by Krista King Math

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\(\displaystyle{ f(x)=\ln\left[ \frac{(2x+1)^3}{(3x-1)^4} \right] }\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(\displaystyle{ f(x)=\ln\left[ \frac{(2x+1)^3}{(3x-1)^4} \right] }\)

Solution

PatrickJMT - 1086 video solution

video by PatrickJMT

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\(y=\sqrt[3]{\log_7(x)}\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(y=\sqrt[3]{\log_7(x)}\)

Solution

PatrickJMT - 1089 video solution

video by PatrickJMT

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\(y=\ln(x^4\sin x)\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(y=\ln(x^4\sin x)\)

Solution

PatrickJMT - 1090 video solution

video by PatrickJMT

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\(y=[\log_4(1+e^x)]^2\)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(y=[\log_4(1+e^x)]^2\)

Solution

PatrickJMT - 1087 video solution

video by PatrickJMT

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\(p(x)=\ln\left[ x^2 \cdot \sqrt{x^3+3x} \cdot (x+2)^4 \right] \)

Problem Statement

Calculate the derivative of \(p(x)=\ln\left[ x^2 \cdot \sqrt{x^3+3x} \cdot (x+2)^4 \right] \)

Solution

PatrickJMT - 1083 video solution

video by PatrickJMT

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Really UNDERSTAND Calculus

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Topics You Need To Understand For This Page

basic derivative rules

power rule

product rule

quotient rule

For the basic logarithm derivatives you do not need the chain rule. But we discuss it on this page. Each section is labeled. So if you have not studied the chain rule yet, you can read the sections that apply to you and then come back here once you have studied it.

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Practice Instructions

Unless otherwise instructed, calculate the derivative of these functions.

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