Calculus MTS3100

Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

L14a CHAPTER 4: DERIVATIVES OF

LOGARITHMIC FUNCTION

Logarithmic Functions

Introduction:

We begin by introducing the natural

logarithm as a function defined by a definite
integral with variable upper limit. We develop
its properties and let us discuss logarithmic
functions in general

Definition:

A logarithmic function L is a nonconstant,

differentiable function defined on ( 0 , ∞ ) , such
that for any x, y ∈ ( 0 , ∞ ) ,

L ( xy ) = L (x) + L (y) (1)

We can deduce some properties of

logarithmic function directly from the
definition.

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

For instance, if L is a logarithmic function,

then

L (1) = L (1.1) = L (1) +L (1)

= 2L(1)
So that
L (1) = 0 (2)

Also, for any x ∈ ( 0 , ∞ ) , we have

0 = L (1) = L
( )
x.
1 1
x = L (x) +L x ()
So that

()
1
L x = - L (x) (3)

Hence, it follows that for x, y ∈ ( 0 , ∞ )

()
x
L y = L (x) – L (y) (4)

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

Since a logarithmic function is differentiable,

we have by definition
L ( x+ h )−L( x )
lim
L = h→0
' ( x ) h
But by property (4)

L (x+h) –L (x)= L x = L
x+ h
1+( ) ( )
h
x

Therefore, using equation (2) and algebraic

manipulation, we get

lim
( )
L 1+
h
x
L '(x) = h→0 h
L ( 1+h/ x )−L ( 1 )
lim
= h→0 h
1 L ( 1+h/ x )−L ( 1 )
lim .
= h→0 x h /x
1 L ( 1+h/ x )−L ( 1 )
lim
= x h /x →0 h/ x
1
L' ( 1 )
= x
That is, for any logarithmic function L,

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

1
' ( x )= L ' ( 1 )
L x (5)

Note: L ' ( 1 ) ¿ 0 because L is a nonconstant

function

The Natural Logarithm:

The most natural, or simplest, logarithmic

function is one for which L ' ( 1 ) =1,
1
From equation (5): L ' ( x ) = x .
1 1
If L ' ( x ) = x , then L (x) is antiderivative of x ,
By Theorem antiderivative
(Chapter 5),
x

()
∫t
1
1
dt
1
is also antiderivative of x , so L (x) =
x

∫ ( 1t ) dt
1 +C
1

∫ ( 1t ) dt
Since L (1) = 0, 0 = 1 +C = C, C = 0 ∴

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function
x

∫ 1t dt
We get L ( x ) = 1 , we give it the name
natural logarithm.

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

Definition:

The natural logarithm of x ∈ ( 0 , ∞ ) is

denoted by ln x and is defined by
x

∫ 1t dt
ln x = 1

We call the function f(x) = ln x the natural

logarithmic function

The Graph of ln x:

We describe the properties of the graph of

ln x, and work toward constructing the graph.
From the property of in x, derivative of in x is
positive for all x ∈ ( 0 , ∞ ) .
∴x is increasing on ( 0 , ∞ ) .

We know that ln (1) = 0, hence, ln x > 0 if x

> 1 and ln x < 0 if 0 < x < 1.
These facts can also be observed by
x

∫( 1
t)dt
interpreting ln x = 1 as the area under

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

1
curve y = t between 1 and x (see Figures 1
and 2).

y
y

1 1
y=t y=t
Area= ln x
1 Area= - ln x

t 1 t
x 1
1 x
Figure 1 : ln x >0 if x>1 Figure 2 : ln x<0 if
0<x<1

x 1

∫ 1t dt 1
− ∫ dt
∴ 1 = x t

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

x
1

Figure 3 The graph of y = lnx

One other property of the natural logarithmic

function should be mentioned here. For any
rational number n for any x ∈ ( 0 , ∞ ) ,
n
ln x = n ln x (6)

Proof:

To prove this fact, we start with the

definition:
xn

n ∫ 1t dt
ln x = 1

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function
n n−1
let t = u then dt = nu du

n
Also u = 1 when t = 1 and u = x when t = x
Therefore,
x x
1 n−1 1
n ∫ un nu du n∫ du
ln x = 1 = 1 u = n ln x

Differentiation of ln x:
x
1 1
D x∫ dt =
1 t x
ln x is differentiable, and
1
D x ln x =
x (7)

It follows that ln x is not constant function,

1
since x is never 0.

Theorem: If u = g(x) and g is differentiable,

then

1
D x lnu= D x u
i) u if g (x) >0

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

1
D x ln| u |= D x u
ii) u if g (x) ¿ 0

Proof:

i. If we let y = ln u and u = g (x), then, by

the chain rule and property (7)

dy dy du 1
Du
D x lnu = dx = du dx = u x

ii. If u > 0 then |u|=u and, by part (i),

1
D x lnu= D x u
u
If u < 0 then |u| = -u>0 and, by part (i),
1
D x ln(−u)= Dx (−u )
−u
1
− (−1 ) D x ( u )
= u
1
Dx(u )
= u

An alternative form for differentiation of ln

f(x) is

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

f ' (x)
D x ln| f (x )|=
f ( x) (8)

Example:

dy
Find dx
3
a. y=ln |8−3 x+2 x |
3 x−1
y=ln| 2
|
b. x
c. y=ln| sin x−cot 2 x |
d. y= ( ln √ 5−6 x ) ( x2
)

Solution:

3
a. y=ln| 8−3 x+2 x |
1 d
y'= 3 dx
( 8−3 x +2 x 3
)
8−3 x+2 x
2
−3+6 x
3
= 8−3 x +2 x

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

3 x−1
y=ln| 2 |
b. x
2
y= ln|3 x−1|−ln| x |
= ln|3 x−1|−2ln| x |

c. y=ln| sin x−cot 2 x |

1 d
y'= ( sin x−cot2 x )
sin x−cot 2 x dx

( d
cos x− −csc 2 2 x ( 2 x )
dx )
= sin x−cot 2 x
2
cos x +2 csc 2 x
= sin x−cot 2 x

d. y=( ln √ 5−6 x ) ( x )
2

1
( )
y= ln| 5−6 x | ( x 2 )
2

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

y '= ( 1
2
ln|5−6 x | )
d 2
dx (
( x ) + ( x2 ) d 1 ln| 5−6 x |
dx 2 )
= +

Example:

d 5 4+x 2
Find dx 4−x
2
√
Solution:

We first simplify the given function use laws

of logarithms, and then the differentiation
becomes easier.

( ( ))
2 1
d 4+x 5
dx
ln
4−x 2
=
d 1
dx 5
ln
( ( ))
4 + x2
4−x 2

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

d 1
= dx 5
[ (
ln ( 4+ x2 )−ln ( 4−x 2 ) ] )
=
1 2x
[ +
2x
5 4+ x2 4−x 2
=
]
=
d 5 4+x 2
Then dx 4−x =
2
√ .

Example:

( 5 x+2 )3 (6 x +1 )2
y=
If √x , use logarithmic
differentiation to find D x y

Solution:

ln y=ln [
( 5 x +2 )3 ( 6 x +1 )2
√x ]
1
[ ln | ( 5 x +2 ) 3
|+ln ( 6 x+1 ) 2
] 2 ln| x |
−
=

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

1
3 ln|5 x+2|+2 ln| 6 x+1 |− ln| x |
= 2
1 ' 15 12 1
y= + −
y ( 5 x +2 ) ( 6 x +1 ) 2 x
'
y=

[ ( 5 x+ 2 )3 ( 6 x+1 )2
√x ][ 15
+
12
−
1
( 5 x+ 2 ) ( 6 x+ 1 ) 2 x ]
Exercise
Differentiation for exponential and
logarithmic functions
1. Differentiate y=2e −8 . x x

[Answer: y =2 e −8 ln ( 8 ) ¿
' x x

2. Differentiate f ( x )=x −e ln ( x ) .
5 x

[Answer: f ( x )=5 x −e ln ( x )− ex ¿
' 4 x

3. Differentiate f ( x )=4 log ( t )−ln ( t ).

3

4 1
[Answer: f ( x )= t ln ( 3 ) − t ¿
'

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

APPENDIX

The Antiderivative of 1/f (x) :

We may use differentiation formulas for ln to

obtain formulas for integration. In particular,
by formula (8)

f ' (x )
D x ln| f ( x ) |=
f (x ) ,
which gives us the integration formula

1
∫ f ( x ) f ' ( x ) dx=ln| f ( x ) |+C
This is restated in the next theorem in terms
of the variable u.

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

Theorem:
If u=f(x) ¿ 0 and f is differentiable, then

1
∫ u du=ln|u |+C
(9)

Of course, if u > 0 then the absolute value

sign may be deleted. A special case of the
above theorem is

1
∫ x dx=ln| x |+C
4x
∫ x 2−9 dx
Example: Find

Solution:
2
We substitute u=x −9 du=2 x

4x 2 du 1
∫ x 2−9 ∫ u ∫ u du
dx= 2
=
2
= 2ln|u|+C = 2ln| x −9|+C

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function

3sin x
∫ 1+2cos x dx
Example: Find

Solution:

u=1+2 cos x du=−2 sin xdx

du
dx=
−2 sin x

3sin x 3sin x du
∫ 1+2cos x ∫ u −2 sin x
dx
=
3 1 3
− ∫ du − ln|u |+C
= 2 u = 2

Exercises of integration for exponential and

logarithmic functions
1
1. Evaluate ∫ 4 e +15− 6 x dx .
x

1
[Answer: 4 e +15 x − 6 ln ( x )+ c]
x

−x
e −4
2. Evaluate ∫ x − e dx .
3
−x

1
[Answer: 4 x −x + 4 e +c ]
4 x

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Chapter 3: Derivatives of Logarithmic Function
6 2
3. Evaluate ∫ x − x dx .
3

[Answer: −3 x −2 ln ( x )+ c]
−2

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