Examples of the derivatives of logarithmic functions, in calculus, are presented. Several examples, with detailed solutions, involving products, sums and quotients of exponential functions are examined.
First Derivative of a Logarithmic Function to any Base
The first derivative of f(x) = log b x is given by
f '(x) = 1 / (x ln b)
Note: if f(x) = ln x , then f '(x) = 1 / x
Examples
Example 1
Find the derivative of f(x) = log 3 x
Solution to Example 1:
Apply the formula above to obtain
f '(x) = 1 / (x ln 3)
Example 2
Find the derivative of f(x) = ln x + 6x 2 Solution to Example 2:
Let g(x) = ln x and h(x) = 6x 2, function f is the sum of functions g and h: f(x) = g(x) + h(x). Use the sum rule, f '(x) = g '(x) + h '(x), to find the derivative of function f
f '(x) = 1 / x + 12x
Example 3
Find the derivative of f(x) = log 3 x / ( 1 - x )
Solution to Example 3:
Let g(x) = log 3 x and h(x) = 1 - x, function f is the quotient of functions g and h: f(x) = g(x) / h(x). Hence we use the quotient rule, f '(x) = [ h(x) g '(x) - g(x) h '(x) ] / h(x) 2, to find the derivative of function f.
g '(x) = 1 / (x ln 3)
h '(x) = -1
f '(x) = [ h(x) g '(x) - g(x) h '(x) ] / h(x) 2
= [ (1 - x)(1 / (x ln 3)) - (log 3 x)(-1) ] / (1 - x) 2
Example 4
Find the derivative of f(x) = ln (-4x + 1)
Solution to Example 4:
Let u = -4x + 1 and y = ln u, Use the chain rule to find the derivative of function f as follows.
f '(x) = (dy / du) (du / dx)
dy / du = 1 / u and du / dx = -4
f '(x) = (1 / u)(-4) = -4 / u
Substitute u = -4x + 1 in f '(x) above
f '(x) = -4 / (-4x + 1)
Exercises
Find the derivative of each function.
1) f(x) = ln(x 2)
2) g(x) = ln x - x 7
3) h(x) = ln x / (2x - 3)
4) j(x) = ln (x + 3) ln (x - 1)
