Contents

3 Differentiation Rules 71
3.1 The Second Derivative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
3.2 Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
3.3 The Chain Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
3.4 Implicit Differentiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
3.5 Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
3.6 Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
3.7 Logarithmic Differentiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

70
Chapter 3

Differentiation Rules

Let’s start with the simplest of all functions, the constant function f (x) = c. The graph of this function is the
horizontal line y = c, which has slope 0, so we must have f 0 (x) = 0. A formal proof of a derivative, is also easy

f (x + h) − f (x) c−c
f 0 (x) = lim = lim = lim 0 = 0.
h→0 h h→0 h h→0

In Leibniz notation, we write this rule as follows.

d
(c) = 0.
dx

We next look at the functions f (x) = xn , where n is a positive integer. If n = 1, the graph of f (x) = x is the line
y = x, which has slope 1. So
d
(x) = 1.
dx
We can also verify that the cases n = 2, n = 3 and n = 4 have forms

d 2 d 3 d 4
(x ) = 2x, (x ) = 3x2 , (x ) = 4x3 .
dx dx dx

Comparing the equations, we see a pattern emerging. It seems to be a reasonable guess that, when n is a positive
integer, (d/dx)(xn ) = nxn−1 . This turns out to be true.

* If n is a real number, then

d n
(x ) = nxn−1 .
dx

* If c is a constant and f is a differentiable function, then

d h i d
cf (x) = c f (x).
dx dx

* If f and g are both differentiable, then

d h i d d
f (x) ± g(x) = f (x) ± g(x).
dx dx dx

d x
* (e ) = ex
dx
* For the real number a > 0, a 6= 1
d x
(a ) = ax ln a
dx

71
72 CHAPTER 3. DIFFERENTIATION RULES

* If f and g are both differentiable, then

d h i d d
f (x)g(x) = f (x) g(x) + g(x) f (x).
dx dx dx

* If f and g are differentiable, then

  g(x) d f (x) − f (x) d g(x)

d f (x) dx dx
= i2 .
dx g(x)
h
g(x)

Example 1.

Differentiate:
1
(a) f (x) =
x2
√
3
(b) y = x2

Solution. In each case we rewrite the function as a power of x.

(a) Since f (x) = x−2 , we use the Power Rule with n = −2:

d −2 2
f 0 (x) = (x ) = −2x−2−1 = −2x−3 = − 3
dx x

dy d √ d 2/3 2 2
(x ) = x(2/3)−1 = x−1/3
3
(b) = ( x2 ) =
dx dx dx 3 3

Example 2.

d  8 
x + 12x5 − 4x4 + 10x3 − 6x + 5 =?
dx

Solution.

d  8  d 8 d d d d d
x + 12x5 − 4x4 + 10x3 − 6x + 5 = (x ) + 12 (x5 ) − 4 (x4 ) + 10 (x3 ) − 6 (x) + (5)
dx dx dx dx dx dx dx
= 8x7 + 12(5x4 ) − 4(4x3 ) + 10(3x2 ) − 6(1) + 0
= 8x7 + 60x4 − 16x3 + 30x2 − 6
 73

Example 3.

Find the points on the curve y = x4 − 6x2 + 4 where the tangent line is horizontal.

Solution. Horizontal tangents occur where the derivative is zero. We have

dy d 4 d d
= (x ) − 6 (x2 ) + (4)
dx dx dx dx
= 4x3 − 12x + 0
194 ■ CHAPTER 3 DIFFERENTIATION RULES = 4x(x2 − 3)
√
Thus, dy/dx = 0 Thus,
if x =dy兾dx
0 or 苷x20−if 3x 苷 x 2 is, x = ± 3. So the given curve has horizontal tangents when
= 00,orthat 3 苷 0, that is, x 苷 s3
√ √ √. So the given √
curve has
x = 0, x = 3 and x = − tangents
horizontal 3. The when x 苷 0, s3,points
corresponding and s3are. The
(0, 4), (− 3, −5) points
corresponding and ( are 共0, 4兲, (Figure is on next
3, −5).
page.) (s3, 5), and (s3, 5). (See Figure 5.)
y

(0, 4)

0 x
FIGURE 5
The curve y=x$-6x@+4 and {_ œ„
3, _5} {œ„
3, _5}
its horizontal tangents

EXAMPLE 7 The equation of motion of a particle is s 苷 2t 3  5t 2  3t  4, where s

Example 4.is measured in centimeters and t in seconds. Find the acceleration as a function of
time. What is the acceleration after 2 seconds?
√
DifferentiateSOLUTION
the function f (t) = andt(1
The velocity − t).
acceleration are

ds
v共t兲 苷
苷 6t 2  10t  3
dt
Solution 1. Using the Product Rule, we have dv
a共t兲 苷 苷 12 t  10
0
√ d dt d √
f (t) = t (1 − t) + (1 − t) ( t)
dx dx
√ 苷 14 cm兾s . 1 −1/2
2
The acceleration after 2 s is a共2兲
= t(−1) + (1 − t) t
2
√ 1−t 1 − 3t
Exponential Functions =− t+ √ = √
2 t 2 t
Let’s try to compute the derivative of the exponential function f 共x兲 苷 a x using the
definition of a derivative:

Solution 2. If we first use the laws f of f 共xtorewrite

h兲  f 共x兲 a xh  a x

共x兲exponents
苷 lim f (t),
苷 then
lim we can proceed directly without using the
Product Rule. hl0 h hl0 h
a xa√ h
 a x√ a x 共a h  1兲
苷 lim 苷 lim1/2
0 = ht − t t =
fh l(t) h lt0 − th3/2
1 −1/2 3 1/2
f 0 (t)on=h, so
The factor a x doesn’t depend − take
t we can t it in front of the limit:
2 2
ah  1
f
共x兲 1.
which is equivalent to the answer given in Solution 苷 a x lim
hl0 h

Notice that the limit is the value of the derivative of f at 0, that is,

ah  1
lim 苷 f
共0兲
hl0 h

Therefore, we have shown that if the exponential function f 共x兲 苷 a x is differentiable

at 0, then it is differentiable everywhere and
74 CHAPTER 3. DIFFERENTIATION RULES

The previous example shows that it is sometimes easier to simplify a product of functions than to use the Product
Rule.
Example 5.
√
If f (x) = x . g(x), where g(4) = 2 and g 0 (4) = 3, find f 0 (4).

Solution. Applying the Product Rule, we get

d √
√ d d √

f 0 (x) = x . g(x) = x . (g(x)) + g(x) . x
dx dx dx
√ 1
= x . g 0 (x) + g(x) . . x−1/2
2
√ g(x)
= x . g 0 (x) + √
2 x

√ g(4) 2
So f 0 (4) = 4 . g 0 (4) + √ = 2 . 3 + = 6.5
2 4 2.2

Example 6.

x2 + x − 2
Let y = . Then y 0 =?
x3 + 6

Solution.

d 2 d
(x3 + 6) (x + x − 2) − (x2 + x − 2) (x3 + 6)
0
y = dx dx
(x3 + 6)2
(x3 + 6)(2x + 1) − (x2 + x − 2)(3x2 )
=
(x3 + 6)2
(2x4 + x3 + 12x + 6) − (3x4 + 3x3 − 6x2 )
=
(x3 + 6)2
−x4 − 2x3 + 6x2 + 12x + 6
=− .
(x3 + 6)2

Note: Although it is possible to differentiate the function

√
3x2 + 2 x
F (x) =
x

using the Quotient Rule, it is much easier to perform the division first and write the function as

F (x) = 3x + 2x−1/2

before differentiating.
3.1. THE SECOND DERIVATIVE 75

3.1 The Second Derivative

If f is a differentiable function, then its derivative f 0 is also a function, f 0 so may have a derivative of its own,
0 196 ■ CHAPTER 3 DIFFERENTIATION RULES
denoted by (f 0 ) = f 00 . This new function f 00 is called the second derivative of f because it is the derivative of
the derivative of f . Using Leibniz notation, we write the second derivative of as y = f (x)

d

dy

d2 y
If we put a 苷 e and, t
= . important differentiation
dx dx dx2

Example 7.
Derivative of the Natural E
If f (x) = ex − x, find f 0 and f 00 .

Solution. Using the Difference Rule, we have

d x d x d
f 0 (x) = (e − x) = (e ) − (x) = ex − 1
dx dx dx Thus, the exponential fun
In previous section we defined the second derivative as the derivative of f 0 , so The geometrical significa
y 苷 e x is equal to the y-c
d x d x d
f 00 (x) = (e − 1) = (e ) − (1) = ex
dx dx dx
EXAMPLE 8 If f 共x兲 苷 e x 

SOLUTION Using the Differ

Example 8.
3
At what point on the curve y = ex is the tangent line parallel to the line y = 2x? f
共x兲 苷
y=´-x

In Section 2.8 we defined

Solution. Since y = ex , we have y 0 = ex . Let the x-coordinate of the point in question be a. Then the slope of the
tangent line at that point is ea . This tangent line will be parallel to the line y = 2x if it has the same slope, that
is, 2. Equating slopes, we get
_2 ea = 2 a = ln 2 2 f 共x兲 苷
0
Therefore, the required point is (a, ea ) = (ln 2, 2).
FIGURE 8 We know that e x is positi
y
concave upward on 共,
3 EXAMPLE 9 At what point
(ln 2, 2)
line y 苷 2x ?
2
y=2x SOLUTION Since y 苷 e x, we
1 be a. Then the slope of th
y=´ parallel to the line y 苷 2

0 1 x

FIGURE 9 Therefore, the required p

76 CHAPTER 3. DIFFERENTIATION RULES

Example 9.

(a) If f (x) = xex , find f 0 (x).

(b) Find the nth derivative, f (n) (x).

Solution.

(a) By the Product Rule, we have

d d d
f 0 (x) = (xex ) = x (ex ) + ex (x)
dx dx dx
= xex + ex · 1 = (x + 1)ex

(b) Using the Product Rule a second time, we get

d d d
f 00 (x) = [(x + 1)ex ] = (x + 1) (ex ) + ex (x + 1)
dx dx dx
= (x + 1)ex + ex · 1 = (x + 2)ex

Further applications of the Product Rule give

f 000 (x) = (x + 3)ex f (4) (x) = (x + 4)ex

In fact, each successive differentiation adds another term, so

f (n) (x) = (x + n)ex .

Example 10.

Find an equation of the tangent line to the curve y = ex /(1 + x2 ) at the point (1, e/2).

Solution. According to the Quotient Rule, we have

d d
dy (1 + x2 ) (ex ) − ex (1 + x2 )
= dx dx
dx (1 + x2 )2
(1 + x2 )ex − ex (2x) ex (1 − x)2
= 2 2
=
(1 + x ) (1 + x2 )2

So the slope of the tangent line at (1, e/2) is

dy
= 0.
dx x=1

This means that the tangent line at (1, e/2) is horizontal and its equation is y = e/2. [Notice that the function is
increasing and crosses its tangent line at (1, e/2).]
 共
dy
苷
3.2. DERIVATIVES OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS dx
77

共
苷
2.5
´
y=
1+≈
So the slope of the tangent li

_2 3.5 This means that the tangent

0
[See Figure 4. Notice that th
FIGURE 4 共1, e兾2兲.]
3.2 Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions

d d
(sin x) = cos x (csc x) = − csc x cot x
dx dx
d d
(cos x) = − sin x (sec x) = sec x tan x
dx dx
d d
(tan x) = sec2 x (cot x) = − csc2 x
dx dx

Example 11.

Differentiate y = x2 sin x.

Solution. Using the Product Rule, we have

dy d d
= x2 (sin x) + sin x (x2 )
dx dx dx
= x2 cos x + 2x sin x.

Example 12.

sec x
Differentiate f (x) = . For what values of x does the graph of f have a horizontal tangent?
1 + tan x

Solution. The Quotient Rule gives

d d
(1 + tan x) dx (sec x) − sec x dx (1 + tan x)
f 0 (x) = 2
(1 + tan x)
(1 + tan x) sec x tan x − sec x sec2 x
=
(1 + tan x)2
sec x [tan x + tan2 x − sec2 x]
=
(1 + tan x)2
sec x (tan x − 1)
=
(1 + tan x)2

In simplifying the answer we have used the identity tan2 x + 1 = sec2 x. Since sec x is never 0, we see that f 0 (x) = 0
when tan x = 1, and this occurs when x = nπ + π/4, where n is an integer.
78 CHAPTER 3. DIFFERENTIATION RULES

Example 13.

Find the 27th derivative of cos x.

Solution. The first few derivatives f (x) = cos x are as follows:

f 0 (x) = − sin x
f 00 (x) = − cos x
f 000 (x) = sin x
f (4) (x) = cos x
f (5) (x) = − sin x

We see that the successive derivatives occur in a cycle of length 4 and, in particular, f (n) (x) = cos x whenever n is
a multiple of 4. Therefore f (24) (x) = cos x and, differentiating three more times, we have

f (27) (x) = sin x.

3.3 The Chain Rule

Suppose you are asked to differentiate the function

p
F (x) = x2 + 1

The differentiation formulas you learned in the previous sections of this chapter do not enable you to calculate
√
F 0 (x). Observe that F is a composite function. In fact, if we let y = f (u) = u and let u = g(x) = x2 + 1, then
we can write y = F (x) = f (g(x)), that is,
F = f ◦ g.

If f and g are both differentiable and F = f ◦ g is the composite function defined by F (x) = f (g(x)), then F is
differentiable and F 0 is given by the product
 
F 0 (x) = f 0 g(x) g 0 (x) (3.1)

In Leibniz notation, if y = f (u) and u = g(x) are both differentiable functions, then

dy dy du
= (3.2)
dx du dx

Note: In using the Chain Rule we work from the outside to the inside. Formula (3.1) says that we differentiate
the outer function f [at the inner function g(x)] and then we multiply by the derivative of the inner function.

d    
f g(x) = f 0 g(x) · g 0 (x)
dx | {z } | {z } | {z }
derivative of
outer function derivative of outer function inner function
evaluated at inner function evaluated at inner function
3.3. THE CHAIN RULE 79

Example 14.
√
Find F 0 (x) if F (x) = x2 + 1.

Solution 1. (using Equation (3.1)): At the beginning of this section we expressed F as F (x) = (f ◦ g)(x) = f (g(x))
√
where f (u) = u and g(x) = x2 + 1. Since

1 −1/2 1
f 0 (u) = u = √ and g 0 (x) = 2x,
2 2 u

we have

F 0 (x) = f 0 (g(x)) g 0 (x)

1 x
= √ 2x = √ .
2 x +1 2 2
x +1

√
Solution 2. (using Equation (3.2)): If we let u = x2 + 1 and y = u, then

dy du 1
F 0 (x) = = √ 2x
du dx 2 u
1 x
= √ 2x = √ .
2 x2 + 1 x2 + 1

Example 15.

Differentiate (a) y = sin(x2 ) and (b) y = sin2 x.

Solution.

(a) If y = sin(x2 ), then the outer function is the sine function and the inner function is the squaring function, so
the Chain Rule gives

dy d d 2
= sin(x2 ) = cos(x2 ) · x
dx dx dx
= 2x cos(x2 ).

(b) Note that sin2 x = (sin x)2 . Here the outer function is the squaring function and the inner function is the
sine function. So
dy d
= (sin x)2 = 2 sin x · cos x
dx dx
The answer can be left as 2 sin x cos x or written as sin 2x (by a trigonometric identity known as the double-
angle formula).
80 CHAPTER 3. DIFFERENTIATION RULES

Example 16.

Differentiate y = (x3 − 1)100 .

Solution. Using Chain Rule

dy d 3 d
= (x − 1)100 = 100(x3 − 1)99 (x3 − 1)
dx dx dx
= 100(x3 − 1)99 · 3x2 = 300x2 (x3 − 1)99 .

Example 17.

1
Find f 0 (x) if f (x) = √
3
.
x2 +x+1

Solution. First rewrite f as f (x) = (x2 + x + 1)−1/3 . Thus

1 d
f 0 (x) = − (x2 + x + 1)−4/3 (x2 + x + 1)
3 dx
1
= − (x2 + x + 1)−4/3 (2x + 1).
3

Example 18.

Differentiate y = esin x .

Solution. Here the inner function is g(x) = sin x and the outer function is the exponential function f (x) = ex . So,
by the Chain Rule,
dy d sin x d
= (e ) = esin x (sin x) = esin x cos x.
dx dx dx

Example 19.
 
If f (x) = sin cos(tan x) , then f 0 (x) =?

Solution.

d
f 0 (x) = cos(cos(tan x)) cos(tan x)
dx
d
= cos(cos(tan x))[− sin(tan x)] (tan x)
dx
= − cos(cos(tan x)) sin(tan x) sec2 x.

Notice that we used the Chain Rule twice.

 3.4. IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION 81

Example 20.

Differentiate y = esec 3θ .

Solution. The outer function is the exponential function, the middle function is the secant function and the inner
function is the tripling function. So, we have

dy d
= esec 3θ (sec 3θ)
dθ dθ
d
= esec 3θ sec 3θ tan 3θ (3θ)
dθ
= 3esec 3θ sec 3θ tan 3θ.

3.4 Implicit Differentiation

The functions that we have met so far can be described by expressing one variable explicitly in terms of another
variable-for example,
p
y= x3 + 1 or y = x sin x

or, in general, y = f (x). Some functions, however, are defined implicitly by a relation between x and y such as

x2 + y 2 = 25 (3.3)

or
x3 + y 3 = 6xy. (3.4)

In some cases it is possible to solve such an equation for y as an explicit function (or several functions) of x. For
√
38 238■ ■ ■CHAPTER
238 CHAPTER
CHAPTER
3 instance,
3 DIFFERENTIATION
3 DIFFERENTIATION
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if we RULES
RULES
RULES
solve (3.3) for y, we obtain y = ± 25 − x2 , and so two functions determined by the
Equation
implicit Equation (3.3) are
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f 共x兲
f苷
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苷 苷 x 苷苷 s25
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■CHAPTER
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EXAMPLE 1
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EXAMPLE
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1 1 1
respect to x and then solving the resulting equation for y 0 . In the examples and exercises of this section it is always
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y: 2 25 dx
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共x 
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兲 苷
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苷 共25兲共25兲
dx dx dx dx dx dx
d d2 d 2 d 2 d2 d 2 2
共x 兲共x
 兲共x兲共y 兲共y
苷 兲共y
0 苷兲 0苷 0
dx dx dx dx dx dx
3.4. IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION 83

Example 21.

dy
(a) If x2 + y 2 = 25, find .
dx
(b) Find an equation of the tangent to the circle x2 + y 2 = 25 at the point (3, 4).

Solution 1.

(a) Differentiate both sides of the equation x2 + y 2 = 25:

d 2 d
(x + y 2 ) = (25)
dx dx

d 2 d 2
(x ) + (y ) = 0
dx dx
Remembering that y is a function of x and using the Chain Rule, we have

d 2 d 2 dy dy
(y ) = (y ) = 2y .
dx dy dx dx

Thus
dy
2x + 2y = 0.
dx
Now we solve this equation for dy/dx:
dy x
=− .
dx y

(b) At the point (3, 4) we have x = 3 and y = 4, so

dy 3
=−
dx 4

An equation of the tangent to the circle at (3, 4) is therefore

3
y − 4 = − (x − 3) or 3x + 4y = 25.
4

√
Solution 2. Solving the equation x2 + y 2 = 25, we get y = ± 25 − x2 . The point (3, 4) lies on the upper semicircle
√ √
y = 25 − x2 and so we consider the function f (x) = y = 25 − x2 . Differentiating f using the Chain Rule, we
have

1 d 1 x
f 0 (x) = (25 − x2 )−1/2 (25 − x2 ) = (25 − x2 )−1/2 (−2x) = − √
2 dx 2 25 − x2

3 3
So f 0 (3) = − √ = − and, as in Solution 1, an equation of the tangent is 3x + 4y = 25.
25 − 3 2 4

Note: (1) Previous example illustrates that even when it is possible to solve an equation explicitly for y in terms
of x, it may be easier to use implicit differentiation.
Note: (2) The expression dy/dx = −x/y gives the derivative in terms of both x and y. It is correct no matter
which function y is determined by the given equation.
84 CHAPTER 3. DIFFERENTIATION RULES

√
For instance, for y = f (x) = 25 − x2 we have

dy x x
= − = −√ .
dx y 25 − x2
√
whereas for y = g(x) = − 25 − x2 we have

dy x x x
=− = √ =√ .
dx y − 25 − x2 25 − x2

Example 22.

(a) Find y 0 if x3 + y 3 = 6xy.

(b) Find the tangent to the folium of Descartes x3 + y 3 = 6xy at the point (3, 3).

Solution.

(a) Differentiating both sides of x3 + y 3 = 6xy with respect to x, regarding y as a function of x, and using the
Chain Rule on the y 3 term and the Product Rule on the 6xy term, we get

3x2 + 3y 2 y 0 = 6y + 6xy 0

or
x2 + y 2 y 0 = 2y + 2xy 0 .

We now solve for y 0 :

y 2 y 0 − 2xy 0 = 2y − x2
(y 2 − 2x)y 0 = 2y − x2
2y − x2
y0 =
y 2 − 2x

(b) When x = y = 3,
2 · 3 − 32
y0 = = −1
32 − 2 · 3
So an equation of the tangent to the folium at (3, 3) is

y − 3 = −1(x − 3) or x + y = 6.
3.5. DERIVATIVES OF INVERSE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS 85

3.5 Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions

We can use implicit differentiation to find the derivatives of the inverse trigonometric functions, assuming that
these functions are differentiable. Recall the definition of the arcsine function:

π π
for x ∈ [−1, 1], y = sin−1 x ⇔ sin y = x and − 6y6 .
2 2

Differentiating sin y = x implicitly with respect to x, we obtain

dy dy 1
cos y · =1 or = .
dx dx cos y

dy 1
We know = . Now cos y > 0, since −π/2 6 y 6 π/2, so
dx cos y
q p
cos y = 1 − sin2 y = 1 − x2 .

dy 1 1
Therefore = =√
dx cos y 1 − x2

d 1
(sin−1 x) = √ where x ∈ (−1, 1).
dx 1 − x2

The formula for the derivative of the arc-tangent function is derived in a similar way.

d 1
(tan(−1) x) = .
dx 1 + x2

Example 23.

1 √
Differentiate (a) y = −1 and (b) f (x) = x arctan x.
sin x

Solution.

(a)

dy d d
= (sin−1 x)−1 = −(sin−1 x)−2 (sin−1 x)
dx dx dx
1
=− √
(sin−1 x)2 1 − x2

(b)

√
 
1 1 −1/2
f 0 (x) = x · √ 2 · x + arctan x
1 + ( x) 2
√
x √
= + arctan x
2(1 + x)

The inverse trigonometric functions that occur most frequently are the ones that we have just discussed.
86 CHAPTER 3. DIFFERENTIATION RULES

3.6 Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions

In this section we use implicit differentiation to find the derivatives of the logarithmic functions y = loga x and, in
particular, the natural logarithmic function y = ln x.

d 1
(loga x) = (3.5)
dx x ln a

If we put a = e, we have
d 1
(ln x) = . (3.6)
dx x

Example 24.

Differentiate y = ln(x3 + 1).

Solution. To use the Chain Rule we let u = x3 + 1. Then y = ln u, so

dy dy du 1 du 1 3x2
= · = · = 2 · (3x2 ) = 3
dx du dx u dx x +1 x +1

Example 25.

Differentiate f (x) = log10 (2 + sin x).

Solution. Using Formula (3.5) with a = 10, we have

d 1 d
f 0 (x) = log10 (2 + sin x) = (2 + sin x)
dx (2 + sin x) ln 10 dx
cos x
= .
(2 + sin x) ln 10

Example 26.

Find f 0 (x) if f (x) = ln |x|.

Solution. Since 
ln x, x>0
f (x) =
ln(−x), x<0

it follows that 1
 , x>0
x


f 0 (x) =
 1 (−1) = 1 ,



x<0
−x x
1
Thus, f 0 (x) = for all x 6= 0.
x
3.7. LOGARITHMIC DIFFERENTIATION 87

3.7 Logarithmic Differentiation

Example 27.
√
x3/4 x2 + 1
Differentiate y = .
(3x + 2)5

Solution. We take logarithms of both sides of the equation and use the Laws of Logarithms to simplify:

3 1
ln y = ln x + ln(x2 + 1) − 5 ln(3x + 2)
4 2

Differentiating implicitly with respect to x gives

dy
dx 3 1 1 2x 3
= · + · −5·
y 4 x 2 x2 + 1 3x + 2

dy
dx 3 x 15
= + −
y 4x x2 + 1 3x + 2
Solving for dy/dx, we get
 
dy 3 x 15
=y + 2 −
dx 4x x + 1 3x + 2
3/4
√
x2 + 1 3
 
x x 15
= + −
(3x + 2)5 4x x2 + 1 3x + 2

Note: You should distinguish carefully between the Power Rule [(xn )0 = nxn−1 ], where the base is variable and
the exponent is constant, and the rule for differentiating exponential functions [(ax )0 = ax ln a], where the base is
constant and the exponent is variable. In general there are four cases for exponents and bases:
d b
1. (a ) = 0 (a and b are constants.)
dx
d
2. [f (x)b ] = b[f (x)]b−1 f 0 (x)
dx
d g(x)
3. [a ] = ag(x) (ln a)g 0 (x)
dx
d
4. To find [f (x)]g(x) , logarithmic differentiation can be used, as in the next example.
dx
88 CHAPTER 3. DIFFERENTIATION RULES

Example 28.
√
x
Differentiate y = x .

Solution 1. Using logarithmic differentiation, we have

√
x
√
ln y = ln x = x ln x
0 √ 1
y 1
= x · + (ln x) √
y x 2 x
 
1 ln x
y0 = y √ + √
x 2 x
√
 
x 2 + ln x
=x √
2 x

√
x

√x
Solution 2. Another method is to write x = eln x :

d  √x  d  √x ln x 
x = e
dx dx
√ d √
= e x ln x ( x ln x)
 dx 
√ 2 + ln x
x
=x √
2 x