Lesson 11: The Natural Logarithmic Function and (more of) the Chain Rule

Derivative of the Natural Logarithmic Function

Theorem: The derivative of the natural logarithm function is given by

\[\frac{d}{dx}[\ln(x)] = \frac{1}{x}\]

This fundamental derivative formula, combined with the chain rule, allows us to differentiate composite functions involving natural logarithms. The following examples demonstrate various applications of the chain rule with logarithmic, exponential, polynomial, and trigonometric functions.

Examples

Example 1

Suppose \(f(x) = 7\ln(x)\). Find \(f'(x)\).

Solution:

Using the constant multiple rule and the derivative of the natural logarithm:

\[f'(x) = 7 \cdot \frac{1}{x} = \frac{7}{x}\]
Example 2

Suppose \(y = \ln(x^2 + 4x + 1)\). Find \(y'\).

Solution:

We need to apply the chain rule. Let \(u = g(x)=x^2 + 4x + 1\), and so \(y=f(u) = \ln(u)\). The chain rule states that \(y'=\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{dy}{du} \cdot \frac{du}{dx}\).

Note that \(\frac{dy}{du}=\frac{d}{du}[\ln(u)] = \frac{1}{u}\) and \(\frac{du}{dx} = 2x + 4\).

Therefore:

\[f'(x) = \frac{1}{x^2 + 4x + 1} \cdot (2x + 4) = \frac{2x + 4}{x^2 + 4x + 1}\]
Example 3

Suppose \(f(x) = (5x^2 - x)^2\sqrt[3]{3x}\). Find \(f'(x)\).

Solution:

We need to use the product rule and the chain rule. Let \(h(x) = (5x^2 - x)^2\) and \(k(x) = \sqrt[3]{3x} = (3x)^{1/3}\).

The product rule states that \(f'(x) = h'(x) \cdot k(x) + h(x) \cdot k'(x)\).

For \(h'(x)\), we use the chain rule:

\[h'(x) = 2(5x^2 - x) \cdot (10x - 1)\]

For \(k'(x)\), we also use the chain rule:

\[k'(x) = \frac{1}{3}(3x)^{-2/3} \cdot 3 = (3x)^{-2/3}\]

Combining these results:

\[f'(x) = 2(5x^2 - x)(10x - 1)\sqrt[3]{3x} + (5x^2 - x)^2(3x)^{-2/3}\]

This can be simplified as:

\[f'(x) = (100x^3 - 30x^2 + 2x)\sqrt[3]{3x} + \frac{(5x^2 - x)^2}{(3x)^{2/3}}\]
Example 4

Suppose \(y = 3\tan^3(3x)\). Find \(y'\).

Solution:

We need to apply the chain rule twice. First, recognize that \(y = 3[\tan(3x)]^3\).

Let \(u = g(x)= \tan(3x)\), and so \(y=f(u) = 3u^3\). Hence, \(\frac{dy}{du} = 9u^2\).

Now we need \(\frac{du}{dx}\). Since \(u = \tan(3x)\), applying the chain rule yields:

\[\frac{du}{dx} = \sec^2(3x) \cdot 3 = 3\sec^2(3x)\]

Combining these results (and using the chain rule):

\[y'=\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{dy}{du}\cdot\frac{du}{dx}=9u^2\cdot3\sec^2(3x)= 9[\tan(3x)]^2\cdot 3\sec^2(3x) = 27\tan^2(3x)\sec^2(3x)\]
Example 5

Suppose \(f(x) = e^{ex}\sin(9x)\). Find \(f'(x)\).

Solution:

We need to use both the product rule and the chain rule. Let \(h(x) = e^{ex}\) and \(g(x) = \sin(9x)\). The product rule states that \(f'(x) = h'(x) \cdot g(x) + h(x) \cdot g'(x)\). For \(h'(x)\), we apply the chain rule. Since \(h(x) = e^{ex}\), the outer function is \(e^u\) where \(u = ex\):

\[h'(x) = e^{ex} \cdot e=e^{ex+1}\]

For \(g'(x)\), we apply the chain rule with the sine function:

\[g'(x) = \cos(9x) \cdot 9 = 9\cos(9x)\]

Therefore:

\[f'(x) = e^{ex+1} \cdot \sin(9x) + e^{ex} \cdot 9\cos(9x)\]

Factoring out \(e^{ex}\):

\[f'(x) = e^{ex}[e\sin(9x) + 9\cos(9x)]\]
Example 6

Suppose

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

Find \(f'(x)\).

Solution:

We can simplify this function using logarithm properties before differentiating. First, note that the square root can be written as a power of one-half:

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

Using the logarithm property that \(\ln(a^b) = b\ln(a)\):

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

Using the logarithm property that \(\ln(a/b) = \ln(a) - \ln(b)\):

\[f(x) = \frac{1}{2}[\ln(2) - \ln(x-2)]\]

Now we can differentiate term by term:

\[f'(x) = \frac{1}{2}\left(0 - \frac{1}{x-2}\right)=\frac{1}{4-2x}\]

Alternative Approach for Example 6: We could also differentiate using the chain rule and quotient rule directly without first simplifying. If \(f(x) = \frac{1}{2}\ln\left(\frac{2x+4}{x^2-4}\right)\), then:

\[f'(x) = \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{x^2-4}{2x+4} \cdot \frac{2(x^2-4) - (2x+4)(2x)}{(x^2-4)^2}\]

After simplification, this yields the same result: \(f'(x) = \frac{1}{4-2x}\).

Key Takeaway: When working with logarithms of complex expressions, it is often helpful to use logarithm properties to simplify the expression before differentiating. This can make the differentiation process more straightforward and reduce algebraic errors.