Calculus 1 Logarithmic Differentiation

DIFFERENTIATION OF FURTHER LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

As explained in previous topic, by using the function of a function rule:

𝑑 1 𝑑𝑦
(𝑙𝑛 𝑦) = ( ) (2)
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 𝑑𝑥

(1 + 𝑥)2 √𝑥 − 1
Differentiation of an expression such as 𝑦 = 𝑥 √𝑥 + 2
may be achieved by using the product
and quotient rules of differentiation; however the working would be rather complicated. With
logarithmic differentiation the following procedure is adopted:

i. Take Napierian logarithms of both sides of the equation. Thus,

(1 + 𝑥)2 √𝑥 – 1
ln 𝑦 = ln { }
𝑥 √𝑥 + 2
1
(1 + 𝑥)2 (𝑥 − 1)2
= ln { 1 }
𝑥(𝑥 + 2)2

ii. Apply the laws of logarithms. Thus,

1 1
ln 𝑦 = ln(1 + 𝑥)2 + ln(𝑥 − 1)2 − ln 𝑥 − ln(𝑥 + 2)2 by laws (i) and (ii)
1 1
ln 𝑦 = 2 ln(1 + 𝑥) + 2 ln(𝑥 − 1) − ln 𝑥 − 2 ln(𝑥 + 2) by law (iii)
i. ln[ 𝑓(𝑥) · 𝑔(𝑥)] = ln 𝑓(𝑥) + ln 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑓(𝑥)
ii. ln ( ) = ln 𝑓(𝑥) − ln 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑔(𝑥)
iii. ln[𝑓(𝑥)]𝑛 = 𝑛 ln 𝑓(𝑥)

iii. Differentiate each term in turn with respect of 𝑥 using equations (1) and (2). Thus,
𝑑 𝑓′ (𝑥)
1 1 [ln 𝑓(𝑥)] = (1)
1 𝑑𝑦 2 2 1 2 𝑑𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
= (1 + (𝑥 − 1)
− − (𝑥
𝑦 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑥) 𝑥 + 2)
𝑑 1 𝑑𝑦
(𝑙𝑛 𝑦) = ( ) (2)
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
iv. Rearrange the equation to make the subject. Thus
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 2 1 1 1
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑦 { (1 + 𝑥) + 2(𝑥 − 1) − 𝑥
− 2(𝑥 + 2)}

v. Substitute for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥. Thus

𝑑𝑦 (1+𝑥)2 (√𝑥−1) 2 1 1 1
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑥 √𝑥+2
{(1+𝑥) + 2(𝑥−1) − 𝑥 − 2(𝑥 +2)}

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Logarithmic Differentiation

SAMPLE PROBLEM

PROBLEM (1).

(𝑥 +1)(𝑥 −2)3
Use logarithmic differentiation to differentiate 𝑦 = 𝑥 −3

SOLUTION (1).

Following the above procedure:

(𝑥 +1)(𝑥 −2)3
i. Since 𝑦 = (𝑥 −3)
(𝑥 +1)(𝑥 −2)3
then ln 𝑦 = ln { (𝑥 }
−3)

ii. ln 𝑦 = ln(𝑥 + 1) + ln(𝑥 − 2)3 − ln(𝑥 − 3) by laws (i) and (ii)

ln 𝑦 = ln(𝑥 + 1) + 3 ln(𝑥 − 2) − ln(𝑥 − 3) by law (iii)
i. ln[ 𝑓(𝑥) · 𝑔(𝑥)] = ln 𝑓(𝑥) + ln 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑓(𝑥)
ii. ln ( ) = ln 𝑓(𝑥) − ln 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑔(𝑥)
iii. ln[𝑓(𝑥)]𝑛 = 𝑛 ln 𝑓(𝑥)

iii. Differentiating with respect to 𝑥 gives:

1 𝑑𝑦 1 3 1
𝑦 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑥+1 + 𝑥−2 − 𝑥−3 by using equations (1) and (2).
𝑑 𝑓′ (𝑥)
[ln 𝑓(𝑥)] = (1)
𝑑𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑑 1 𝑑𝑦
(𝑙𝑛 𝑦) = ( ) (2)
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 𝑑𝑥
iv. Rearranging gives:

𝑑𝑦 1 3 1
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑦 {𝑥 + 1 + 𝑥 − 2 − 𝑥 − 3}

v. Substituting for 𝑦 gives:

𝑑𝑦 (𝑥+1)(𝑥−2)3 1 3 1 Answer.
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑥−3
{ 𝑥+1 + 𝑥−2 − 𝑥−3}

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Logarithmic Differentiation

PROBLEM (2).

√(𝑥 −2)3 𝑑𝑦
Differentiate 𝑦 = (𝑥 +1)2 (2𝑥 −1)
with respect to 𝑥 and evalualte when 𝑥 = 3
𝑑𝑥

SOLUTION (2).

Using logarithmic differentiation and following the above procedure:

√(𝑥 − 2)3
i. Since 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 1)2 (2𝑥 − 1)
√(𝑥 − 2)3
then ln 𝑦 = ln {(𝑥 }
+ 1)2 (2𝑥 − 1)
3
(𝑥 − 2)2
= ln {(𝑥 + 1)2 (2𝑥 − 1)}

3
ii. ln 𝑦 = ln(𝑥 − 2)2 − ln(𝑥 + 1)2 − ln(2𝑥 − 1)
3
ln 𝑦 = 2 ln(𝑥 − 2) − 2 ln(𝑥 + 1) − ln(2𝑥 − 1)

3
1 𝑑𝑦 2 2 2
iii. = − −
𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑥 −2 𝑥 +1 2𝑥 −1

𝑑𝑦 3 2 2
iv. = 𝑦{ − − }
𝑑𝑥 2(𝑥 −2) 𝑥 +1 2𝑥 −1

𝑑𝑦 √(𝑥−2)3 3 2 2
v. = (𝑥+1)2 (2𝑥−1) { − − }
𝑑𝑥 2(𝑥−2) 𝑥+1 2𝑥−1

When 𝑥 = 3,
𝑑𝑦 √(1)3 3 2 2
𝑑𝑥
= (4)2 (5) ( 2 − 4 − 5 )

1 3
= ± 80 (5)

3
= ± 400 𝑜𝑟 ± 0.0075 Answer.

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Logarithmic Differentiation

PROBLEM (3).

3𝑒 2𝜃 sec 2𝜃 𝑑𝑦
Given 𝑦 = determine 𝑑𝜃
√𝜃 −2

SOLUTION (3).

Using logarithmic differentiation and following the procedure:

3𝑒 2𝜃 sec 2𝜃
i. Since 𝑦 =
√𝜃 −2
3𝑒 2𝜃 sec 2𝜃
Then ln 𝑦 = ln { }
√𝜃 −2
3𝑒 2𝜃 sec 2𝜃
= ln { 1 }
(𝜃 −2)2

1
ii. ln 𝑦 = ln 3𝑒 2𝜃 + ln sec 2𝜃 − ln(𝜃 − 2)2
1
i.e. ln 𝑦 = ln 3 + ln 𝑒 2𝜃 + ln sec 2𝜃 − 2 ln(𝜃 − 2)
1
i.e. ln 𝑦 = ln 3 + 2𝜃 + ln sec 2𝜃 − 2 ln(𝜃 − 2)

iii. Differentiating with respect to 𝜃 gives:

1
1 𝑑𝑦 2 sec 2𝜃 tan 2𝜃 2
𝑦 𝑑𝜃
= 0+2 + sec 2𝜃
− 𝜃 −2
from equations (1) and (2).
𝑑 𝑓′ (𝑥)
[ln 𝑓(𝑥)] = (1)
𝑑𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑑 1 𝑑𝑦
(𝑙𝑛 𝑦) = ( ) (2)
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 𝑑𝑥
iv. Rearranging gives:
𝑑𝑦 1
𝑑𝜃
= 𝑦 { 2 + 2 tan 2𝜃 − 𝜃 − 2}

v. Substituting for 𝑦 gives:

𝑑𝑦 3𝑒 2𝜃 sec 2𝜃 1 Answer.
= { 2 + 2 tan 2𝜃 − 2(𝜃 − 2)}
𝑑𝜃 √𝜃 − 2

Engineering Department
Calculus 1 Logarithmic Differentiation

PROBLEM (4).

𝑥 3 ln 2𝑥
Differentiate 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 sin 𝑥
with respect to 𝑥

SOLUTION (4).

Using logarithmic differentiation and following the procedure gives:

𝑥 3 ln 2𝑥
i. ln 𝑦 = ln { 𝑒 𝑥 sin 𝑥 }

ii. ln 𝑦 = ln 𝑥 3 + ln(𝑙𝑛 2𝑥) − ln(𝑒 𝑥 ) − ln(𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥)

i.e. ln 𝑦 = 3 ln 𝑥 + ln(𝑙𝑛 2𝑥) − 𝑥 − ln(𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥)

1
1 𝑑𝑦 3 𝑥 cos 𝑥
iii. 𝑦 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑥
+ ln 2𝑥
− 1 − sin 𝑥

𝑑𝑦 3 1
iv. 𝑑𝑥
= 𝑦 {𝑥 + 𝑥 ln 2𝑥 − 1 − cot 𝑥}

𝑑𝑦 𝑥 3 ln 2𝑥 3 1 Answer.
v. 𝑑𝑥
= {
𝑒 𝑥 sin 𝑥 𝑥
+ 𝑥 ln 2𝑥 − 1 − cot 𝑥}

Engineering Department