Worksheet on Logarithmic Differentiation

(Solutions)

Math 1a: Introduction to Calculus

21 March 2005

For each of the following, differentiate the function first using any rule you
want, then using logarithmic differentiation:

1. y = x2 Solution.

Solution. If y = x2 , then
p 1
y= x2 + 1 =⇒ ln y = ln(x2 + 1)
2
ln y = ln(x2 ) = 2 ln x. 1 dy 1 2x
=
y dx 2 x2 + 1
Differentiating, √
dy xy x x2 + 1 x
= 2 = 2
=√ .
1 dy 2 dx x +1 x +1 2
x +1
= ,
y dx x
Again, notice this is the same answer
so we could have gotten without logarith-
dy 2y 2x2 mic differentiation.
= = = 2x.
dx x x
This is the same answer that we could 4. y = x sin x
have gotten with the power rule.

Solution.
2. y = ex

Solution. ln y = ln x + ln(sin x)
1 dy 1 cos x
y = ex =⇒ ln y = x = +
y dx x sin x
1 dy
 
dy 1 cos x
=1 = + (x sin x)
y dx dx x sin x
dy = sin x + x cos x.
= y = ex .
dx

√ x
3. y = x2 + 1 5. y = x2 +2

1
 p
Solution. 6. y = (x2 + 1)(x − 1)2 .

ln y = ln x − ln(x2 + 2) Solution.
1 dy 1 2x 1
= − 2 ln(x2 + 1) + 2 ln(x − 1)


y dx x x +2 ln y =
  2
dy 1 2x x 1 dy x 1
= − = 2 +
dx x x2 + 2 x2 + 2 y dx x +1 x−1
 
(x2 + 2) − x(2x) dy x 1 p
= . = 2
+ (x2 + 1)(x − 1)2 .
(x2 + 2)2 dx x +1 x−1

Use logarithmic differentiation to find the following derivatives:

√
7. y = (x + 1)x 9. y = ( x)x
Solution. Solution.
√
ln y = x ln(x + 1) ln y = x ln x = 12 x ln x
1 dy x 1 dy
= ln(x + 1) + = 12 (ln x + 1)
y dx x+1 y dx
√
 
dy x dy
= ln(x + 1) + (x + 1)x . = 12 (ln x + 1) ( x)x .
dx x+1 dx

√
x
8. y = xx+1 10. y = x

Solution. Solution.
√
ln y = (x + 1) ln x ln y = x ln x
√
1 dy x+1 1 dy 1 x
= ln x + = √ ln x +
y dx x y dx 2 x x
√
x
 
dy x+1 dy (ln x + 2)x
= ln x + xx+1 . = √ .
dx x dx 2 x