The Derivative of the Natural Logarithm

Derivation of the Derivative

Our next task is to determine what is the derivative of the natural logarithm. We begin with the
inverse definition. If
y = ln x
then
e
y
= x
Now implicitly take the derivative of both sides with respect to x remembering to multiply by
dy/dx on the left hand side since it is given in terms of y not x.
e
y
dy/dx = 1
From the inverse definition, we can substitute x in for e
y
to get
x dy/dx = 1
Finally, divide by x to get
dy/dx = 1/x
We have proven the following theorem

Theorem (The Derivative of the Natural Logarithm
Function)
If f(x) = ln x, then
f '(x) = 1/x



Examples
Find the derivative of
f(x) = ln(3x - 4)

Solution
We use the chain rule. We have
(3x - 4)' = 3
and
(ln u)' = 1/u
Putting this together gives
f '(x) = (3)(1/u)
3
=
3x - 4

Example
find the derivative of
f(x) = ln[(1 + x)(1 + x
2
)
2
(1 + x
3
)
3
]

Solution
The last thing that we want to do is to use the product rule and chain rule multiple
times. Instead, we first simplify with properties of the natural logarithm. We have
ln[(1 + x)(1 + x
2
)
2
(1 + x
3
)
3
] = ln(1 + x) + ln(1 + x
2
)
2
+ ln(1 + x
3
)
3

= ln(1 + x) + 2 ln(1 + x
2
) + 3 ln(1 + x
3
)
Now the derivative is not so daunting. We have use the chain rule to get
1 4x 9x
2

f '(x) = + +
1 + x 1 + x
2
1 + x
3



Exponentials and With Other Bases


Definition

Let a > 0 then

a
x
= e
x ln a



Examples

Find the derivative of
f (x) = 2
x

Solution
We write

2
x
= e
x ln 2

Now use the chain rule

f '(x) = (e
x ln 2
)(ln 2) = 2
x
ln 2


Logs With Other Bases
We define logarithms with other bases by the change of base formula.

Definition
ln x
log
a
x =
ln a


Remark: The nice part of this formula is that the denominator is a constant. We do not have to
use the quotient rule to find a derivative

Examples

Find the derivative of the following functions
A. f(x) = log
4
x
B. f(x) = log (3x + 4)
C. f(x) = x log(2x)
Solution
A. We use the formula

ln x
f(x) =
ln 4

so that
1
f '(x) =
x ln 4

B. We again use the formula

ln(3x + 4)
f(x) =
ln 10



now use the chain rule to get



3
f '(x) =
(3x + 4) ln 10
C. Use the product rule to get

f '(x) = log(2x) + x(log(2x))'

Now use the formula to get

ln(2x)
log (2x) =
ln 10

The chain rule gives

2 1
f '(x) = log(2x) + x = log(2x) +
(2x) ln 10 ln 10



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