Derivative of the natural log

function
Let s explore the derivative of the natural log
function, ln x
1
f ( x) = e ... then.... f ( x) = ln x
x

Then, by the definition of the derivatives of inverse functions .

1
f ( x ) = e ... then.... f ( x ) = ln x
x

d 1
[ln x ] = 1
dx f '( f ( x ))
f '( f 1 ( x )) = f '(ln x )
and .....
f '( x ) = e x ....... f '(ln x ) = e ln x
d 1 f '( f 1 ( x )) = f '(ln x )
[ln x] = 1 and .....
dx f '( f ( x))
f '( x ) = e x ....... f '(ln x ) = e ln x
So.

d 1
dx
[ln x ] = ln x
e
But
e ln x
=x
d 1
[ln x ] =
dx x
Derivative of the Natural Log function:

Let u be a differentiable function of x.

d 1
ln x = , _ ( x > 0)
dx x
'
d u
ln u = ,(u > 0)
dx u
d 1
ln x = , _ ( x > 0)
dx x
Proof:
Recall that the natural log function is the
inverse of natural exponential (base e)
function.

f ( x) = e x

1
f ( x ) = ln x
1 1 1
( f )'( x) = 1
, of _ course_ f '( f ( x)) 0
f '( f ( x))
d 1 1
ln x = ' 1 =
dx f ( f ( x)) f '(ln x)
d 1 1 1
ln x = = ln x =
dx f '(ln x) e x
d u'
ln u = ,(u > 0)
dx u

This is the chain rule

1. Derivative of the outside puts u in the denominator of the

fraction.

2. Derivative of the inside puts u in the numerator of the

fraction.

Examples:

d u' 2 1
d
ln(2 x ) = ln(2 x ) = = =
dx dx u 2x x

d d u' 2x
ln( x 2 + 1) = ln( x + 1) = = 2
2
dx dx u x +1

d ! d $ ! d $
d [ x ln(x) ] = #" [ ]&%
x ln x + #" [ ln x ]&% x
x ln( x) = dx dx dx
dx
d ! 1$
dx
[ x ln(x)] = ln x + # & x = ln x +1
" x%
Use Logarithmic Properties to simplify
expressions before taking the derivative.

For instance ..

f ( x ) = ln x + 1, find _ f '( x )

First, simplify the expression.

1 1
f ( x ) = ln( x + 1) 2 f ( x ) = ln( x + 1)
2
Now, find f (x).

1! 1 $
f '(x) = #
2 " x +1 &%
 ( )
2
Another
x x +1 2

f (x) = ln , find _ f '(x)

2x !1 3

Pr oduct _ Rule: Quotient _ Rule:

logb MN = logb M + logb N M
logb = logb M logb N
N

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

2
1 ! 2x $ ! $
1 ! 6x 2
$
f '(x) = + ( 2 ) # 2 & ' # & # 3 &
x " x +1% " 2 % " 2x '1%

1 ! 4x $ ! 3x 2 $
f '(x) = + # 2 & ' # 3 &
x " x +1% " 2x '1%
Derivative of natural log function if has
absolute value:

If u is a differentiable function of x such

that u does not equal 0, then .

d u'
ln u =
dx u
Example:

d d u' 2
ln 2 x 1 = ln 2 x 1 = =
dx dx u 2x 1