Logarithmic Differentiation Example 4

A simple Example

Given

f(x) = x x

Find f ’( x )

To do so we must use the Natural Logarithm

Take ‘ln’ of both sides

ln[f( x )] = ln( x x )

Next take the derivative of both sides.

df df
ln[f( x )] = ln( x x )
dx dx
Can be rewritten as

df df
Ln[f( x )] = x*ln( x )
dx dx
Note: Because the derivative of

1
ln( x ) is
x
we get the following equation

f ’ ( x) df
= x *ln( x )
f ( x) dx

Using the product rule we get

f ’ ( x)
= ¿ x ) * ln( x )] + [¿ ln( x )) * x )]
f ( x)

f ’ ( x)
= ln( x ) + ¿ * x ¿
f ( x)

Move f(x) to the other side

f’(x) = [ln( x ) + ¿ * x ¿ ] *f(x)

f ’(x) = [ln( x ) + (1)] * x x

Courtesy of:

http://simplecalc.blogspot.com/