Let y = ef(x) when f(x) is a function of x

ln y = ln ef(x)
ln y = f(x)
d
(ln y) = f’(x)
dx
1 dy
= f’(x)
y dx
dy
= y f’(x)
dx
dy
= ef(x) f’(x)
dx

𝐝
(𝐞𝐱 ) = 𝐞𝐱
𝐝𝐱
𝐝
(𝐞𝐟(𝐱) ) = 𝐞𝐟(𝐱) . f’(x)
𝐝𝐱
Example 1
Differentiate each of the following with respect to x
a. e2 − 3x
x2 + 2
b. e
c. esin 2x
d. ex sin x

Solution
d d d d
a. (e2 − 3x ) = e2 − 3x . (2 – 3x) c. (esin 2x ) =e sin 2x
. (sin 2x)
dx dx dx dx
= e2 − 3x (– 3) = esin 2x . cos 2x . 2
= – 3 e2 − 3x = 2 cos 2x esin 2x

d x2 + 2 x2 + 2 d d d
b. (e )=e . (x 2 + 2) d. (ex sin x ) =e x sin x
. (x sin x)
dx dx dx dx
x2 + 2 = ex sin x (1 . sin x + x cos x)
=e (2x)
= 2x ex2 + 2 = (sin x + x cos x) ex sin x
Example 2
Find the derivative of the following function
2 − x2
a. f(x) = x e
b. f(x) = e2x sin 3x
c. f(x) = sin 2x ecos 2x
sin 2x
d. f(x) = 2x + 1
e

Solution
2 − x2
a. f(x) = x e
− x2 2 − x2
f’(x) = 2x . e +x . e (– 2x)
2 2
= 2x . e− x – 2 x 3 . e− x
− x2
= 2x e (1 – x 2 )

b. f(x) = e2x sin 3x

f’(x) = e2x (2) . sin 3x + e2x . cos 3x (3)
= 2 e2x sin 3x + 3 e2x cos 3x
= e2x (2 sin 3x + 3 cos 3x)
c. f(x) = sin 2x ecos 2x
f’(x) = cos 2x (2) . ecos 2x + sin 2x . ecos 2x (– sin 2x) (2)
= 2 cos 2x ecos 2x – 2 sin2 2x ecos 2x
= 2 ecos 2x (cos 2x – sin2 2x)

sin 2x
d. f(x) =
e3x + 1
cos 2x 2 . e3x + 1 − sin 2x . e3x + 1 (3)
f’(x) =
(e3x + 1 ) 2
2 cos 2x e3x + 1 − 3 sin 2x . e3x + 1
=
(e3x + 1 ) 2
e3x + 1 (2 cos 2x − 3 sin 2x)
=
(e3x + 1 ) 2
2 cos 2x − 3 sin 2x
=
e3x + 1
Example 3
dy
Given that y = (ex + e2x )4 , find the value of at the point where x = 0
dx

Solution
y = (ex + e2x )4
dy
= 4(ex + e2x )3 . (ex + e2x . 2)
dx
= 4(ex + e2x )3 . (ex + 2e2x )

dy
x=0 → = 4(e0 + e0 )3 . (e0 + 2e0 )
dx
= 4 . (1 + 1)3 . (1 + 2)
=4.8.3
= 96
Let y = af(x) when f(x) is a function of x
ln y = ln af(x)
ln y = f(x) ln a
d
(ln y) = f’(x) . ln a
dx
1 dy
= f’(x) . ln a
y dx
dy
= y f’(x) ln a
dx
dy
= af(x) f’(x) ln a
dx

𝐝
(𝐚𝐱 ) = 𝐚𝐱 ln a
𝐝𝐱
𝐝
(𝐚𝐟(𝐱) ) = 𝐚𝐟(𝐱) . f’(x) . ln a
𝐝𝐱
Example 4
Find the derivative of the following function
a. f(x) = 24x − 1
b. f(x) = 2x ln x
x2
c. f(x) = 10 tan x

Solution
x2
a. f(x) = 24x − 1 c. f(x) = 10 tan x
2 2
d
f’(x) = 24x − 1 . (4x – 1) . ln 2 f’(x) = 10x (2x) ln 10 . tan x + 10x . sec 2 x
dx x2
= 24x − 1 . (4) . ln a = 10 (2x ln 10 tan x + sec 2 x)
= 24x + 1 ln a

b. f(x) = 2x ln x
1
f’(x) = 2x ln 2 . ln x + 2x .
x
1
= 2x (ln 2 . ln x + )
x
Example 5
Find the derivative of the following function
a. f(x) = x ln x
b. f(x) = (ln x 2 )2x + 3

Solution
a. f(x) = x ln x b. f(x) = (ln x 2 )2x + 3
ln f(x) = ln x ln x ln f(x) = ln (ln x 2 )2x + 3
ln f(x) = ln x . ln x ln f(x) = (2x + 3) ln (ln x 2 )
1 1 1
ln f(x) = (ln x)2 f’(x) = 2 . ln (ln x 2 ) + (2x + 3) 2 . . 2x
1 1 f(x) ln x x2
f’(x) = 2 ln x . 4x + 6
f(x) x f’(x) = f(x) [2 ln (ln x 2 ) + ]
2 x ln x 2
f’(x) = ln x . f(x) 2 2x + 3
= (ln x ) 2
[2 ln (ln x ) +
4x + 6
]
x
2 x ln x2
= ln x . x ln x
x