CALCULUS I

Derivatives of Really General Exponential

Functions

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Even More General Exponential Functions

We have the differentiation formulas

d n
x = nx n−1 if n is constant
dx
and
d x
a = (ln a)ax if a is constant.
dx
So what is the derivative of f (x) = x x ?
d x
Since the exponent is not constant, dx x is NOT x · x x−1 (which is x x ).

d x
Since the base is not constant, dx x is NOT (ln x)x x .

For a REALLY general exponential function of the form f (x)g (x) ,

we use logarithmic differentiation.

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More Examples
Find the derivatives of the following functions:
1 f (x) = x x

First, we set y = x x , and then take natural logs of both sides:

ln y = ln x x .
Next, use the “Power” Law of Logarithms, ln(ar ) = r ln a,
to eliminate exponents:
ln y = x ln x.
Finally, take derivatives, with respect to x, of both sides:
1 0 1
y = 1 · ln x + x ·
y x
and then multiply both sides by y , recalling that y = x x :
y 0 = y (ln x + 1) = x x (ln x + 1).
Hence f 0 (x) = x x (ln x + 1).
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2 f (x) = (x 2 + 3)tan x

Again using logarithmic differentiation, we set y = (x 2 + 3)tan x , and

have

ln y = ln (x 2 + 3)tan x
 

= (tan x) ln(x 2 + 3);

1 0 1
y = (sec2 x) ln(x 2 + 3) + (tan x) 2 · 2x;
y x +3
 
2x tan x
y 0 = y (sec2 x) ln(x 2 + 3) + 2 .
x +3

 
0 2 tan x 2 2 2x tan x
Hence f (x) = (x + 3) (sec x) ln(x + 3) + 2 .
x +3

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Note: Logarithmic differentiation is necessary only if both the base and
exponent are non-constant. It will work with normal exponential and power
functions, using the fact that the derivative of a constant function is 0.
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3 Use logarithmic differentiation to find the derivative of f (x) = 5x .
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Set y = 5x , so that
3 +4
ln y = ln(5x ) = (x 3 + 4) ln 5.
Since ln 5 is just a constant, taking derivatives we get
1 0
y = 3x 2 ln 5,
y
3 +4
and so y 0 = y · 3x 2 ln 5. Hence f 0 (x) = 3x 2 (ln 5)5x .
d x
This is the same answer we would get using dx 5 = (ln 5)5x ,
but requires much more work.
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4 Use logarithmic differentiation to differentiate f (x) = (x 3 + 4)5 .

Set y = (x 3 + 4)5 , so that

ln y = ln[(x 3 + 4)5 ] = 5 ln(x 3 + 4).
Since 5 is just a constant, taking derivatives we get
1 0 1
y =5· 3 · 3x 2 ,
y x +4
and so
5 · 3x 2
y 0 = (x 3 + 4)5 · .
x3 + 4
Hence f 0 (x) = 5(x 3 + 4)4 · 3x 2 .
d 5
This is the same answer we would get using dx x = 5x 4 ,
but again requires much more work.
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