Section 3-13 : Logarithmic Differentiation
1. Use logarithmic differentiation to find the first derivative of f ( x ) = 5 − 3 x ( )
2 7
6 x 2 + 8 x − 12 .
Step 1
Take the logarithm of both sides and do a little simplifying.
ln ( 5 − 3 x 2 )
7
ln f ( x )= 6 x 2 + 8 x − 12
= ln ( 5 − 3 x 2 ) + ln ( 6 x 2 + 8 x − 12 ) 2
7 1
= 7 ln ( 5 − 3 x 2 ) + 12 ln ( 6 x 2 + 8 x − 12 )
Step 2
Use implicit differentiation to differentiate both sides with respect to x.
f ′( x) −6 x 1 12 x + 8 −42 x 6x + 4
7
= + = + 2
f ( x) 5 − 3x 2 2 2
2 6 x + 8 x − 12 5 − 3 x 6 x + 8 x − 12
Step 3
Finally, solve for the derivative and plug in the equation for f ( x ) .
−42 x 6x + 4
=f ′( x) f ( x) + 2
5 − 3x 6 x + 8 x − 12
2
−42 x 6x + 4
= ( 5 − 3x 2 )
7
6 x 2 + 8 x − 12 + 2
5 − 3 x 6 x + 8 x − 12
2
sin ( 3 z + z 2 )
2. Use logarithmic differentiation to find the first derivative of y = .
(6 − z4 )
3
Step 1
Take the logarithm of both sides and do a little simplifying.
sin ( 3 z + z 2 )
ln sin ( 3 z + z 2 ) − ln ( 6 − z 4 )
3
( y ) ln
ln= =
( 6 − z 4 )3
= ln sin ( 3 z + z 2 ) − 3ln 6 − z 4
Step 2
Use implicit differentiation to differentiate both sides with respect to z.
y′ ( 3 + 2 z ) cos ( 3 z + z ) − 3 −4 z
2 3
12 z 3
6 − z 4 =( 3 + 2 z ) cot ( 3 z + z ) + 6 − z 4
2
=
y sin ( 3 z + z 2 )
Step 3
Finally, solve for the derivative and plug in the equation for y .
12 z 3 sin ( 3 z + z 2 ) 12 z 3
y′ = y ( 3 + 2 z ) cot ( 3 z + z 2 ) + = ( 3 + 2 z ) cot ( 3 z + z 2
) +
6 − z 4 (6 − z4 )
3 6 − z 4
5t + 8 3 1 − 9 cos ( 4t )
3. Use logarithmic differentiation to find the first derivative of h ( t ) = .
4
t 2 + 10t
Step 1
Take the logarithm of both sides and do a little simplifying.
5t + 8 3 1 − 9 cos ( 4t )
ln h ( t ) = ln
4 2
t + 10t
= ln 5t + 8 3 1 − 9 cos ( 4t ) − ln 4 t 2 + 10t
1
1
1
= ln ( 5t + 8 ) 2 + ln (1 − 9 cos ( 4t ) ) 3 − ln ( t 2 + 10t ) 4
= 1
2 ln ( 5t + 8 ) + 13 ln (1 − 9 cos ( 4t ) ) − 14 ln ( t 2 + 10t )
Note that the logarithm simplification work was a little complicated for this problem, but if you know
your logarithm properties you should be okay with that.
Step 2
Use implicit differentiation to differentiate both sides with respect to t.
h′ ( t ) 1 5 36sin ( 4t ) 1 2t + 10
= + 13 −
h (t ) 2
5t + 8 1 − 9 cos ( 4t ) 4 t 2 + 10t
Step 3
Finally, solve for the derivative and plug in the equation for h ( t ) .
5 12sin ( 4t ) 1
t+5
h′ ( t ) =h ( t ) 2 + − 22 2
5t + 8 1 − 9 cos ( 4t ) t + 10t
5t + 8 1 − 9 cos ( 4t ) 52
3
12sin ( 4t ) 1
t+5
= + − 22 2
5t + 8 1 − 9 cos ( 4t ) t + 10t
4 2
t + 10t
4. Find the first derivative of g (=
w) ( 3w − 7 )
4w
.
Step 1
We just need to do some logarithmic differentiation so take the logarithm of both sides and do a little
simplifying.
ln g ( w ) = ln ( 3w − 7 ) = 4 w ln ( 3w − 7 )
4w
Step 2
Use implicit differentiation to differentiate both sides with respect to w. Don’t forget to product rule
the right side.
g ′ ( w) 3 12 w
= 4 ln ( 3w − 7 ) + 4 w = 4 ln ( 3w − 7 ) +
g ( w) 3w − 7 3w − 7
Step 3
Finally, solve for the derivative and plug in the equation for g ( w ) .
12 w
g ′ ( w ) g ( w ) 4 ln ( 3w − 7 ) +
=
3w − 7
12 w
( 3w − 7 ) 4 ln ( 3w − 7 ) + 3w − 7
4w
=
( 2x − e x )
sin ( 2 x )
5. Find the first derivative of f (=
x) 8
.
Step 1
We just need to do some logarithmic differentiation so take the logarithm of both sides and do a little
simplifying.
ln ( 2 x − e8 x ) sin ( 2 x ) ln ( 2 x − e8 x )
sin ( 2 x )
ln f ( x ) = =
Step 2
Use implicit differentiation to differentiate both sides with respect to x. Don’t forget to product rule the
right side.
f ′( x) 2 − 8e8 x
= 2 cos ( 2 x ) ln ( 2 x − e8 x ) + sin ( 2 x )
f ( x) 2 x − e8 x
2 − 8e8 x
= 2 cos ( 2 x ) ln ( 2 x − e8 x ) + sin ( 2 x )
2 x − e8 x
Step 3
Finally, solve for the derivative and plug in the equation for f ( x ) .
2 − 8e8 x
=f ′ ( x ) f ( x ) 2 cos ( 2 x ) ln ( 2 x − e8 x ) + sin ( 2 x )
2 x − e8 x
2 − 8e8 x
= ( 2 x − e8 x ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 2 x − e8 x
sin ( 2 x ) 8x
2 cos 2 x ln 2 x − e + sin 2 x
