Sketching Functions which Involve Logarithms

1. y = x ln x
dy d2y
(a) Find expressions for both and .
dx dx 2

(b) (i) Find the domain.

(ii) Find any intercepts.

(c) Find the stationary points and determine their nature.

(d) Find any points of inflexion.

(e) (i) Investigate the behaviour of the curve as x → ±∞ .

(ii) Investigate the behaviour of the curve as x approaches any asymptote.

(f) Sketch the curve.

y

(g) Hence sketch y = x ln x − x

 ln x
2. y=
x
dy d2y
(a) Find expressions for both and .
dx dx 2

(b) (i) Find the domain.

(ii) Find any intercepts.

(c) Find the stationary points and determine their nature.

(d) Find any points of inflexion.

(e) (i) Investigate the behaviour of the curve as x → ±∞ .

(ii) Investigate the behaviour of the curve as x approaches any asymptote.

(f) Sketch the curve.

y

x
(g) Hence sketch y =
ln x
3. y = ln x 2 + x +1
dy d2y
(a) Find expressions for both and .
dx dx 2

(b) (i) Find the domain.

(ii) Find any intercepts.

(c) Find the stationary points and determine their nature.

(d) Find any points of inflexion.

(e) (i) Investigate the behaviour of the curve as x → ±∞ .

(ii) Investigate the behaviour of the curve as x approaches any asymptote.

(f) Sketch the curve.

y

x
 1
4. y = ln x +
x
dy d2y
(a) Find expressions for both and .
dx dx 2

(b) (i) Find the domain.

(ii) Find any intercepts.

(c) Find the stationary points and determine their nature.

(d) Find any points of inflexion.

(e) (i) Investigate the behaviour of the curve as x → ±∞ .

(ii) Investigate the behaviour of the curve as x approaches any asymptote.

(f) Sketch the curve.

y

x
Answers:
3. y

1. (i) y
3
10

8
2
6

4
1

2 4 6 8 10 x
-4 -2 2 4 x

-2

-4 -1

4. y
y
(ii) 5
10
4
8

6 3

4
2

2
1

2 4 6 8 10 x

-2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 x

-4 -1

y
2. (i)
2

1.5

0.5

-1 1 2 3 4 5 x

-0.5

-1

y
(ii)
5

-1 1 2 3 4 5 x

-1