DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

MODULE 6

DIFFERENTIATION OF
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

Logarithms

If you are asked what the value of n in 2n = 8 is, you will confidently answer 3

since 23 = 8. Such intuition and fast answer cannot always guarantee a correct answer. To

be able to find a compact solution for this, the logarithmic function has been invented to
determine the specific power a number needs to obtain another number.
Logarithm is the exponent required to be the power of a quantity to obtain another
quantity.

Exponential Function vs Logarithmic Function

Just like the relationship of arcsine and sine, and arccosine and cosine, the
exponential function and logarithmic functions has an inverse relationship.

Let us have the first example 23 = 8.

23 = 8 is in exponential form while log 2 8 = 3 is the equivalent logarithmic form.

Note that the logarithmic form tells us what does the base 2 needs to be raised to in order
to get 8 while the exponential form tells us what the value of 2 when it is raised to 3 will
be. It is read as “The logarithm of 8 to the base 2 is equal to 3.”

Therefore, if y = ax where a ≠ 0 and 1, then x = log a y. This illustrates the inverse

relationship.

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions | Page 1 of 11

Notation for Logarithmic Functions

y = log b x

where b is the base and b ≠ 0 and 1. It is a SUBSCRIPT.

Two Special Systems of Logarithm

1. Common Log – logarithm to the base 10
E.g. log x, log 2x, log 5x
Notice that in this system, the base 10 is not written.

2. Natural Log – logarithm to the base e where e is the natural base and is equal to 2.71…

log e m = ln m

The natural logarithm or ln (read as “el en”) has the base e.

Properties of Logarithm
The properties of logarithms are all based from the laws of exponents.
1. The Logarithm of a Product

log b MN = log b M + log b N

log MN = log M + log N

ln MN = ln M + ln N
E.g. log 45 = log 9 + log 5
ln xy = ln x + ln y
ln 2 + ln 5 = ln 10

log 2a + log 2 x = log 2 ax

2. The Logarithm of a Quotient

M
log b = log b M – log b N
N
M
log = log M – log N
N

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions | Page 2 of 11

 M
ln = ln M – ln N
N
E.g. ln 8 = ln 16 – ln 2 → why?
8x
log = log 8x – log y = log 8 + log x – log y
y

3. The Logarithm of a Power

log b Mn = n log b M

log Mn = n log M

ln Mn = n ln M

E.g. log 8 = log 23 = 3 log 2

ln ( x2 – 2x + 1 ) = ln ( x – 1 )2 = 2 ln ( x – 1 ) Grouping symbols!

4. Logarithm to the same base

log b b = 1 since b1 = b

log 10 = 1 since 101 = 10

ln e = log e e = 1 since e1 = e

5. Change of Base Formula

loga M
log b M = where a is the new base.
loga b

ln 9
e.g. log 8 9 =
ln 8
log 2
ln 2 =
log e

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions | Page 3 of 11

Exponential equations solved by logarithms
Find the value of x.

1. 5x – 2 = 125

5x – 2 = 5 3

log 5 5x – 2 = log 5 53 → Take logarithm of both sides to the same base.

( x – 2 ) log 5 5 = 3 log 5 5

x–2=3
x=5 Ans.

2. 2x + 5 = 642x

2x + 5 = (26)2x

2x + 5 = 212x

log 2 2x + 5 = log 2 212x

( x + 5 ) log 2 2 = 12x log 2 2

x + 5 = 12x
5 = 11x
11x = 5
x = 5/11 Ans.

You can also use logarithm of other base.

3. 5x – 2 = 125

5x – 2 = 5 3

ln 5x – 2 = ln 53 → Take logarithm of both sides.

( x – 2 ) ln 5 = 3 ln 5 → Note that ln 5 on both sides cancels out.

x–2=3
x=5 Ans.

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions | Page 4 of 11

Common Hazards in Logarithmic Functions
DON’T DO ANY OF THESE!

1. ln ( x + y ) = ln x + ln y
2. log e = 1
3. log xy = x log y
4. log 2 = 2 log (patutulugin namin grade niyo sige :D )
5. ln xy = ln x ∙ ln y
6. log 4x = 4 log x
log 5𝑥 5𝑥
7. =
log 𝑦 𝑦
log 2𝑥
8. = log
2𝑥
9. log sin x = sin log x
10. arctan ln x = ln arctan x
11. log 2 + ln 4 = log ln 8

12. log 3 x + log 2 x = log 6 x2 → CAN YOU NOT?

Just like the trigonometric functions and inverse trigonometric functions,

logarithmic functions will have no sense without something inside them.
E.g log ___ = 4 → logarithm of what?
2 ln ___ = 4 → ln of what?

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions | Page 5 of 11

Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions
Let u be a differentiable function of x.
d 1 du
I. ( log b u ) = log b e ∙
dx u dx

d 1 du
II. ( ln u ) = ∙
dx u dx

Note that when ln u is written in the form log e u, then,

d 1 du 1 du
( log e u ) = log e e ∙ = ∙1∙
dx u dx u dx

EXAMPLE 1. Find y’ of y = ln 3x2

Here, it is your choice to apply the properties of logarithm first or not, before
differentiating.

Solution 1. Applying the properties of logarithm

y = ln 3x2 = ln 3 + ln x2 = ln 3 + 2 ln x
dy d d
∴ = ( ln 3 ) + ( 2 ln x ) ln 3 is a constant.
dx dx dx
1 d
=0+2∙ ∙ (x)
x dx
2
= Ans.
x

Solution 2. By differentiating right away

d d
∴ (y) = ( ln 3x2 )
dx dx
1 d
= 2 ∙ ( 3x2 )
3x dx
1
= ∙ 6x
3x2

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions | Page 6 of 11

 2
y' = Ans.
x

EXAMPLE 2. Find the second derivative of y = log 6x3.

1 d
∴ y’ = 3 ∙ log e ∙ ( 6x3 )
6x dx
log e
= ∙ 18x2
6x3
3 log e
=
x
d 3 log e 𝒄
∴ y” = ( ) → log e is a constant.
dx x 𝒗
-3 log e
= Ans.
x2

EXAMPLE 3. Find the first derivative of y = ln ( x – 1 )5 ( x2 + x + 1 )5

y = ln ( x – 1 )5 ( x2 + x + 1 )5 = ln ( x3 – 1 )5 = 5 ln ( x3 – 1 )
d
∴ y’ = [ 5 ln ( x3 – 1 ) ]
dx
d
=5 [ ln ( x3 – 1 ) ]
dx
1 d
=5∙ ∙ ( x3 – 1 )
x3 −1 dx
5
= ∙ 3x2
x3 −1
15x2
= Ans.
x3 −1

Tip: Always aim for the simpler and less complicated solution.

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions | Page 7 of 11

EXAMPLE 4. Find y’ of y = log 52 sin 2x.
d
∴ y’ = ( log 52 sin 2x )
dx
1 d
= ∙ log 52 e ∙ ( sin 2x )
sin 2x dx
1 d
= ∙ log 52 e ∙ cos 2x ∙ ( 2x )
sin 2x dx

= 2 cot 2x (log 52 e) Ans.

Include log 52 e in parentheses because if you don’t, it will be interpreted as a part

of the angle inside cotangent.

EXAMPLE 5. y = ln5x

y = ln5x = ( ln x )5 → un

d
∴ y’ = ( ln x )5
dx
d du
= 5 ( ln x )4 ∙ ( ln x ) → nun-1
dx dx
1
= 5 ln4x ∙
x

5 ln4 x
= Ans.
x

EXAMPLE 6. Find the second derivative of y = ln sec x

d
∴ y’ = ( ln sec x )
dx
1 d
= ∙ (sec x)
sec x dx
1 d
= ∙ sec x tan x ∙ (x)
sec x dx
= tan x

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions | Page 8 of 11

 d
∴ y” = ( tan x )
dx

= sec2x Ans.

EXAMPLE 7. Find the first derivative of x + y = ln x2y2

x + y = 2 ln x + 2 ln y → Applying the properties of logarithm for simplicity

d d d d
(x) + (y) = 2 ( ln x ) + 2 ( ln y)
dx dx dx dx
1 1 d
1 + y’ = 2 ∙ +2∙ ∙ (y)
x y dx
2 2y'
1 + y’ = + Multiply xy to both sides to clear fractions.
x y

xy + xyy’ = 2y + 2xy’
xyy’ – 2xy’ = 2y – xy
y’ (xy – 2x) = y ( 2 – x )
y ( 2 − x)
y’ = Ans.
x (y − 2)

EXAMPLE 8. Find y’ given x = ln sin t and y = sin t

dx d dy d
∴ = ( ln sin t ) ∴ = ( sin t )
dt dt dt dt
cos t = cos t
=
sin t

dy dy dt
∴ = ∙
dx dt dx
sin t
= cos t ∙
cos t
= sin t Ans.

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions | Page 9 of 11

Exercise 6.1
Name: _______________________________________ Date: ___________________________
Course, Year and Section: ______________________

I. Express the following into their equivalent forms using the properties of logarithm.
1. ln 2xy = ____________________________________
2. ln 4 + ln 9 = ________________________________
3. log 9x = ___________________________________
x
4. log = ____________________________________
5
5. 2 ln x – 4 ln y = ____________________________

II. Find y’.

1. y = x ln x

2. y = log ( 1 – 5x )

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions | Page 10 of 11

3. y = ln x4 – ln x3 + ln x2

4. y = ln csc x

5. xy = ln xy

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Logarithmic Functions | Page 11 of 11