3.

9: Exponential & Logarithmic Functions [AP Calc AB]

Objective:Givenanexponentialorlogarithmicfunction,finditsderivativefunction
algebraically.

RelationshipBetweene
x
andlnx

Ify = c
x
,thenx = ln y

eisanirrationalnumberequalto2.71828182845andisusedasabasefornatural
exponentialfunctions,suchas(x) = c
x
.

lnisanaturallogarithmwitheasitsbase(ln = log
c
)andisusedtodeterminethe
exponentsofnaturalexponentialfunctions.Naturallogarithmicfunctionstakethe
form,(x) = ln x.

Naturalexponentialfunctionsandnaturallogarithmicfunctionsbothwithrespectto
xareinverses(i.e.If(x) = lnx,then
-1
(x) = c
x
;andif(x) = c
x
,then

-1
(x) = ln x).Therefore,theiroperationscanceleachotherout.Forexample,

lnc
x
= xandc
Inx
= x

NaturalExponentialFunction&Derivative

J
Jx
(c
x
) = c
x

*RemembertousetheChainRulewhenappropriate

Example1:DifferentiateaNaturalExponentialFunction
Find(x)if(x) = c
cos x
.Confirmtheanswerbygraphingthealgebraicandnumerical
derivativesonthesamescreen.

NaturalLogarithm&Derivative

J
Jx
(ln x) =
1
x

Thederivativeofthenaturallogarithmfunctionisthereciprocalfunction.

Example2:DifferentiateaNaturalLogarithmFunction
Find(x)if(x) = lnx
3
.Confirmtheanswerbycomparingvalueswiththealgebraic
andnumericalderivatives.

OtherExponentialFunctions&Derivative

J
Jx
(b
x
) = b
x
ln b

Example3:DifferentiateanExponentialFunction
Find(x)if(x) = 1u(1.uS
x
).

OtherLogarithmicFunctions&Derivative

Recallthatalogarithmisanexponent.(e.g.,ifS
x
= 9,thentheexponentx = log
3
9.)

DefinitionofLogarithm:
o = log
b
cifandonlyifb
u
= c,b > u,andb = 1,wherebisthebase,aisthe
exponent,andcistheanswertob
u
.
PropertiesofLogarithmicFunctions:
LogofaPower log
b
(c
d
) = J log
b
c
LogofaProduct log
b
(cJ) = log
b
c +log
b
J
LogofaQuotient
log
b
[
c
d
= log
b
c - log
b
J

DerivativeofaLogarithmicFunction:

J
Jx
(log
b
x) =
1
x ln b

Example4:DifferentiateaLogarithmicFunction
Find(x)if(x) = log
4
(x
2
-9x)

Example5:UsingtheLogarithmicPropertiestoDifferentiate
Find(x)if(x) = log
5
[
2x+1
x
2
+3

Example6:CHALLENGE
Find(x)if(x) = |log
4
(1 + c
x
)]
2