Calculus 1

Lia Vas

Derivatives of Exponential, Logarithmic and Trigonometric

Functions
Derivative of the inverse function. If f (x) is a one-to-one function (i.e. the graph of f (x)
passes the horizontal line test), then f (x) has the inverse function f −1 (x). Recall that f and f −1 are
related by the following formulas

y = f −1 (x) ⇐⇒ x = f (y).

Also, recall that the graphs of f −1 (x) and f (x) are symmetrical with respect to line y = x.
Some pairs of inverse functions you encountered before are given in the table below where n is a
positive integer and a is a positive real number.
f x2 xn ex ax
√ √
f −1 x n
x ln x loga x

dy
With y = f −1 (x), dx denotes the derivative of f −1 and since x = f (y), dx
dy
denotes the derivative
dy
of f . Since the reciprocal of dx is dx
dy
we have that

dy 1 1
(f −1 )0 (x) = = dx = 0 .
dx dy
f (y)

Thus, the derivative of the inverse function of f is reciprocal of the derivative of f .

Another way to see this is to consider relation

f (f −1 (x)) = x or f −1 (f (x)) = x,

and to differentiate any of these identities. For example, differentiating f −1 (f (x)) = x and using the

chain rule for the left hand side produces

1
(f −1 )0 (f (x)) · f 0 (x) = 1 =⇒ (f −1 )0 (f (x)) = .
f 0 (x)
Graphically, this rule means that

The slope of the tangent to f −1 (x) at point (b, a)

is reciprocal to
the slope of the tangent to f (x) at point (a, b).

Example 1. If f (x) has the inverse, f (2) = 1, and f 0 (2) = 3, find (f −1 )0 (1).

1
 Solution. Since f passes the point (2, 1), f −1 passes the point (1,2). The tangent to f (x) at
x = 2 is 3 so the tangent to f −1 at x = 1 is the reciprocal 31 . Hence (f −1 )0 (1) = 13 .

Exponential Functions and their derivatives.

In a pre-calculus course you have encountered exponential function ax of any base a > 0 and their
inverse functions . All these functions can be considered to be a composite of eu and x ln a since
x
ax = eln a = ex ln a
Thus, using the chain rule and formula for derivative of ex , you can obtain the formula for
derivative of any ax .
The derivative of ex can be computed by
dex ex+h − ex ex eh − ex x eh − 1
= lim = lim = e lim
dx h→0 h h→0 h h→0 h
h
Before you see a proof of limh→0 e h−1 = 1 in higher calculus courses, you can convince yourself that
h h
the limit limh→0 e h−1 is 1 by evaluating the quotient e h−1 at several values of h close to 0 as in the
table below.
h 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001
eh −1
h
1.0517 1.0050 1.0005 1.00005
eh −1 dex eh −1
This indicates that limh→0 h
= 1 and so dx
= ex limh→0 h
= ex . Thus,

the derivative of ex is ex .

Example 2. Find the derivative of the following functions

(a) y = e3x (b) y = x2 e3x
Solution. (a) We can consider the function y = e3x as a composite of the outer function eu and
the inner function 3x.

y = e3x ⇒ y0 = e3x · 3
derivative of derivative of derivative of
the composite the outer, the inner
keep the inner
unchanged

Thus the derivative is y 0 = 3e3x .

(b) The function is a product of f (x) = x2 and g(x) = e3x . By part (a), g 0 (x) = 3e3x . Since
f 0 (x) = 2x, the product rule produces y 0 = f 0 g + g 0 f = 2xe3x + x2 (3)e3x = (2x + 3x2 )e3x .
x x
Using the formula de
dx
= ex we can obtain the derivative of ax . Recall that y = ax = eln a = ex ln a .
In the last step we used the rule loga (xr ) = r loga x. Thus the function y = ax = ex ln a can be consider
as a composite of eu and u = x ln a. Since ln a is a constant u0 = ln a (just as in part (a) of the previous
example we had u = 3x ⇒ u0 = 3). Thus, the derivative of y = ax is y 0 = ex ln a ln a. Note that ex ln a
is the original function y = ax . Thus, y 0 = ax ln a and we have that

2
 the derivative of ax is ax ln a.

Example 3. Find the derivative of the following functions

3x − 3−x
(a) y = 25x+7 (b) y =
2
Solution. (a) Consider the function as a composite of 2u and u = 5x + 7. Using the formula for
a with a = 2 obtain 2u ln 2 = 25x+7 ln 2 for the derivative of the outer. Since the derivative of the
x

inner is 5, y 0 = 5 ln 2 25x+7 .
(b) Note that the function can be written as y = 21 (3x − 3−x ). The derivative of the first term
in the parenthesis is 3x ln 3 by the formula for derivative of ax with a = 3. Using the chain rule
with inner function −x, the derivative of the second part 3−x is 3−x ln 3(−1) = −3−x ln 3. Thus
y 0 = 12 (3x ln 3 + 3−x ln 3) = ln23 (3x + 3−x ).

Logarithmic function and their derivatives.

Recall that the function loga x is the inverse

function of ax : thus loga x = y ⇔ ay = x.
If a = e, the notation ln x is short for loge x
and the function ln x is called the natural loga-
rithm.
The derivative of y = ln x can be obtained
from derivative of the inverse function x = ey .
Note that the derivative x0 of x = ey is x0 = ey =
x and consider the reciprocal:

1 1 1
y = ln x ⇒ y 0 = 0
= y = .
x e x
The derivative of logarithmic function of any base can be obtained converting loga to ln as
y = loga x = ln x
ln a
= ln x ln1a and using the formula for derivative of ln x. So we have

d 1 1 1
loga x = = .
dx x ln a x ln a

The derivative of ln x is x1 and y ex ax ln x loga x

To summarize,
the derivative of loga x is x ln1 a . y0 ex ax ln a 1
x
1
x ln a

Example 4. Find the derivative of the following functions

(a) y = ln(x2 + 2x) (b) y = log2 (3x + 4)

(c) y = x ln(x2 + 1) (d) y = ln(x + 5e3x )

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 Solution. (a) Using the chain rule with the outer ln u and the inner x2 + 2x, you have y 0 =
1 2(x+1)
x2 +2x
(2x + 2) = x2x+2 2 +2x = x(x+2) .

(b) Using the chain rule with the outer log2 u and the inner 3x + 4, you have y 0 = ln 2(3x+4)1
3=
3
ln 2(3x+4)
.
(c) Use the product rule with f (x) = x and g(x) = ln(x2 + 1) and the chain rule with derivative of
g with the outer ln u and the inner x2 + 1. Obtain that y 0 = f 0 g + g 0 f = 1 ln(x2 + 1) + x21+1 (2x)(x) =
2
ln(x2 + 1) + x2x 2 +1 .

(d) Use the chain rule with the outer ln u and the inner u = x + 5e3x . For derivative of the
part e3x , you will need to use the chain rule again to obtain u0 = 1 + 5e3x (3) = 1 + 15e3x . Thus,
3x
y 0 = x+5e1
3x (1 + 15e
3x
) = 1+15e
x+5e3x
.
Trigonometric functions and their derivatives.
The derivative of sin x can be determined using the trigonometric identity sin(x+h) = sin x cos h+
cos x sin h and calculating the limits limh→0 sinh h = 1 and limh→0 cos hh−1 = 0 using tables. Thus,

d sin x
dx
= limh→0 sin(x+h)−sin
h
x
sin x cos h+cos x sin h−sin x
= limh→0 h
= limh→0 sin x(cos h−1)+cos
h
x sin h

= sin x limh→0 cos hh−1 + cos x limh→0 sin h

h
= sin x (0) + cos x (1)
= cos x

Example 5. Find derivatives of the following functions.

(a) y = sin3 x (b) y = sin x3 (c) y = x3 sin x

Solution. (a) In order to see better the inner and outer function in this composite, note that the
function can be represented also as y = (sin x)3 . In this representation it is more obvious that the outer
function is u3 and the inner is sin x. Thus the chain rule produces y 0 = 3(sin x)2 cos x = 3 sin2 x cos x.
(b) This function is a composite of the outer sin u and the inner x3 . Thus the chain rule produces
0
y = cos x3 (3x2 ) = 3x2 cos x3 .
(c) Using the product rule with f (x) = x2 and g(x) = sin x we obtain y 0 = f 0 g + g 0 f = 3x2 sin x +
cos x(x3 ) = 3x2 sin x + x3 cos x.
The derivative of cos x can be found to be − sin x either using the trigonometric identity for
cosine of a sum and similar arguments as above or the implicit differentiation. In section on Implicit
Differentiation we demonstrate this second method. The derivatives of the remaining trigonometric
functions can be obtained by expressing these functions in terms of sine or cosine. In general, you
can always express a trigonometric function in terms of sine, cosine or both and then use just the
following two formulas.

The derivative of sin x is cos x and

the derivative of cos x is − sin x.

Example 6. Find derivatives of tan x and sec x. Simplify your answers.

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 sin x
Solution. Recall that tan x = cos x
so, using the quotient rule with f (x) = sin x and g(x) = cos x,
d tan x cos x cos x−(− sin x) sin x cos2 x+sinx x
obtain dx = cos2 x
= cos2 x
= cos12 x or sec2 x.
Recall that sec x = cos1 x = (cos x)−1 so, using the chain rule, obtain that

d sec x
= −1(cos x)−2 (− sin x) = (cos x)−2 sin x or sec2 x sin x.
dx
Sometimes this function is also written as sec x tan x.

Practice problems.

1. Find the derivative of the given functions.

2 +5
(a) y = e3x (x3 + 2x − 5) (b) y = 32x
2
(c) y = x 53x (d) y = (2x + ex )4
e2x +e−2x
(e) y = x2
(f) y = ln(5x − e5x )
(g) y = log3 (x2 + 5) (h) y = log2 (x2 + 7x)
(i) y = sin(2x2 + 4) (j) y = x2 cos x2
(k) y = sin 3x cos 5x (l) y = log2 x + 3 sin x − xex
(m) y = cot x2 (n) y = ecsc x

2. Find an equation of the line tangent to the curve at the indicated point.
2x √
(a) f (x) = ee2x −1
+1
at x = 0. (b) f (x) = ln 2x − 1 at x = 1.

3. Assume that f (x) is a function differentiable for every value of x.

(a) If F (x) = e3f (x) , f (3) = 0 and f 0 (3) = 2, determine F 0 (3).

(b) If F (x) = ln(f (x) + 1), f (1) = 0 and f 0 (1) = 1, determine F 0 (1).
(c) If f (x) has the inverse and f (3) = 2 and f 0 (3) = 6, find (f −1 )0 (2).

4. A differential equation is an equation in unknown function that contains one or more deriva-
tives of the unknown function. For example, y 02 + y = sin x and y 00 + sin(xy) = 0 are differential
equations.
3
(a) Check if y = x2 and y = 2 + e−x are solutions of differential equation y 0 + 3x2 y = 6x2 .
(b) Show that y = 1
x+c
is a solution of the differential equation y 0 = −y 2 for every value of
the constant c.
(c) Show that y = ce2x is a solution of the differential equation y 00 − 3y 0 + 2y = 0 for every
value of the constant c.
(d) Show that y = c1 cos 2x + c2 sin 2x is a solution of differential equation y 00 + 4y = 0 for
every value of the constants c1 and c2 .
(e) Find a value of the constant A for which the function y = Ae3x is a solution of the equation
y 00 − 3y 0 + 2y = 6e3x .

5
5. The concentration of pollutants (in grams per liter) in a river is approximated by C(x) = .04e−4x
where x is the number of miles downstream from a place where the measurements are taken.

(a) Determine the initial pollution and the pollution 2 miles downstream.
(b) Determine how much the concentration changed on average within the first two miles.
(c) Determine how fast the concentration changes 2 miles downstream.

6. A mass at the end of a vertical spring is stretched 5 cm beyond its natural length and is
released. If s measures the length from the natural length, the position at time t (in seconds)
can be described by s(t) = 5 cos 2t.

(a) Find the velocity and acceleration at time t and graph the position, velocity and acceler-
ation on the same plot for one period of the motion.
(b) Mark the intervals on which the object speeds up and the intervals on which it speeds
down on the plot in part (a).
(c) Determine the times when the mass returns to equilibrium position.
(d) Determine the position, velocity, and acceleration 4 second after the object is released.
Using that data, determine the direction in which the object is moving and if it is speeding
up or slowing down. Do the same for t = 5 minutes after the motion started.

Solutions.
1. (a) Use the product rule with f (x) = e3x and g(x) = x3 +2x−5 and the chain for f 0 (x) = e3x (3)
so that y 0 = 3e3x (x3 + 2x − 5) + (3x2 + 2)e3x .
2 +5 2 +5
(b) Use the chain rule with inner 2x2 + 5 so that y 0 = 32x · ln 3 · 4x = 4x ln 3 32x .
3x 0 3x
(c) Use the product rule with f (x) = x and g(x) = 5 and the chain for g (x) = 5 ln 3(3) so
that y 0 = 53x + 3x ln 5 53x .
2 2
(d) The chain rule with inner 2x + ex and another chain rule for derivative of ex produces
2 2 2 2
y 0 = 4(2x + ex )3 · (2 + ex 2x) = 8(1 + xex )(2x + ex )3 .
(e) The quotient rule with f (x) = e2x +e−2x and g(x) = x2 and the chain for f 0 (x) = 2e2x −2e−2x
2x −2x 2 2x −2x 2x −2x ) 2x −2x )
produces y 0 = (2e −2e )xx4−2x(e +e ) = 2x((x−1)e x−(x+1)e
4 = 2((x−1)e x−(x+1)e
3 .
(f) Use the chain rule with inner 5x − e5x and another chain rule for derivative of e5x so that
5−5e5x
y 0 = 5x−e
1
5x (5 − 5e
5x
) = 5x−e5x .

(g) The chain rule with the outer log3 u and the inner x2 +5 produces y 0 = 1
ln 3(x2 +5) 2x
= 2x
ln 3(x2 +5)
.
(h) The chain rule with the outer log2 u and the inner x2 + 7x produces y 0 = 1
ln 2(x2 +7x) (2x+7)
=
2x+7
ln 2(x2 +7x)
.
(i) The chain rule with the outer cos u and the inner 2x2 + 4 produces y 0 = cos(2x2 + 4) · (4x) =
4x cos(2x2 + 4).
(j) The product rule with f (x) = x2 and g(x) = cos x2 and the chain for g 0 (x) = − sin x2 (2x)
so that y 0 = 2x cos x2 − sin x2 (2x)(x2 ) = 2x cos x2 − 2x3 sin x2 .
(k) The product rule with f (x) = sin 3x and g(x) = cos 5x and the chain for f 0 (x) = cos 3x(3)
and g 0 (x) = − sin 5x(5) so that y 0 = 3 cos 3x cos 5x − 5 sin 5x sin 3x.

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 (l) Since the function is a sum of three terms, you can differentiate term by term. Use the
product rule for the last term. Obtain y 0 = x ln1 2 + 3 cos x − ex − xex .
2
(m) Representing the function as y = cot x2 = cos x
sin x2
and using the quotient rule with f (x) =
cos x and g(x) = sin x and the chain for f (x) = − sin x2 (2x) and g 0 (x) = cos x2 (2x) obtain
2 2 0
2 x2 −cos x2 (2x) cos x2 2 2 2 x2 )
that y 0 = − sin x (2x) sinsin 2 x2 = −2x(sinsinx2 x+cos
2 = sin−2x
2 x2 .

(n) Use the chain rule with the outer eu and the inner u = csc x = sin1 x = (sin x)−1 so that
u0 = −1(sin x)−2 cos x and obtain that y 0 = ecsc x − 1(sin x)−2 cos x or y 0 = −ecsc x csc2 x cos x.
2e2x (e2x +1)−2e2x (e2x −1)
2. (a) Use the quotient rule to find f 0 (x) = (e2x +1)2
and evaluate it at x = 0 to get
2(1+1)−2(1−1)
the slope f 0 (0) = =
(1+1)2
4−0
4
= 1 so the slope is 1. Since f (0) = 1−1
1+1
= 0, the tangent
is y − 0 = 1(x − 0) ⇒ y = x.
(b) Either represent the function as f (x) = ln(2x − 1)1/2 = 12 ln(2x − 1) and use a single chain
rule to get f 0 (x) = 12 2x−1
1
(2) = 2x−1 1
or keep it as f (x) = ln(2x − 1)1/2 and use two chain
rules to obtain f 0 (x) = (2x−1)1 1
1/2 2 (2x − 1)
−1/2 1
(2) = (2x−1) 1 1
1/2 (2x−1)1/2 = 2x−1 . In either case
√
f 0 (1) = 2−1
1
= 1 so the slope is 1. Since f (1) = ln 2 − 1 = ln 1 = 0, the tangent line is
y − 0 = 1(x − 1) ⇒ y = x − 1.
3. (a) Use the chain rule with the outer eu and the inner 3f (x) to find the derivative of F (x) =
e3f (x) to be F 0 (x) = e3f (x) 3f 0 (x). Since f (3) = 0 and f 0 (3) = 2, F 0 (3) = e0 3 (2) = 6.
(b) Use the chain rule with the outer ln u and the inner f (x) + 1 to find the derivative of
0 (x)
F (x) = ln(f (x) + 1) to be F 0 (x) = ff(x)+1 . Since f (1) = 0 and f 0 (1) = 1, F 0 (1) = 0+1
1
= 1.
(c) Since f (3) = 2, (f −1 )0 (2) = 1
f 0 (3)
. Then since f 0 (3) = 6, (f −1 )0 (2) = 1
f 0 (3)
= 16 .

4. (a) y = x2 ⇒ y 0 = 2x. Plug the function and its derivative into the equation y 0 + 3x2 y = 6x2 ⇒
2x + 3x2 (x2 ) = 6x2 ⇒ 2x + 3x4 = 6x2 . This equation does not hold for every value of x (for
example if x = 1 the equation false identity 2 + 3 = 6) so y = x2 is not a solution of the given
equation.
3 3
y = 2+e−x ⇒ y 0 = −3x2 e−x . Plug the function and its derivative into the equation y 0 +3x2 y =
3 3 3 3
6x2 ⇒ −3x2 e−x + 3x2 (2 + e−x ) = 6x2 ⇒ −3x2 e−x + 6x2 + 3x2 e−x = 6x2 ⇒ 6x2 = 6x2 . This
identity holds for every x so the given function is a solution of the equation.
−1
(b) Find the derivative of y = 1
x+c
to be y 0 = 2 and plug the function and its derivative
  (x+c)
−1 −1 −1
into the equation y 0 = −y 2 ⇒ −
(x+c)2
= ⇒ 1
x+c (x+c)2
= (x+c)2
. This identity holds for every
x so the given function is a solution of the equation.
(c) Find the derivatives of y = ce2x to be y 0 = 2ce2x and y 00 = 4ce2x and plug into the equation
y 00 − 3y 0 + 2y = 0 ⇒ 4ce2x − 6ce2x + 2ce2x = 0 ⇒ (4 − 6 + 2)ce2x = 0 ⇒ 0 = 0. The given
function is a solution of the equation.
(d) y = c1 cos 2x + c2 sin 2x ⇒ y 0 = −2c1 sin 2x + 2c2 cos 2x ⇒ y 00 = −4c1 cos 2x − 4c2 sin 2x.
Plugging into the differential equation y 00 +4y = 0 gives you −4c1 cos 2x−4c2 sin 2x+4c1 cos 2x+
4c2 sin 2x = 0 ⇒ 0 = 0. The given function is a solution of the equation.
(e) Find the derivatives of y = Ae3x to be y 0 = 3Ae3x and y 00 = 9Ae3x and substitute them into
the equation y 00 − 3y 0 + 2y = 6e3x to get
9Ae3x − 9Ae3x + 2Ae3x = 6e3x ⇒ 2Ae3x = 6e3x ⇒ 2A = 6 ⇒ A = 3.

7
 Thus, y = 3e3x is a solution of differential equation.

5. (a) The initial pollution is C(0) = 0.04 and the pollution 2 miles downstream is C(2) ≈ 1.3·10−5
grams per liter.
(b) The average rate of change within first two miles is C(2)−C(0)
2−0
≈ −.01999 ≈ −.02. Thus
the concentration is decreasing on average by .02 grams per liter per mile during the first two
miles.
(c) The derivative is C 0 (x) = .04e−4x (−4) = −.16e−4x so that C 0 (2) = −5.37 · 10−5 , thus the
concentration is decreasing by .0000537 grams per liter per mile 2 miles downstream.

6. (a) Differentiate s(t) = 5 cos 2t to find the velocity v(t) = s0 (t) = −10 sin 2t.

Differentiate the velocity to find the accelera-

tion a(t) = v 0 (t) = s00 (t) = −20 cos 2t.These
periodic functions have period 2π 2
= π so you
can graph them on the interval [0, π]. Since the
amplitudes of s, v and a are 5, 10 and 20, re-
spectively, you can choose the range [-20, 20]
so that all the functions are displayed.
(b) The object speeds up on intervals where v
and a have the same sign and slows down on
intervals where v and a have the opposite sign.
These intervals are marked on the graph.

(c) The the mass returns to equilibrium position when s = 0. 5 cos 2t = 0 ⇒ cos 2t = 0 ⇒ 2t =
π 3π 5π
, , 2 . . . ⇒ t = π, 3π, 5π . . .
2 2
(d) s(4) = 5 cos 8 ≈ −0.73 cm meaning that the object is 0.75 above the equilibrium position.
The velocity is v(4) = −10 sin 8 ≈ −9.89 cm per second and, since it is negative, the object
is moving upwards. a(4) = −20 cos 8 ≈ 2.91 cm per second squared. Since the velocity and
acceleration have different signs, the object is slowing down.
When t = 5 min = 300 sec, s(300) = 5 cos 600 ≈ −4.995 ≈ −5 cm meaning that the ob-
ject is almost at the highest point above the equilibrium position. The velocity is v(300) =
−10 sin 600 ≈ −0.44 cm per second. The small value of velocity agrees with the fact that the
object is almost at the highest point. The negative sign indicates it is still moving upwards.
a(300) = −20 cos 600 ≈ 19.98 cm per second squared. Since the velocity and acceleration have
different signs, the object is slowing down.