Differentiating natural logs and exponential functions?

In summary, Mirth said that she was having a hard time figuring out a problem in which she had to differentiate, and she listed incorrect rules of differentiation that she recognized.
  • #1
Mirth
23
0
Hey all, I'm really having a hard time figuring out a couple of problems in which I have to differentiate:

1: [tex] \frac{e^3^x}{\ln x} [/tex]

I just don't know how to put it together... I know that [tex]e^3^x[/tex] is [tex]3e^3^x[/tex], and I know that you can't different [tex]\ln x[/tex], so I don't know what to do from there...

And:

2: [tex] \ln(e^-^2^x + e^-^x)[/tex]

Totally not sure what to do there... Any help would be appreciated, I've looked online for similar examples and couldn't really find anything relevant to help me. Thanks!
 
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  • #2
Let's take the first question first,
Mirth said:
Hey all, I'm really having a hard time figuring out a couple of problems in which I have to differentiate:

1: [tex] \frac{e^3^x}{\ln x} [/tex]

I just don't know how to put it together... I know that [tex]e^3^x[/tex] is [tex]3e^3^x[/tex]
Correct.
Mirth said:
and I know that you can't different [tex]\ln x[/tex], so I don't know what to do from there...
Erm... yes you can!

HINT: Let y = lnx, then x = ey. Now differentiate x = ey with respect to x.
 
  • #3
Hootenanny said:
Let's take the first question first,

Correct.

Erm... yes you can!

HINT: Let y = lnx, then x = ey. Now differentiate x = ey with respect to x.

Hrm, I'm feeling a bit retarded so bear with me, hehe. So, [tex]\frac {1}{x}[/tex]?
 
  • #4
Mirth said:
Hrm, I'm feeling a bit retarded so bear with me, hehe. So, [tex]\frac {1}{x}[/tex]?
Correct :biggrin:

So as far as putting it all together, can you suggest anything? Perhaps some sort of rule...?
 
  • #5
I'm really retarded at math, ugh... Hehe. So I have [tex]\frac {3e^3^x}{1/x}[/tex] ... Pretty sure I'm lost on what to do from there. :(
 
  • #6
Mirth said:
I'm really retarded at math, ugh... Hehe. So I have [tex]\frac {3e^3^x}{1/x}[/tex] ... Pretty sure I'm lost on what to do from there. :(
No that is not correct.

[tex]\frac{d}{dx} \frac{f\left(x\right)}{g\left(x\right)} \neq \frac{f^\prime\left(x\right)}{g^\prime\left(x\right)}[/tex]

What 'rules' of differentiation do you know?
 
  • #7
Not sure of any rules by name... I'm going to have to research more examples, I'm so rusty in math that I am unsure...
 
  • #8
Mirth said:
Not sure of any rules by name... I'm going to have to research more examples, I'm so rusty in math that I am unsure...
Try searching for the quotient rule, or the product rule and chain rule.
 
  • #9
I kinda give up on the first one, heh... Can someone tell me if I have #2 right?:

Answer: [tex]\frac {1 - e^-^2^x}{e^-^x + e^-^2^x} [/tex]
 
  • #10
Mirth said:
I kinda give up on the first one, heh... Can someone tell me if I have #2 right?:

Answer: [tex]\frac {1 - e^-^2^x}{e^-^x + e^-^2^x} [/tex]

The quotient rule and product rule explains how to differentiate two functions that divide are divided by or multiplied by each other. Just look that up and identify f(x) and g(x) (that is the standard notation at least).

For #2, it isn't correct. What did you do to come up with that answer?
 
  • #11
Mirth, can you show us step by step how you differentiated that expression?
 
  • #12
Hi Mirth! :smile:
Mirth said:
Not sure of any rules by name...

ok, do you recognise this one by face :wink:

(fg)' = … ? :smile:
 

1. What is the difference between a natural log and an exponential function?

A natural log (ln) is the inverse of the exponential function. This means that if the exponential function is x = ay, then the natural log is y = ln(x). In other words, the natural log "undoes" the exponential function, and they are essentially opposite operations.

2. How do you differentiate a natural log function?

The derivative of a natural log function (ln(x)) is 1/x. This can be found by using the power rule for derivatives, where the derivative of the function xn is nxn-1. Therefore, the derivative of ln(x) is 1/x, since ln(x) is the same as x1.

3. How do you differentiate an exponential function?

The derivative of an exponential function (ax) is axln(a). This can be found by using the chain rule for derivatives, where the derivative of the function f(g(x)) is f'(g(x))g'(x). Therefore, the derivative of ax is axln(a), since the derivative of x is 1.

4. What is the relationship between natural log and exponential functions?

As mentioned, the natural log and exponential function are inverse operations. This means that they "cancel out" each other when used together. For example, if you take ln(ex), the e and ln cancel out, leaving you with x. This relationship is also seen in their respective derivatives, where the derivative of ln(x) is 1/x and the derivative of ex is ex.

5. How are natural log and exponential functions used in real life?

Natural log and exponential functions are used in a variety of fields, such as finance, biology, and physics. In finance, natural log is used to calculate compound interest, while exponential functions are used to model population growth in biology or radioactive decay in physics. They are also commonly used in data analysis and modeling to describe and predict various phenomena.

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