# Derivative of a function to a function

by joex444
Tags: derivative, function
 P: 44 I'm a tutor in physics, but was asked this question: What is the derivative of sin(x)^ln(x), with respect to x? I'm not sure how you would go about taking the derivative of a function raised to a function. Is there a general for for d/dx ( f(x)^g(x) )? I understand the answer involves a ln(sin(x)), according to Maple, and would love to see how you end up with g(f(x)).
 Sci Advisor HW Helper P: 2,482 That's not the LN in your formula. It's a generic LN. If g(x) = h(x)^k(x) then g'(x) = g(x) [k(x)h'(x)/h(x) + Log(h(x))k'(x)].
 P: 44 Thanks, that's really neat. Usually we assume k(x) to be a constant, n, so obviously k'(x) would be 0 and the second term drops, leaving us with the power rule.
It must be obvious by now but just in case someone would wonder where the formula provided by Enumaelish comes from, the trick is to not differentiate g(x) itself but to differentiate $\ln(g(x))$ and then to isolate g'(x).