Derivative using Logarithmic differentation

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The discussion focuses on finding the derivative of the function y = √(x(x+1)) using logarithmic differentiation. The initial attempt included errors in the application of logarithmic properties, leading to an incorrect derivative. After corrections, it was noted that the mistake involved misapplying the logarithmic rule, which resulted in an answer that was twice as large as the correct one. The correct derivative, as stated in the book, is (2x+1)/(2√(x(x+1))). The conversation emphasizes the importance of careful step-by-step calculations in logarithmic differentiation.
TommG
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Need to find derivative using logarithmic differentiation
y = \sqrt{x(x+1)}

My attempt
ln y = ln \sqrt{x(x+1)}

ln y = \frac{1}{2}ln x(x+1)

ln y = \frac{1}{2}ln x + ln(x+1)

\frac{1}{y}= (\frac{1}{2}) \frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{x+1}

\frac{1}{y}= \frac{1}{2x} + \frac{1}{x+1}

\frac{dy}{dx}= y(\frac{1}{2x} + \frac{1}{x+1})

\frac{dy}{dx}= \sqrt{x(x+1)}(\frac{1}{2x} + \frac{1}{x+1})

\frac{dy}{dx}= \frac{\sqrt{x(x+1)}}{2x} + \frac{\sqrt{x(x+1)}}{x+1}

answer in book \frac{2x+1}{2\sqrt{x(x+1))}}
 
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TommG said:
Need to find derivative using logarithmic differentiation
y = \sqrt{x(x+1)}

My attempt
ln y = ln \sqrt{x(x+1)}

ln y = \frac{1}{2}ln x(x+1)

ln y = \frac{1}{2}ln x + ln(x+1)

\frac{1}{y}= (\frac{1}{2}) \frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{x+1}

\frac{1}{y}= \frac{1}{2x} + \frac{1}{x+1}

\frac{dy}{dx}= y(\frac{1}{2x} + \frac{1}{x+1})

\frac{dy}{dx}= \sqrt{x(x+1)}(\frac{1}{2x} + \frac{1}{x+1})

\frac{dy}{dx}= \frac{\sqrt{x(x+1)}}{2x} + \frac{\sqrt{x(x+1)}}{x+1}

answer in book \frac{2x+1}{2\sqrt{x(x+1))}}

You skipped a few steps, do it more carefully and you'll see that there were mistakes.
 
verty said:
You skipped a few steps, do it more carefully and you'll see that there were mistakes.

I made some corrections

ln y = ln \sqrt{x(x+1)}

ln y = \frac{1}{2}ln x(x+1)

ln y = \frac{1}{2}ln x + ln(x+1)

\frac{1}{y}= (\frac{1}{2}) \frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{x+1}

\frac{1}{y}= \frac{1}{2x} + \frac{1}{x+1}

\frac{1}{y}= \frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{x+1}

\frac{dy}{dx}= y(\frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{x+1})

\frac{dy}{dx}= y(\frac{x+1+x}{x(x+1)})

\frac{dy}{dx}= y(\frac{2x+1}{x(x+1)})

\frac{dy}{dx}= \sqrt{x(x+1)}(\frac{2x+1}{x(x+1)})

\frac{dy}{dx}= (\frac{\sqrt{x(x+1)}(2x+1)}{x(x+1)})

answer in book \frac{2x+1}{2\sqrt{x(x+1))}}
 
Can you see that your answer is twice as large as the book's answer? You've lost a factor of 1/2 somewhere.
 
$$a\ln(bc)=a\ln(b)+a\ln(c)\neq a\ln(b)+\ln(c)$$

Somewhere in your derivation you made this mistake. Hopefully you can find it.
 
TommG said:
I made some corrections

ln y = ln \sqrt{x(x+1)}

ln y = \frac{1}{2}ln x(x+1)

ln y = \frac{1}{2}ln x + ln(x+1)
This is where you made your mistake.
ln(y)= \frac{1}{2}(ln(x)+ ln(x+ 1))= \frac{1}{2}ln(x)+ \frac{1}{2}ln(x+ 1)

\frac{1}{y}= (\frac{1}{2}) \frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{x+1}

\frac{1}{y}= \frac{1}{2x} + \frac{1}{x+1}

\frac{1}{y}= \frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{x+1}

\frac{dy}{dx}= y(\frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{x+1})

\frac{dy}{dx}= y(\frac{x+1+x}{x(x+1)})

\frac{dy}{dx}= y(\frac{2x+1}{x(x+1)})

\frac{dy}{dx}= \sqrt{x(x+1)}(\frac{2x+1}{x(x+1)})

\frac{dy}{dx}= (\frac{\sqrt{x(x+1)}(2x+1)}{x(x+1)})

answer in book \frac{2x+1}{2\sqrt{x(x+1))}}
 
TommG said:
Need to find derivative using logarithmic differentiation
y = \sqrt{x(x+1)}

My attempt
ln y = ln \sqrt{x(x+1)}

ln y = \frac{1}{2}ln x(x+1)

ln y = \frac{1}{2}ln x + ln(x+1)

\frac{1}{y}= (\frac{1}{2}) \frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{x+1}

\frac{1}{y}= \frac{1}{2x} + \frac{1}{x+1}

\frac{dy}{dx}= y(\frac{1}{2x} + \frac{1}{x+1})

\frac{dy}{dx}= \sqrt{x(x+1)}(\frac{1}{2x} + \frac{1}{x+1})

\frac{dy}{dx}= \frac{\sqrt{x(x+1)}}{2x} + \frac{\sqrt{x(x+1)}}{x+1}

answer in book \frac{2x+1}{2\sqrt{x(x+1))}}

So, although you have found the mistake that lead to the wrong answer I still have to ask: What is going on on lines 4 and 5?
 

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