Derivative using Logarithmic differentation

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on finding the derivative of the function y = √(x(x+1)) using logarithmic differentiation. The initial attempts included errors in applying logarithmic properties, particularly in the manipulation of ln(y). The correct derivative is derived as dy/dx = (2x + 1) / (2√(x(x+1))). Participants emphasized the importance of careful step-by-step calculations to avoid mistakes in logarithmic differentiation.

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  • Knowledge of properties of logarithms
  • Basic algebraic manipulation skills
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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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