Solving for dy/dx in Derivative of cos(x)^ln(x) | Finding the Derivative

  • Thread starter Thread starter Esoremada
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    deriving
Esoremada
Messages
50
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



http://puu.sh/4M7BE.png

Homework Equations



ln(ax) = x*ln(a)

The Attempt at a Solution



ln(y) = cos(x)*ln(ln(x))

dy/dx * 1/y = -sinx*ln(ln(x)) + cosx/(x*lnx)

No clue how to solve this, there's no ln(ln(x)) in the possible answers

Attempt 2

y = cos(x)^ln(x)
ln(y) = ln(x)*ln[cos(x)]
1/y * dy/dx = 1/x * ln(cos(x)) + ln(x) * 1/cos(x) * (-sin(x))
dy/dx = y[ ln(cos(x))/x - ln(x) * sin(x) / cos(x)]
dy/dx = [cos(x)ln(x)][ ln(cos(x))/x - (ln(x)sin(x))/cos(x)]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Esoremada said:

Homework Statement



http://puu.sh/4M7BE.png

Homework Equations



ln(ax) = x*ln(a)

The Attempt at a Solution



ln(y) = cos(x)*ln(ln(x))

dy/dx * 1/y = -sinx*ln(ln(x)) + cosx/(x*lnx)

No clue how to solve this, there's no ln(ln(x)) in the possible answers

You got off to a bad start. If y=(cos(x))^(ln(x)) then ln(y)=ln(x)*ln(cos(x)). NOT cos(x)*ln(ln(x)).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Likes 1 person
The power rule is

$$(u^v)^\prime=v \, u^{v-1} \, u^\prime +u^{v} \log(u) \, v^\prime $$

You can derive it by writing

$$u^v=\exp(v \log(u))$$

Then differentiate both sides.
 
Can't tell what I did wrong in attempt 2 either :o

Not sure how they got the inner cos outside of ln in the answer.

http://puu.sh/4MaXv.png
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Esoremada said:
Can't tell what I did wrong in attempt 2 either :o

Not sure how they got the inner cos outside of ln in the answer.

http://puu.sh/4MaXv.png

Your second attempt is correct. You are trying to compare it to a wrong answer.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Likes 1 person
I see, I guess the answer key is incorrect. Thanks for the help
 
Esoremada said:
I see, I guess the answer key is incorrect. Thanks for the help

No, no, no. Compare your answer with the key answer c). Not with d).
 
Ah, just went through the news feed. They noted that it should be C not D a couple of days ago, didn't catch that.
 
Back
Top