How can I find the derivative of ln(sin5x)?

  • Context: MHB 
  • Thread starter Thread starter DeusAbscondus
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Derivative
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the derivative of the function \( f(x) = \ln(\sin(5x)) \). Participants explore the application of the chain rule in differentiation, clarify misunderstandings, and address related questions about function composition and derivative properties.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • DeusAbs expresses confusion about deriving \( f'(x) \) from \( f(x) = \ln(\sin(5x)) \) and seeks assistance to understand the steps involved.
  • Sudharaka suggests using the chain rule and provides a general structure for applying it, though does not complete the differentiation.
  • CB corrects an earlier claim about the derivative of \( \sin(5x) \), stating it should be \( 5\cos(5x) \) instead of \( 5\cos(x) \).
  • Another participant proposes a substitution method to clarify the differentiation process, emphasizing the chain rule's application.
  • DeusAbs raises a supplementary question about identifying embedded functions and the conditions under which the chain rule applies.
  • Sudharaka confirms that compositions of functions require the chain rule and provides examples, but later acknowledges a mistake in a derivative example.
  • DeusAbs questions the validity of a derivative property involving constants and seeks clarification on LaTeX formatting for mathematical expressions.
  • Jameson confirms the derivative property for constants and provides guidance on LaTeX text formatting.
  • DeusAbs expresses appreciation for the community's support and shares personal reflections on learning challenges.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for the chain rule in differentiating \( \ln(\sin(5x)) \), but there are disagreements regarding specific derivative calculations and interpretations of function composition. The discussion remains unresolved on some points, particularly regarding the clarity of derivative properties and LaTeX usage.

Contextual Notes

Some participants' claims involve assumptions about derivative rules and function composition that are not universally agreed upon. There are also unresolved questions about LaTeX formatting that may affect clarity in mathematical communication.

DeusAbscondus
Messages
176
Reaction score
0
Hi folks,
For some reason, the following does not make sense to me:

If 1. $$f(x)=ln(sin(5x))$$ then 2. $$f'(x)=5cot(5x)$$ but I can only get as far as
$$f(x)=ln(sin(5x))\implies\frac{1}{u}*5cosx=\frac{5cos(x)}{sin(5x)}$$

Can someone please show me how to get from here to 2.? Thanks kindly, DeusAbs
 
Physics news on Phys.org
DeusAbscondus said:
Hi folks,
For some reason, the following does not make sense to me:

If 1. $$f(x)=ln(sin(5x))$$ then 2. $$f'(x)=5cot(5x)$$ but I can only get as far as
$$f(x)=ln(sin(5x))\implies\frac{1}{u}*5cosx=\frac{5cos(x)}{sin(5x)}$$

Can someone please show me how to get from here to 2.? Thanks kindly, DeusAbs

Hi DeusAbscondus, :)

What you need here is the Chain rule of differentiation. Please refer the link given and try to understand how to use this rule so that you can easily differentiate the given function.

\[f(x)=\ln(\sin(5x))\]

Using the chain rule of differentiation we can write,

\[\frac{d}{dx}f(x)=\frac{d}{d(\sin(5x))}f(x)\frac{d}{dx}\sin(5x)\]

Try to continue from here. :)

Kind Regards,
Sudharaka.
 
DeusAbscondus said:
Hi folks,
For some reason, the following does not make sense to me:

If 1. $$f(x)=ln(sin(5x))$$ then 2. $$f'(x)=5cot(5x)$$ but I can only get as far as
$$f(x)=ln(sin(5x))\implies\frac{1}{u}*5cosx=\frac{5cos(x)}{sin(5x)}$$

Can someone please show me how to get from here to 2.? Thanks kindly, DeusAbs

The derivative of \(\sin(5x)\) is \(5 \cos(5x)\) not \( 5\cos(x)\).CB
 
DeusAbscondus said:
Hi folks,
For some reason, the following does not make sense to me:

If 1. $$f(x)=ln(sin(5x))$$ then 2. $$f'(x)=5cot(5x)$$ but I can only get as far as
$$f(x)=ln(sin(5x))\implies\frac{1}{u}*5cosx=\frac{5cos(x)}{sin(5x)}$$

Can someone please show me how to get from here to 2.? Thanks kindly, DeusAbs

I'll do this by substitution to make it easier to see. On an exam you'd be fine to just go with it.

Let
  • $u(x) = 5x$
  • $v(u) = \sin(u)$
  • $y(v) =\ln(v)$

Their respective derivatives are
  • $\dfrac{du}{dx} = 5$
  • $\dfrac{dv}{du} = \cos(u)$
  • $\dfrac{dy}{dv} = \dfrac{1}{v}$

The chain rule states that
$ \dfrac{dy}{dx} = \dfrac{du}{dx} \cdot \dfrac{dv}{du} \cdot \dfrac{dy}{dv}$In other words multiply your three derivatives together and simplify

$\dfrac{dy}{dx} = 5 \cdot \cos(5x) \cdot \dfrac{1}{\sin(u)}$
$\dfrac{dy}{dx} = 5 \cdot \cos(5x) \cdot \dfrac{1}{\sin(5x)}$

$\dfrac{dy}{dx} = \dfrac{5cos(5x)}{\sin(5x)}$

Use your trig identities to simplify into the desired format
 
Supplementary question: Re: derivative of ln(sin5x)

Super! simply super, thanks for such a full demonstration: really appreciated.
C'n Black: I'm coming to enjoy your laconic exactitude: thank you kindly.
Sudharaka: prompt, friendly, accurate and complete: thanks friend.

It was obvious to me that I was missing something basic: to wit: $$sin(5x)$$calls for the chain rule, since it contains an embedded function.

Supplementary Question: does this mean that whenever the argument of a function - the $x$ bit - contains more than $x$, that one is dealing with an embedded function? (excluding of course the cases of simple derivative addition and subtraction)? Please, could one of you chaps come up with language that tidies up what I think I am right in trying to say here?

this has opened the afternoon up for me to pleasantly work away at 40 examples of a similar kind, so as to root this shared logic into my mathematically growing but immature brain.

DeusAbs
 
Re: Supplementary question: Re: derivative of ln(sin5x)

DeusAbscondus said:
Super! simply super, thanks for such a full demonstration: really appreciated.
C'n Black: I'm coming to enjoy your laconic exactitude: thank you kindly.
Sudharaka: prompt, friendly, accurate and complete: thanks friend.

You are welcome. :)

DeusAbscondus said:
Supplementary Question: does this mean that whenever the argument of a function - the $x$ bit - contains more than $x$, that one is dealing with an embedded function? (excluding of course the cases of simple derivative addition and subtraction)? Please, could one of you chaps come up with language that tidies up what I think I am right in trying to say here?

Yes. In mathematical language what you have is a composition of functions. Examples of using the chain rule,

\[f(x)=\sin(5x)\Rightarrow\frac{d}{dx}f(x)=\frac{d}{d(5x)}\sin(5x)\frac{d}{dx}(5x)=5\cos(5x)\]

\[f(x)=\sin(x+10)\Rightarrow \frac{d}{d(x+10)}\sin(x+10)\frac{d}{dx}(x+10)=\cos(x+10)\]

A useful video giving examples of using the chain rule can be found http://www.khanacademy.org/math/calculus/v/chain-rule-examples.

Kind Regards,
Sudharaka.
 
Last edited:
Re: Supplementary question: Re: derivative of ln(sin5x)

Sudharaka said:
You are welcome. :)
Yes. In mathematical language what you have is a composition of functions. Examples of using the chain rule,

\[f(x)=\sin(10x)\Rightarrow\frac{d}{dx}f(x)=\frac{d}{d(5x)}\sin(5x)\frac{d}{dx}(5x)=5\cos(5x)\]

\[f(x)=\sin(x+10)\Rightarrow \frac{d}{d(x+10)}\sin(x+10)\frac{d}{dx}(x+10)=\cos(x+10)\]

A useful video giving examples of using the chain rule can be found http://www.khanacademy.org/math/calculus/v/chain-rule-examples.

Kind Regards,
Sudharaka.
Sudharaka, thanks, but are you sure you have not made an inadvertant error here:
$$f(x)=\sin(10x)\implies f'(x)=10cos(10x)$$
doesn't it?
DeusAbs
 
Re: Supplementary question: Re: derivative of ln(sin5x)

DeusAbscondus said:
Sudharaka, thanks, but are you sure you have not made an inadvertant error here:
$$f(x)=\sin(10x)\implies f'(x)=10cos(10x)$$
doesn't it?
DeusAbs

Yes, sorry. Corrected it. :)
 
follow up regarding "special result" in my calc text

I'm trying to satisfy my mind as to why $$ f(x)=5ln(x) \Rightarrow f'(x)=5.\frac{1}{x}=\frac{5}{x}$$

Is it valid because of the result
$$ kf(x) \Rightarrow \frac{dy}{dx}=kf'(x) where 'k' is some constant$$
If so, could someone please make some brief comments illuminating this result, its proof and application (with couple of simple examples)

Thanks kindly folks, always, for the incalculable power of good you are doing me with your help.
DeusAbs

Incidentally,
i) how do I space English words in latex expressions to avoid the ugly running together of letters as in above, and
ii) is there a backslash command for If/then?, or
iii) is my use of $\Rightarrow$ appropriate for If/then expressions?
 
  • #10
Hi DeusAbscondus,

Yes, you are correct that for constant k, [math]\frac{d}{dx}k \cdot f(x)=k \cdot f'(x)[/math] and for that reason if [math]f(x)=5\ln(x)[/math] then [math]f'(x)=5 \cdot \frac{1}{x}=\frac{5}{x}[/math].

To answer one of your other questions. You can use the Latex command \text{ } to add normal looking text.

[math]\text{You can see this in effect right here}[/math]
 
  • #11
Jameson said:
Hi DeusAbscondus,

Yes, you are correct that for constant k, [math]\frac{d}{dx}k \cdot f(x)=k \cdot f'(x)[/math] and for that reason if [math]f(x)=5\ln(x)[/math] then [math]f'(x)=5 \cdot \frac{1}{x}=\frac{5}{x}[/math].

To answer one of your other questions. You can use the Latex command \text{ } to add normal looking text.

[math]\text{You can see this in effect right here}[/math]

Thanks kindly Jameson (btw: I thoroughly approve of the change of image, which is in keeping with the wry, comic -gently self-ironizing- tone of the former, KGB avatar; i like it!)
I love this place! The sense of support is enormous.
Yesterday I had a day during which I felt defeated by the seeming enormity of the task of learning all this stuff; after a couple of interactions here, I *always* get enlightened and/or instructed, and this, in turn, lifts my mood and encourages me to keep going.

So, now I can go $$\text{If } y=x^2\text{ then } y'=2x\text{...how cool is that}$$

Argggh, but I still have the spacing problem, even after using \text{*} (?!)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #12
I'm really glad you like the site. Hearing that is why I love working here, as well as getting to interact with some great minds.

I've edited your post for you to include the spaces. If you add a space inside the \text{ } then it will appear. For example:

1) \text{The derivative of} x^2 \text{is} 2x yields [math]\text{The derivative of} x^2 \text{is} 2x[/math]. Notice the problem in spacing.

2) If I add spaces inside the text tag like so: \text{The derivative of } x^2 \text{ is } 2x we get [math]\text{The derivative of } x^2 \text{ is } 2x[/math]

See the difference? :)
 
  • #13
Re: follow up regarding "special result" in my calc text

Hi DeusAbscondus, :)

DeusAbscondus said:
I'm trying to satisfy my mind as to why $$ f(x)=5ln(x) \Rightarrow f'(x)=5.\frac{1}{x}=\frac{5}{x}$$

Is it valid because of the result
$$ kf(x) \Rightarrow \frac{dy}{dx}=kf'(x) where 'k' is some constant$$
If so, could someone please make some brief comments illuminating this result, its proof and application (with couple of simple examples)

This is a consequence of the constant factor rule in differentiation. You can find the proof on this page. Examples can be found here.

DeusAbscondus said:
iii) is my use of $\Rightarrow$ appropriate for If/then expressions?

The symbol \(\Rightarrow\) is used for implication. Since \(y=kf(x)\) implies \(\frac{dy}{dx}=kf'(x)\) it is correct to write, \(y=kf(x)\Rightarrow \frac{dy}{dx}=kf'(x)\). Refer this.

Kind Regards,
Sudharaka.
 
  • #14
Re: follow up regarding "special result" in my calc text

DeusAbscondus said:
I'm trying to satisfy my mind as to why $$ f(x)=5ln(x) \Rightarrow f'(x)=5.\frac{1}{x}=\frac{5}{x}$$

Is it valid because of the result
$$ kf(x) \Rightarrow \frac{dy}{dx}=kf'(x) where 'k' is some constant$$
If so, could someone please make some brief comments illuminating this result, its proof and application (with couple of simple examples)

Thanks kindly folks, always, for the incalculable power of good you are doing me with your help.
DeusAbs

Incidentally,
i) how do I space English words in latex expressions to avoid the ugly running together of letters as in above, and
ii) is there a backslash command for If/then?, or
iii) is my use of $\Rightarrow$ appropriate for If/then expressions?

By definition:

\[\frac{d}{dx}f(x)=\lim_{h \to 0}\frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}\]

so:

\[\begin{aligned} \frac{d}{dx}\left(k\; f(x)\right)&=\lim_{h \to 0}\frac{k\;f(x+h)-k\;f(x)}{h} \\ &= \lim_{h \to 0}\left(k\; \frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}\right)\\ &= k\; \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}\\ &= k\frac{d}{dx}f(x) \end{aligned}\]

CB
 
Last edited:
  • #15
Re: follow up regarding "special result" in my calc text

CaptainBlack said:
By definition:

\[\frac{d}{dx}f(x)=\lim_{h \to 0}\frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}\]

so:

\[\frac{d}{dx}\left(k\; f(x)\right)=\lim_{h \to 0}\frac{k\;f(x+h)-k\;f(x)}{h} = \lim_{h \to 0}\left(k\; \frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}\right) = k\; \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}\ = k\frac{d}{dx}f(x)\]

CB

Thanks Cap'n.
Could you go one step further and instance the use of $\frac{dy}{dx}$ as opposed to $\frac{d}{dx}$ so as to make plain to me the logic and syntax of the one compared to the other?
Much appreciated,
DeusAbs
 
  • #16
Re: follow up regarding "special result" in my calc text

DeusAbscondus said:
Thanks Cap'n.
Could you go one step further and instance the use of $\frac{dy}{dx}$ as opposed to $\frac{d}{dx}$ so as to make plain to me the logic and syntax of the one compared to the other?
Much appreciated,
DeusAbs

Usually [math]\frac{dy}{dx}=f'(x)=y'[/math] meaning the derivative of function y with respect to x. Nothing necessarily needs to be calculated. All three of those things just represent the idea of the derivative of y with respect to x.

On the other hand, [math]\frac{d}{dx}[/math] means calculate the derivative of whatever follows with respect to x.

Example:
[math]y=x^2[/math] so [math]\frac{d}{dx}x^2=2x=\frac{dy}{dx}[/math]

With [math]\frac{d}{dx}[/math] something must follow that or it doesn't make sense. [math]\frac{dy}{dx}[/math] can stand on its own.
 
  • #17
Jameson said:
I'm really glad you like the site. Hearing that is why I love working here, as well as getting to interact with some great minds.

I've edited your post for you to include the spaces. If you add a space inside the \text{ } then it will appear. For example:

1) \text{The derivative of} x^2 \text{is} 2x yields [math]\text{The derivative of} x^2 \text{is} 2x[/math]. Notice the problem in spacing.

2) If I add spaces inside the text tag like so: \text{The derivative of } x^2 \text{ is } 2x we get [math]\text{The derivative of } x^2 \text{ is } 2x[/math]

See the difference? :)
Ah! Formidable, mon vieux!
This is exactly what I came on to find out about tonight! and here, you left me word to that effect days ago!
$\text{ Thanks again ... Jameson ... }$:)
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K