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Worked solution

Differentiate exponentials and logarithms with their inner factors

Differentiate (a) 4ex2+14e^{x^2+1}, (b) 3tan⁡x3^{\tan x}, (c) ln⁡(x+x3)\ln(x+x^3), and (d) log⁡3(x2+4)\log_3(x^2+4) with respect to xx.

CJC · Lecture · Example 9

(a) Natural exponential

d(4ex2+1)/dx=4ex2+1(2x)=8xex2+1d(4e^{x^2+1})/dx=4e^{x^2+1}(2x)=8xe^{x^2+1}, for every real xx.

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(b) Exponential with base 3

d(3tan⁡x)/dx=3tan⁡xln⁡3 sec⁡2xd(3^{\tan x})/dx=3^{\tan x}\ln3\,\sec^2x, where cos⁡x≠0\cos x\ne0. The Teacher completion retains both the base factor ln⁡3\ln3 and derivative of the inner tangent.

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(c) Natural logarithm

d[ln⁡(x+x3)]/dx=(1+3x2)/(x+x3)d[\ln(x+x^3)]/dx=(1+3x^2)/(x+x^3). Since x+x3=x(1+x2)x+x^3=x(1+x^2), the real logarithm requires x>0x>0. A derivative expression defined elsewhere does not extend the logarithm’s domain.

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(d) Change the logarithm base first

Write log⁡3(x2+4)=ln⁡(x2+4)/ln⁡3\log_3(x^2+4)=\ln(x^2+4)/\ln3. Then the derivative is 2x/[(ln⁡3)(x2+4)]2x/[(\ln3)(x^2+4)]. The Teacher’s filled change-of-base and chain steps are retained. Since x2+4>0x^2+4>0, the formula is valid for all real xx.

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Common mistakes

For a base-a exponential keep ln a; for a base-a logarithm divide by ln a and preserve a positive argument.

Solution notes

Printed asks and complete working compared with both source copies. No printed marks or past-paper attribution. Domain explanations independently authored where the source leaves them implicit.

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