Lesson Video: Differentiation of Exponential Functions Mathematics • Third Year of Secondary School

Video Transcript

In this video, we’ll learn how to find the derivative of exponential functions. We’ll begin by stating the formula for the derivative of an exponential function in the form 𝑓 of 𝑥 equals 𝑒 to the 𝑥 and 𝑒 to the 𝑘𝑥, before applying this formula to examples of increasing complexity. We’ll also see how we can use the laws of exponentials and logarithms to find the derivative of general exponential functions.

Remember, an exponential function is one of the form 𝑓 of 𝑥 equals 𝑎𝑏 to the power of 𝑥, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constants and 𝑏 is greater than zero. We’re actually first going to consider the derivative of a special form of this, the exponential function 𝑓 of 𝑥 equals 𝑒 to the 𝑥 and 𝑓 of 𝑥 equals 𝑒 to the 𝑘𝑥. Now a common misconception is to think that we can apply the power rule to these exponential functions. In fact, the power rule only applies when the exponent is fixed and the bases are variable.

In the exponential functions, the base is fixed and the exponent is the variable. So we’ll instead need to use a separate formula for the derivative of an exponential function, though the derivation of this formula is achievable if you know how to differentiate the inverse of 𝑒 to the 𝑥 or ln 𝑥. And it can also be achieved through first principles. But it is outside of the constraints of this video to look at all of these. So instead, we’ll state the formula for the derivative of 𝑒 to the power of 𝑥 and 𝑒 to the power of 𝑘𝑥.

The derivative of 𝑒 to the power of 𝑥 with respect to 𝑥 is 𝑒 to the power of 𝑥. And this formula can be generalized. And we can say that the derivative of 𝑒 to the power of 𝑘𝑥 with respect to 𝑥 is 𝑘𝑒 to the 𝑘𝑥. Now, the function 𝑓 of 𝑥 equals 𝑒 to the 𝑥 is incredibly unusual. Its derivative is the same as the original function. Geometrically, this means that, for every value of 𝑥, the slope or the gradient of the tangent to the curve at that point is equal to the 𝑦-value. For example, when 𝑥 is equal to two, 𝑦 is equal to 𝑒 to the power of two, which is approximately 7.39. Since the derivative of 𝑒 to the power of 𝑥 is 𝑒 to the power of 𝑥, this means that the gradient of the tangent to the curve at that point is also 7.39. Let’s have a look at an example of the application of these formulae.

If 𝑓 of 𝑥 is equal to negative five 𝑒 to the negative nine 𝑥, find 𝑓 dash of 𝑥. Find the derivative of the function.

Remember, the derivative of 𝑒 to the power of 𝑥 is 𝑒 to the power of 𝑥. And the derivative of 𝑒 to the power of 𝑘𝑥 is 𝑘𝑒 to the 𝑘𝑥. Now, our function is some multiple of 𝑒 to the 𝑘𝑥. It’s negative five times 𝑒 to the 𝑘𝑥, where 𝑘 is equal to negative nine. Now, we know that the constant factor rule allows us to take constants outside a derivative and concentrate on differentiating the function of 𝑥 itself. So this means we can say that the derivative of the function of 𝑥 is equal to negative five times the derivative of 𝑒 to the negative nine 𝑥. And we know that the derivative of 𝑒 to the negative nine 𝑥 is negative nine times 𝑒 to the negative nine 𝑥. And since negative five multiplied by negative nine is 45, we can say that the derivative of our function is 45𝑒 to the negative nine 𝑥.

Let’s consider another example.

Find d𝑦 by d𝑥 if five 𝑦𝑒 to the two 𝑥 equals seven 𝑒 to the five.

Now, at first glance, this does look a little complicated. However, we can clearly see that we can rearrange the equation to make 𝑦 the subject. We’re going to divide both sides of the equation by five 𝑒 to the two 𝑥. On the left-hand side, that leaves us simply with 𝑦. And on the right-hand side, we have seven 𝑒 to the power of five over five 𝑒 to the two 𝑥. Now, actually, one over 𝑒 to the power of two 𝑥 is equal to 𝑒 to the negative two 𝑥. So we can rewrite our equation. And we say that 𝑦 is equal to seven 𝑒 to the power of five over five times 𝑒 to the negative two 𝑥.

Notice that seven 𝑒 to the five over five is just a constant. So we can differentiate this using the general formula for the derivative of the exponential function. The derivative of 𝑒 to the 𝑘𝑥 with respect to 𝑥 is 𝑘𝑒 to the 𝑘𝑥. And of course, remembering that the constant factor rule allows us to take constants outside a derivative and concentrate on differentiating the function of 𝑥 itself.

In other words, d𝑦 by d𝑥 is equal to seven 𝑒 to the power of five over five times the derivative of 𝑒 to the negative two 𝑥 with respect to 𝑥. And the derivative of 𝑒 to the negative two 𝑥 with respect to 𝑥 is negative two 𝑒 to the negative two 𝑥. This means d𝑦 by d𝑥 is negative two times seven 𝑒 to the power of five over five times 𝑒 to the negative two 𝑥.

Notice that the derivative can actually be expressed in terms of 𝑦 since we said that 𝑦 was equal to seven 𝑒 to the power of five over five times 𝑒 to the negative two 𝑥. And we can therefore say that d𝑦 by d𝑥 is equal to negative two 𝑦.

Next, we consider a slightly more complex example, in which we’ll need to apply other rules for differentiation.

Find the derivative of the function 𝑓 of 𝑧 equals negative three 𝑒 to the four 𝑧 over four 𝑧 plus one.

Here we have a function of a function or a composite function. This tells us we’re going to need to apply the chain rule. This says that the derivative of 𝑓 of 𝑔 of 𝑥 is equal to the derivative of 𝑓 of 𝑔 of 𝑥 multiplied by the derivative of 𝑔 of 𝑥. Alternatively, we can say that if 𝑦 is equal to this composite function, 𝑓 of 𝑔 of 𝑥, then if we let 𝑢 be equal to 𝑔 of 𝑥, then 𝑦 is equal to 𝑓 of 𝑢. And this means we can say that the derivative of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑥 is equal to the derivative of 𝑦 with respect to 𝑢 multiplied by the derivative of 𝑢 with respect to 𝑥.

In this example, we say that 𝑦 is equal to negative three times 𝑒 to the power of 𝑢, where 𝑢 is equal to four 𝑧 over four 𝑧 plus one. And since we’re going to be differentiating with respect to 𝑧, we alter the formula slightly. And we say that d𝑦 by d𝑧 is equal to d𝑦 by d𝑢 times d𝑢 by d𝑧. So we’re going to need to work out d𝑦 by d𝑢 and d𝑢 by d𝑧. d𝑦 by d𝑢 is a fairly easy one to differentiate. We know that the derivative of 𝑒 to the power of 𝑢 is 𝑒 to the power of 𝑢. So the derivative of negative three 𝑒 to the power of 𝑢 is negative three 𝑒 to the power of 𝑢. And then, we can replace 𝑢 with four 𝑧 over four 𝑧 plus one to get negative three 𝑒 to the four 𝑧 over four 𝑧 plus one. But what about the derivative of four 𝑧 over four 𝑧 plus one?

Well, here, we need to use the quotient rule. This says that the derivative of 𝑓 of 𝑥 over 𝑔 of 𝑥 is equal to the function 𝑔 of 𝑥 times the derivative of 𝑓 of 𝑥 minus the function 𝑓 of 𝑥 times the derivative of 𝑔 of 𝑥. And that’s all over 𝑔 of 𝑥 squared. We change 𝑓 of 𝑥 to 𝑓 of 𝑧 and 𝑔 of 𝑥 to 𝑔 of 𝑧. Then, the derivative of the numerator of our fraction is four. And the derivative of the denominator of our fraction is also four. So the equivalent to 𝑔 of 𝑧 times the derivative of 𝑓 of 𝑧 is four 𝑧 plus one times four. And the equivalent to 𝑓 of 𝑧 times the derivative of 𝑔 of 𝑧 is four 𝑧 times four. And that’s all over the denominator squared. That’s four 𝑧 plus one squared. Now, distributing the parentheses and we simply end up with four on the numerator of this fraction. So d𝑢 by d𝑧 is equal to four over four 𝑧 plus one squared.

Let’s now substitute everything we have into the formula for the chain rule. d𝑦 by d𝑢 times d𝑢 by d𝑧 is negative three 𝑒 to the four 𝑧 over four 𝑧 plus one times four over four 𝑧 plus one squared. And if we simplify, we see that the derivative of our function is negative 12𝑒 to the four 𝑧 over four 𝑧 plus one all over four 𝑧 plus one squared.

Our next example will lead us into a definition for the derivative of an exponential equation in the form 𝑎𝑏 to the power of 𝑥.

If 𝑦 is equal to negative three times two to the power of 𝑥, determine d𝑦 by d𝑥.

To answer this question, we’ll first recall the fact that the constant factor rule allows us to take constants outside of a derivative and concentrate on differentiating the function of 𝑥 itself. We can therefore say that d𝑦 by d𝑥 is equal to negative three times the derivative of two to the power of 𝑥 with respect to 𝑥. But how do we differentiate two to the power of 𝑥? Well, we’re going to use the laws of logarithms and exponentials.

We start by saying that two is the same as 𝑒 to the power of ln two. And remember, this is true because 𝑒 and ln are inverse functions of one another. Next, we raise both sides of this equation to the power of 𝑥 and use the laws of exponents to say that two to the power of 𝑥 is equal to 𝑒 to the power of ln two times 𝑥. Well, ln two is just a constant. So we use the fact that the derivative of 𝑒 to the 𝑘𝑥 is 𝑘𝑒 to the 𝑘𝑥. And we can say that the derivative of two to the power of 𝑥 is ln two times 𝑒 to the ln two 𝑥. This means that d𝑦 by d𝑥 is equal to negative three multiplied by ln two times 𝑒 to the ln two 𝑥.

Now, remember, we actually defined two to the power of 𝑥 to be 𝑒 to the ln two 𝑥. So we replace 𝑒 to the ln two 𝑥 with two to the power of 𝑥. And we see that d𝑦 by d𝑥 in this case is negative three times ln two times two to the power of 𝑥.

Now, we can generalize the result from the previous example. And we can say that the derivative of an exponential function of the form 𝑏 to the power of 𝑥 is ln 𝑏 times 𝑏 to the power of 𝑥. And we can generalize that somewhat. And we say that the derivative of 𝑏 to the power of 𝑘𝑥 is equal to 𝑘 times ln of 𝑏 times 𝑏 to the power of 𝑘𝑥. And whilst it’s very useful to learn this formula by heart, it’s also important that you’re able to follow the process that we took before for finding them. Let’s look at the application of these formulae.

Find the first derivative of the function 𝑦 equals seven to the power of negative nine 𝑥 minus eight all to the power of negative two.

To find the derivative of this function, we’ll first want to see if there’s a way in which we can simplify it somewhat. In fact, we can use the laws of exponents to do so. Remember, 𝑎 to the power of 𝑚 to the power of 𝑛 is equal to 𝑎 to the power of 𝑚 times 𝑛. So we can say that seven to the power of negative nine 𝑥 minus eight all to the power of negative two is the same as seven to the power of 18𝑥 plus 16. We then use another law of exponents. This time, 𝑎 to the power of 𝑚 times 𝑎 to the power of 𝑛 is the same as 𝑎 to the power of 𝑚 plus 𝑛. So 𝑦 must be equal to seven to the power of 18𝑥 times seven to the power of 16.

Now, seven to the power of 16 is a constant. So we can say that the first derivative of our function d𝑦 by d𝑥 is equal to seven to the power of 16 times the derivative of seven to the power of 18𝑥 with respect to 𝑥. And here, we use the fact that the derivative of 𝑏 to the power of 𝑘𝑥 with respect to 𝑥 is equal to 𝑘 times ln of 𝑏 times 𝑏 to the power of 𝑘𝑥. And this means the derivative of seven to the power of 18𝑥 is 18 times ln of seven times seven to the power of 18𝑥.

Now, once again, we’ll use the fact that 𝑎 to the power of 𝑚 times 𝑎 to the power of 𝑛 is the same as 𝑎 to the power of 𝑚 plus 𝑛. And we can rewrite seven to the power of 16 times seven to the power of 18𝑥 as seven to the power of 18𝑥 plus 16. And this means the first derivative of our function is 18 times ln seven times seven to the power of 18𝑥 plus 16. In our final example, we’ll look at a worded problem involving the derivatives of exponentials.

The radioactive decay of Radon-222 is modeled by the following formula. 𝑁 of 𝑡 equals 𝑁 nought times a half to the power of 𝑡 over 𝑡 half, where 𝑁 of 𝑡 is the remaining quantity, in grams, of Radon-222 which has not decayed after 𝑡 days. 𝑁 nought is the initial quantity of Radon-222. And 𝑡 half is its half-life. A particular sample initially contained 10 grams of Radon-222. Given that the half-life of Radon-222 is 3.8215 days, find the rate of decay of the sample 10 days later. Give your answer to three significant figures.

Remember, rate of change or, here rate of decay, will always correspond to the gradient function or the derivative. To answer this question then, we’re going to need to differentiate the function 𝑁 nought times a half to the power of 𝑡 over 𝑡 half with respect to 𝑡. Now, this may look a little tricky. However, 𝑁 nought is a constant as is 𝑡 half. And we use the fact that the derivative of 𝑏 to the 𝑘𝑥 is 𝑘 times ln 𝑏 times 𝑏 to the 𝑘𝑥. And we can say that the derivative of 𝑁 with respect to 𝑡 is equal to 𝑁 nought times one over 𝑡 half, since in our equation that’s the equivalent of 𝑘, times ln of a half, since in our equation 𝑏 is a half, times a half to the power of 𝑡 over 𝑡 half.

Now, we rewrite ln of a half and say that that’s the same as ln of two to the power of negative one. And we use the laws of logarithms. And we see that ln of a half is the same as negative one times ln two or just negative ln two. And so we can rewrite our expression a little. Now, since a particular sample initially contained 10 grams of Radon-222, we can say that 𝑁 nought must be equal to 10. We know that 𝑡 half is equal to 3.8215. And we’re looking to find the rate of decay when 𝑡 is equal to 10. So we’ll substitute all of these into our equation for the derivative. And we get 10 over 3.8215 times negative ln two times a half to the power of 10 over 3.8215. And that gives us a value of negative 0.2957.

But what does this actually mean with respect to our question? Well, correct to three significant figures, the rate of change is equal to negative 0.296. Now, since this is negative, it means the sample is decaying at a rate of 0.296 grams per day.

In this video, we’ve seen that the derivative of 𝑒 to the power of 𝑥 is 𝑒 to the power of 𝑥. And we’ve seen that this can be generalized. And we can say that the derivative of 𝑒 to the power of 𝑘𝑥 is equal to 𝑘 times 𝑒 to the power of 𝑘𝑥. We also saw that we can differentiate 𝑏 to the power of 𝑥 with respect to 𝑥 to get ln 𝑏 times 𝑏 to the power of 𝑥. And we generalize that to say that the derivative of 𝑏 to the power of 𝑘𝑥 is equal to 𝑘 times ln 𝑏 times 𝑏 to the power of 𝑘𝑥. We also saw that it can be useful to simplify or manipulate expressions using the rules of exponents before differentiating. And we said that it’s important not to confuse the power rule and the rule for differentiating exponential functions.