1.2.4 Logarithmic DifferentiationOne would like to extend the product rule for more than two functions. This can be achieved with LogarithmicDifferentiation. Suppose you want to find the derivative ofy(x) =A(x)B(x)C(x)D(x) (1.5)You could apply the product rule many times, or take the logarithm of both sides first:ln(y(x)) =ln(A(x)) +ln(B(x)) +ln(C(x)) +ln(D(x)) (1.6)where a simple property of the logarithm has been used. Now, taking the derivative of both sides yields1y(x)dydx=1A(x)dAdx+1B(x)dBdx+1C(x)dCdx+1D(x)dDdx(1.7)Finally, multiplying both sides byy(x) yieldsdydx=B(x)C(x)D(x)dAdx+A(x)C(x)D(x)dBdx+A(x)B(x)D(x)dCdx+A(x)B(x)C(x)dDdx(1.8)Calculus Review by A. A. Tovar, Ph. D., Created Jan. 2009, notAmended.3Of course, if one is so inclined, one could generalize the results. Ify(x) is writteny(x) =NYi=1Ai(x)(1.9)thendydx=NXj=11Aj(x)dAj(x)dxNYi=1Ai(x) (1.10)1.2.5 Pascals TriangleConsider Pascals Triangle:Each of the numbers are obtained by adding the two adjacent numbers in the row above it. For example,10 is below its adjacent 4 and 6.The rows of Pascals Triangle represent the binomial coefficients, so that(a+b)3=1a3b0+3a2b1+3a1b2+1a0b3(1.11)or more simply(a+b)3=a3+ 3a2b
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