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Q.(b) Differentiate the following function with respect to x : (π‘π‘œπ‘  π‘₯)π‘₯; (whereπ‘₯ ∈ (0, πœ‹ 2)).

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βœ“ Free question

To differentiate (cos⁑x)x( \cos x )^x for x∈(0,Ο€/2)x \in (0, \pi/2), we use logarithmic differentiation because the variable appears in both the base and the exponent. The derivative is dydx=(cos⁑x)x(log⁑(cos⁑x)βˆ’xtan⁑x)\frac{dy}{dx} = (\cos x)^x \left( \log(\cos x) - x \tan x \right).

The key insight: when you see a function where the variable is both in the base and the exponent β€” like (cos⁑x)x(\cos x)^x β€” the standard power rule or exponential rule alone won't work. You need logarithmic differentiation. This technique converts the problem into a product, which we can differentiate using the chain rule and product rule together.

Here’s why it works: taking the natural logarithm of both sides brings the exponent down as a coefficient, turning y=(cos⁑x)xy = (\cos x)^x into log⁑y=xlog⁑(cos⁑x)\log y = x \log(\cos x). Now the right side is a product of xx and log⁑(cos⁑x)\log(\cos x), which is straightforward to differentiate. The left side differentiates to 1ydydx\frac{1}{y} \frac{dy}{dx} by the chain rule, and we then multiply through by yy to isolate the derivative.

Let’s go step by step.

  1. Set up the function and take logs Let y=(cos⁑x)xy = (\cos x)^x, where x∈(0,Ο€/2)x \in (0, \pi/2) so cos⁑x>0\cos x > 0 and the log is defined. Take the natural logarithm of both sides:

log⁑y=log⁑((cos⁑x)x)=xlog⁑(cos⁑x).\log y = \log \left( (\cos x)^x \right) = x \log(\cos x).

  1. Differentiate both sides with respect to xx On the left, by the chain rule:

ddx(log⁑y)=1yβ‹…dydx.\frac{d}{dx} (\log y) = \frac{1}{y} \cdot \frac{dy}{dx}.

On the right, we have a product xβ‹…log⁑(cos⁑x)x \cdot \log(\cos x). Use the product rule:

ddx[xlog⁑(cos⁑x)]=1β‹…log⁑(cos⁑x)+xβ‹…ddx[log⁑(cos⁑x)].\frac{d}{dx} \left[ x \log(\cos x) \right] = 1 \cdot \log(\cos x) + x \cdot \frac{d}{dx} \left[ \log(\cos x) \right].

Now ddxlog⁑(cos⁑x)=1cos⁑xβ‹…(βˆ’sin⁑x)=βˆ’tan⁑x\frac{d}{dx} \log(\cos x) = \frac{1}{\cos x} \cdot (-\sin x) = -\tan x.

So the right-hand derivative becomes:

log⁑(cos⁑x)+xβ‹…(βˆ’tan⁑x)=log⁑(cos⁑x)βˆ’xtan⁑x.\log(\cos x) + x \cdot (-\tan x) = \log(\cos x) - x \tan x.

  1. Equate and solve for dydx\frac{dy}{dx} We have:

1ydydx=log⁑(cos⁑x)βˆ’xtan⁑x.\frac{1}{y} \frac{dy}{dx} = \log(\cos x) - x \tan x.

Multiply both sides by yy:

dydx=y(log⁑(cos⁑x)βˆ’xtan⁑x).\frac{dy}{dx} = y \left( \log(\cos x) - x \tan x \right).

  1. Substitute back y=(cos⁑x)xy = (\cos x)^x

dydx=(cos⁑x)x(log⁑(cos⁑x)βˆ’xtan⁑x).\frac{dy}{dx} = (\cos x)^x \left( \log(\cos x) - x \tan x \right).

Watch out

A common mistake is to treat (cos⁑x)x(\cos x)^x as a power function (like xnx^n) and write x(cos⁑x)xβˆ’1β‹…(βˆ’sin⁑x)x (\cos x)^{x-1} \cdot (-\sin x), or as an exponential (like axa^x) and write (cos⁑x)xlog⁑(cos⁑x)(\cos x)^x \log(\cos x). Both are wrong because the base and exponent both vary with xx. Logarithmic differentiation is the only correct path here.

Tip

Notice that the derivative contains the original function (cos⁑x)x(\cos x)^x as a factor. This always happens with logarithmic differentiation β€” the derivative of f(x)g(x)f(x)^{g(x)} is f(x)g(x)[gβ€²(x)log⁑f(x)+g(x)fβ€²(x)f(x)]f(x)^{g(x)} \left[ g'(x) \log f(x) + g(x) \frac{f'(x)}{f(x)} \right]. Memorising this pattern can save time, but understanding the log-diff derivation is safer.

βœ“Final answer

The derivative is (cos⁑x)x(log⁑(cos⁑x)βˆ’xtan⁑x)\boxed{(\cos x)^x \left( \log(\cos x) - x \tan x \right)}.

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