What is the derivative of f(x) = ln(sin^2(x))?

1 Answer
Nov 25, 2015

d/dxln(sin^2(x)) = 2cot(x)

Explanation:

We will use the following:
The chain rule
d/dxf(g(x)) = f'(g(x)g'(x)

d/dxln(x) = 1/x

d/dx x^n = nx^(n-1)

d/dx sin(x) = cos(x)

Now, as the function given is a logarithm of a power of the sine function, we will apply the chain rule twice:

d/dxln(sin^2(x)) = 1/(sin^2(x))*(d/dxsin^2(x))

=> d/dxln(sin^2(x)) = 1/(sin^2(x))* 2sin(x)*(d/dx sin(x))

=> d/dxln(sin^2(x)) = (2sin(x))/(sin^2(x))cos(x) = (2cos(x))/sin(x)=2cot(x)