How do you find the derivative of (cos x)^(sin x)?

1 Answer

y' = (cos x)^{sin x} cdot [cos x cdot ln( cos x) + cos x - sec x]

Explanation:

a^b = exp ln a^b = exp (b ln a)

y = exp(sinx cdot ln( cos x))

frac{dy}{dx} = exp(sinx cdot ln( cos x)) cdot \frac{d}{dx} (sinx cdot ln( cos x))

= (cos x)^{sin x} cdot [\frac{d}{dx} (sinx) cdot ln( cos x) + sin x cdot frac{d}{dx} (ln (cos x))]

= (cos x)^{sin x} cdot [cos x cdot ln( cos x) + sin x cdot \frac{1}{cos x} cdot frac{d}{dx} (cos x)]

= (cos x)^{sin x} cdot [cos x cdot ln( cos x) - \frac{sin^2 x}{cos x}]

= (cos x)^{sin x} cdot [cos x cdot ln( cos x) + \frac{cos^2 x - 1}{cos x}]