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If continuity is like playing a song without any pauses, then differentiability means that there are no high pitches and sudden jumps in tone, just silky smooth transitions. Finding the derivatives of exponential and logarithmic functions is an important aspect of calculus. In exercise 5.4 of the chapter Continuity and Differentiability, we explore different methods to easily differentiate functions involving exponential and logarithmic functions. This article on the NCERT Solutions for exercise 5.4, class 12 maths chapter 5 - Continuity and Differentiability, offers an easy-to-understand and step-by-step solution for the problems present in the exercise, so that students will get a better understanding of the methods and logic. For syllabus, notes, and PDF, refer to this link: NCERT
Question:1. Differentiate the following w.r.t. x:
Answer:
Given function is
$f(x)=\frac{e ^x }{\sin x }$
We differentiate with the help of Quotient rule
$f^{'}(x) = \frac{\frac{d(e^x)}{dx} \cdot \sin x - e^x \cdot \frac{d(\sin x)}{dx}}{\sin^2 x} = \frac{e^x \cdot \sin x - e^x \cdot \cos x}{\sin^2 x} = \frac{e^x(\sin x - \cos x)}{\sin^2 x}$
Therefore, the answer is $\frac{e^x(\sin x-\cos x)}{\sin^2x}$
Question:2. Differentiate the following w.r.t. x:
Answer:
Given function is
$f(x)=e ^{\sin ^{-1}x}$
Let $g(x)={\sin ^{-1}x}$
Then,
$f(x)=e^{g(x)}$
Now, differentiation w.r.t. x
$f^{'}(x)=g^{'}(x).e^{g(x)}$ -(i)
$g(x) = \sin^{-1}x \Rightarrow g^{'}(x ) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}$
Put this value in our equation (i)
$f^{'}(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}.e^{\sin^{-1}x} = \frac{e^{\sin^{-1}x}}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}$
Question:3. Differentiate the following w.r.t. x:
Answer:
Given function is
$f(x)=e ^{x^3}$
Let $g(x)=x^3$
Then,
$f(x)=e^{g(x)}$
Now, differentiation w.r.t. x
$f^{'}(x)=g^{'}(x).e^{g(x)}$ -(i)
$g(x) = x^3 \Rightarrow g'(x) = 3x^2$
Put this value in our equation (i)
$f^{'}(x) =3x^2.e^{x^3}$
Therefore, the answer is $3x^2.e^{x^3}$
Question:4. Differentiate the following w.r.t. x:
$\sin ( \tan ^ { -1} e ^{-x })$
Answer:
Given function is
$f(x)=\sin ( \tan ^ { -1} e ^{-x })$
Let's take $g(x ) = \tan^{-1}e^{-x}$
Now, our function reduces to
$f(x) = \sin(g(x))$
Now,
$f^{'}(x) = g^{'}(x)\cos(g(x))$ -(i)
And
$g(x)=\tan^{-1}e^{-x}\\\Rightarrow g^{'}(x) = \frac{d(\tan^{-1}e^{-x})}{dx}.\frac{d(e^{-x})}{dx}= \frac{1}{1+(e^{-x})^2}.-e^{-x} = \frac{-e^{-x}}{1+e^{-2x}}$
Put this value in our equation (i)
$f^{'}(x) =\frac{-e^{-x}}{1+e^{-2x}}\cos(\tan^{-1}e^{-x})$
Therefore, the answer is $\frac{-e^{-x}}{1+e^{-2x}}\cos(\tan^{-1}e^{-x})$
Question:5. Differentiate the following w.r.t. x:
Answer:
Given function is
$f(x)=\log (\cos e ^x )$
Let's take $g(x ) = \cos e^{x}$
Now, our function reduces to
$f(x) = \log(g(x))$
Now,
$f^{'}(x) = g^{'}(x).\frac{1}{g(x)}$ -(i)
And
$g(x)=\cos e^{x}\\\Rightarrow g^{'}(x) = \frac{d(\cos e^{x})}{dx}.\frac{d(e^{x})}{dx}= (-\sin e^x).e^{x} = -e^x.\sin e^x$
Put this value in our equation (i)
$f^{'}(x) =-e^x.\sin e^x.\frac{1}{\cos e^x} = -e^x.\tan e^x \ \ \ \ \ (\because \frac{\sin x}{\cos x}=\tan x)$
Therefore, the answer is $-e^x.\tan e^x,\ \ \ e^x\neq (2n+1)\frac{\pi}{2},\ \ n\in N$
Question:6. Differentiate the following w.r.t. x:
$e ^x + e ^{x^2} + .....e ^{x^5}$
Answer:
Given function is
$f(x)= e ^x + e ^{x^2} + .....e ^{x^5}$
Now, differentiation w.r.t. x is
$f^{'}(x)= \frac{d(e^x)}{dx}.\frac{d(x)}{dx}+\frac{d(e^{x^2})}{dx}.\frac{d(x^2)}{dx}+\frac{d(e^{x^3})}{dx}.\frac{d(x^3)}{dx}+\frac{d(e^{x^4})}{dx}.\frac{d(x^4)}{dx}+\frac{d(e^{x^5})}{dx}.\frac{d(x^5)}{dx}$
$=e^x.1+e^{x^2}.2x+e^{x^3}.3x^2+e^{x^4}.4x^3+e^{x^5}.5x^4$
$=e^x+2xe^{x^2}+3x^2e^{x^3}+4x^3e^{x^4}+5x^4e^{x^5}$
Therefore, answer is $e^x+2xe^{x^2}+3x^2e^{x^3}+4x^3e^{x^4}+5x^4e^{x^5}$
Question:7. Differentiate the following w.r.t. x:
$\sqrt { e ^{ \sqrt x }} , x > 0$
Answer:
Given function is
$f(x)=\sqrt { e ^{ \sqrt x }}$
Lets take $g(x ) = \sqrt x$
Now, our function reduces to
$f(x) = \sqrt {e^{g(x)}}$
Now,
$f^{'}(x) = g^{'}(x) \cdot \frac{1}{2\sqrt{e^{g(x)}}} \cdot \frac{d\left(e^{g(x)}\right)}{dx} = g^{'}(x) \cdot \frac{1}{2\sqrt{e^{g(x)}}} \cdot e^{g(x)} = \frac{g^{'}(x) \cdot e^{g(x)}}{2\sqrt{e^{g(x)}}} = \frac{g^{'}(x) \cdot e^{\sqrt{x}}}{2\sqrt{e^{\sqrt{x}}}} \text{ -(i)}$
And
$g(x)=\sqrt x\\\Rightarrow g^{'}(x) = \frac{(\sqrt x)}{dx}=\frac{1}{2\sqrt x}$
Put this value in our equation (i)
$f^{'}(x) = \frac{e^{\sqrt{x}}}{2\sqrt{x} \cdot 2\sqrt{e^{\sqrt{x}}}} = \frac{e^{\sqrt{x}}}{4\sqrt{x e^{\sqrt{x}}}}$
Therefore, the answer is $\frac{e^{\sqrt x}}{4\sqrt{xe^{\sqrt x}}}.\ \ x>0$
Question:8 Differentiate the following w.r.t. x: $\log ( \log x ) , x > 1$
Answer:
Given function is
$f(x)=\log ( \log x )$
Lets take $g(x ) = \log x$
Now, our function reduces to
$f(x) = \log(g(x))$
Now,
$f^{'}(x) = g^{'}(x).\frac{1}{g(x)}$ -(i)
And
$g(x)=\log x\\\Rightarrow g^{'}(x) = \frac{1}{x}$
Put this value in our equation (i)
$f^{'}(x) =\frac{1}{x}.\frac{1}{\log x} = \frac{1}{x\log x}$
Therefore, the answer is $\frac{1}{x\log x}, \ \ x>1$
Question:9. Differentiate the following w.r.t. x:
$\frac{\cos x }{\log x} , x > 0$
Answer:
Given function is
$f(x)=\frac{\cos x }{\log x}$
We differentiate with the help of Quotient rule
$f^{'}(x)=\frac{\frac{d(\cos x)}{dx}.\log x-\cos x.\frac{(\log x)}{dx} }{(\log x)^2 }$
$=\frac{(-\sin x).\log x-\cos x.\frac{1}{x} }{(\log x)^2 } = \frac{-(x\sin x\log x+\cos x)}{x(\log x)^2}$
Therefore, the answer is $\frac{-(x\sin x\log x+\cos x)}{x(\log x)^2}$
Question:10. Differentiate the following w.r.t. x:
$\cos ( log x + e ^x ) , x > 0$
Answer:
Given function is
$f(x)=\cos ( log x + e ^x )$
Lets take $g(x) = ( log x + e ^x )$
Then , our function reduces to
$f(x) = \cos (g(x))$
Now, differentiation w.r.t. x is
$f'(x) = g'(x)(-\sin(g(x))) \tag{i}$
And
$g(x) = ( log x + e ^x )$
$g^{'}(x)= \frac{d(\log x)}{dx}+\frac{d(e^x)}{dx} = \frac{1}{x}+e^x$
Put this value in our equation (i)
$f^{'}(x) = -\left ( \frac{1}{x}+e^x \right )\sin (\log x+e^x)$
Therefore, the answer is $-\left ( \frac{1}{x}+e^x \right )\sin (\log x+e^x), x>0$
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The main topics covered in Chapter 5 of continuity and differentiability, exercises 5.4 are:
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Below are some useful links for subject-wise NCERT solutions for class 12.
Here are some links to subject-wise solutions for the NCERT exemplar class 12.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The derivative of e^x is e^x.
The derivative of log(x) is 1/x.
The derivative of sin(x) is cos(x).
The derivative of cos(x) is -sin(x).
The derivative of sin(x^2) is 2x cos(x^2).
NCERT textbook is the best book for CBSE board exams which you should follow. You don't need any additional books for the CBSE board exams.
A total of 10 questions are there in exercise 5.4 CBSE Class 12 Maths. For more questions students can refer to the NCERT exemplar questions.
The derivative of tan (x) is sec^2(x).
On Question asked by student community
Hi Manish,
Here is the link of question paper
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-class-12-english-question-paper-2025
Hi Aradhana
Here is the link of Question Paper
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-class-12-supplementary-question-paper-2026
Hello Dear Student,
If you've passed Class 10 from CBSE and don't remember your registration number , you can retrieve it using one of these methods:
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Yes, if you have passed Class 12 but wish to improve your Mathematics marks, you can apply for the CBSE Improvement Examination, subject to the eligibility criteria and registration schedule notified by CBSE. Please keep checking the official CBSE website for the latest notification regarding registration dates and examination
Hello Ananya,
Please specify the class for which you need the question papers. I am providing Class 10 and 12 papers.
Here are the links to the CBSE Half-yearly Question Papers (2025-2026).
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