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mathematics-physics-wiki/docs/en/mathematics/calculus/transcendental-functions/exponential-and-logarithmic-functions.md

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# Exponential and logarithmic functions
## The natural logarithm
The natural logarithm is defined as having its derivative equal to $\frac{1}{x}$. For $x > 0$, then
$$
\frac{d}{dx} \ln x = \frac{1}{x}.
$$
### Standard limit
$$
\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{\ln (1+h)}{h} = 1
$$
## The exponential function
The exponential function is defined as the inverse of the natural logarithm
$$
\ln e^x = x.
$$
Furthermore $e$ may be defined by,
$$
\begin{array}{ll}
\lim_{n \to \infty} (1 + \frac{1}{n})^n = e, \\
\lim_{n \to \infty} (1 + \frac{x}{n})^n = e^x.
\end{array}
$$
### Derivative of exponential function
The derivative of $y = e^x$ may be calculated by [implicit differentation](../differentation.md#implicit-differentation):
$$
\begin{array}{ll}
y = e^x &\implies x = \ln y, \\
&\implies 1 = \frac{1}{y} \frac{dy}{dx}, \\
&\implies \frac{dy}{dx} = y = e^x.
\end{array}
$$
### Standard limit
$$
\lim_{h \to 0} \frac{e^h - 1}{h} = 1
$$