differential equations for $x^x$

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In this entry, we will derive differential equations satisfied by the function $x^x$.
\footnote{In this entry, we restrict $x$, and hence $x^x$ to be strictly positive
real numbers, hence it is justified to divide by these quantities.}
We begin by computing its derivative.  To do this, we write $x^x = e^{x \log x}$ and
apply the chain rule:
${d \over dx} x^x = {d \over dx} e^{x \log x} = e^{x \log x} (1 + \log x) = x^x (1 + \log x)$
Set $y = x^x$.  Then we have $y'/y = 1 + \log x$.  Taking
another derivative, we have
${d \over dx} \left( {y' \over y} \right) = {1 \over x} \cdot$
Applying the quotient rule and simplifying, this becomes
$yy'' - (y')^2 - y^2/x = 0 .$
It is also possible to derive an equation in which $x$ does not appear.
We start by noting that, if $z = 1/x$, then $z' + z^2 = 0$.  If, as
above, $y = x^x$, we have $(d/dx) (y'/y) = z$.  Combining equations,
${d^2 \over dx^2} \left( {y' \over y} \right) + \left( {d \over dx} \left( {y' \over y} \right) \right)^2 = 0 ;$
applying the quotient rule and simplifying,
$y^3 y''' - y^2 (y'')^2 + 2 y (y')^2 y'' - 3 y^2 y' y'' - (y')^4 + 2 y (y')^3 = 0 .$
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