If x = yb, then y = logb (x)

As seen from the above, this is a logarithmic expression, which many of us might
have come across in our academic curriculum. But what does the above expression
mean? It means, if y, raised to b = x, then the logarithmic value of x to the base b
should be equal to y. This is one of the fundamental properties of logarithms. The
logarithm of x, to a base b, is written as logb (x), where x is the number, base is b and
y is an exponent. Substitute numbers in the above expression, say x = 100 and base b
is 10, so the value of y is 2. Hope this simple example has helped you understand
what the expression of logarithm means. Now, before we understand more about
properties of logarithms, let's take a quick glimpse at its history and its uses.

Logarithms were first invented by John Napier (in 1614) and Joost Burgi (in 1620).
The purpose of this aspect of Mathematics, was to simplify very complicated
mathematical expressions. Napier has an algebraic approach towards this subject
whereas, Burgi's approach was geometric. Then mathematicians like John Wallis (in
1685) and Johann Bernoulli (in 1694), came up with the idea of defining logarithms
as exponents. And today, be it any field, finance or astronomy, logarithms have a
major role to play in problem solving of knotty mathematical equations. So ready to
learn some interesting properties of logarithms? Read on!

Properties of Natural Logarithms

The definition of a common logarithm is can be expressed as, y = logax, which holds
true only if, x = ay and a > 0. So when we say log (x), the base is implicitly 10,
implying log(x) = log10x. However, if the base is an irrational constant which is
approximately 2.718281828, then the expression is rewritten as ln (x) ~ logex. This
logarithm is often referred to as a natural logarithm. Natural logarithms are defined
for all positive real numbers x, for an area defined under a curve y (covered from 1/t
to 1/x). For real variables, this is also considered as real value function, and is often
known as the inverse function of exponential functions. Some of the properties of
logarithms, for this kind are listed below (for two variables x and y, with base e):

1. ln (xy) = ln x + ln y
2. ln (x/y) = ln x – ln y
3. ln xy = y ln x
4. ln ex = x
5. eln x = x
6. ln e = 1
7. ln 1 = 0
8. ln (1/x) = - ln (x)

Properties of a normal logarithm are same as the above, except the base is 10 for the
normal one. Just scroll through the below:

1. loga xy = logax + logay

2. loga (x/y) = logax - logay
3. logaxy = y * logax
4. logaa = 1
5. loga1 = 0

Now let's see what the inverse properties of logarithms have to say.

Inverse Properties of Logarithms

Consider a positive real number, a which is not equal to 1 and is expressed as ax = b.
Here, x can be defined as a logarithm of b, to base a. The expression becomes logab =
x, where x = logab is the logarithmic form and ax = b is the exponential form. Now,
the inverse logarithm properties are based on this expression.

• logaax = x
• alogax = x

So when evaluating this, consider that the exponential function is defined as:

f(x), where f(x) = ax

So the inverse logarithmic expression for the above would be: f-1(x) = logax

The general form inverse algorithm can be written as the below:

• f(f-1(x)) = f(logax) = alogax

• f-1(f(x)) = logaax (i.e. f(f-1(x)) = x)

Here, let me state an example:

Question:
Determine an inverse log function of f(x) = log (x+4)

Answer:
As per the inverse inverse properties of logarithms, f(f-1(x)) = x.
So,

f(f-1 (x+5)) = log (f-1(x) + 5) = x

=> 10x = f-1(x) + 5
=> f-1(x) = 10x - 5

Hope this article, on properties of logarithms was informative. Logarithms are an

essential aspect of Mathematics, which help in solving a lot of complex equations on
a big scale. Precisely, wherever exponentials are involved, logarithms have a stellar
role to play. Many complex algebraic equations are solved via logarithms, using a
scientific calculator. Not just in Math, but this feature of Math is used in other
subjects as well, like Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Astronomy. Even many
computer based algorithms use logarithms to solve major difficult mathematical
equations. So now that you know the importance of this subject, study and understand
the properties well and apply wherever it is required. Good luck!

By Narayani Karthik
Published: 9/21/2010