LOGARITHMS

The logarithm of a number, say A, is the power, say x, to which the base is
raised, say b, to produce a number. That is, if logb A = x then bx = A. In
other words, logarithms provide an alternate way of writing an exponent.
For example: log2 8 = 3 is equivalent to 23 = 8

EXAMPLE: Without the use of a calculator, evaluate the following:

1. log3 9

SOLUTION:
Now, let y = log

y 3
9 so this implies that 9y = 3
Therefore, 3 2 =3
2y
3 =3
Hence, 2y = 1
Therefore, y = 21

2. log 1000

SOLUTION:
Similarly, we let y = log 1000
So, we have 10y = 1000
Now, 10y = 103
Hence, y = 3

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 RULES GOVERNING LOGARITHMS
For a > 0, and b > 0, we have:

1. logx ab = logx a + logx b

a
2. logx b
= logx a − logx b

3. logx (a)b = logx ab

EXAMPLE: Rewrite the following expressions as a single logarithm:

1. log2 5 + 3 log2 x
= log2 5 + log2 x3
= log2 5x3

2. 3 ln x − 2 ln 2x
= ln x3 − ln (2x)2
= ln x3 − ln 4x2
x3
= ln 4x 2
= ln x4

EXAMPLE: Rewrite the following as a sum or difference of logarithms:

1. log x2 − 4

= log [(x − 2) (x + 2)]

= log (x − 2) + log (x + 2)

OTHER RULES GOVERNING LOGARITHMS

If a, x > 0:

1. loga a = 1

2. loga 1 = 0
1
3. loga x = − loga x

CHANGING FROM ONE BASE TO ANOTHER

If we are given a logarithm in base a, denoted:

loga x

we can transform the above logarithm into base b using the following formula

2
 logb x
logb a

PROOF:
Let loga x = y
=> ay = x
=> logb (ay ) = logb x
=> y logb a = logb x
=> y = log bx
log a
b

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 EQUATING LOGARITHMS
If we obtain logb X = logb Y , this implies that X=Y. An example of this
is seen below:

EXAMPLE: Find the value of x in the equation:

log5 (x + 18) + log5 (x − 6) = log5 x2

SOLUTION:

log5 [(x + 18) (x − 6)] = 2 log5 x

(x + 18) (x − 6) = x2
x2 + 12x − 108 = x2
12x = 108
x = 108
12 = 9

EXAMPLE: Find the real values of x that satisfy the problems below:

1. 25 (3x ) = 50
3x = 5025
log 3x = log 2
x = log 2
log 3

2. 52x − 3 (5x ) + 2 = 0
First, we let y = 5x and we obtain: y 2 − 3y + 2 = 0
(y − 2) (y − 1) = 0
y = 2 or y = 1
5x = 2 or 5x = 1
log 2
x = log 5 or x = 0

”‘Excessive fear and self doubt are the the greatest detractors of personal
genius”

- Robert Kiyosaki