Logarithms

The logarithmic function to the base a, where a > 0 and a  1

is defined:

y = logax if and only if x = a y

logarithmic
form exponential
form
When you convert an exponential to log form, notice that the
exponent in the exponential becomes what the log is equal to.

Convert to log form: 16  4 2 log 416  2

Convert to exponential form:
31
1
log 2  3 2 
8 8
 You must be able to convert an
exponential equation into
logarithmic form and vice versa.

So let’s get a lot of practice with this !

 Example 1:

Write 2  8 in logarithmic form.

3

Solution: log2 8  3

We read this as: ”the log base

2 of 8 is equal to 3”.
 Example 1a:

Write 4  16 in logarithmic form.

2

Solution: log4 16  2

Read as: “the log base

4 of 16 is equal to 2”.
 Example 1b:

1
Write 2 
3
in logarithmic form.
8
1
Solution: log2   3
8

1
Read as: "the log base 2 of is equal to -3".
8
 Okay, so now it’s time for
you to try some on your
own.

1. Write 7  49 in logarithmic form

2

Solution: log 7 49  2
2. Write 5  1 in logarithmic form.
0

Solution: log5 1  0
 1

2
3. Write 10 in logarithmic form.
100

1
Solution: log10  2
100
 1

4. Finally, write 16  4
2

in logarithmic form.

1
Solution: log16 4 
2
 It is also very important to be
able to start with a logarithmic
expression and change this into
exponential form.

This is simply the reverse of

what we just did.
 Example 1:

Write log3 81  4 in exp onential form

3  81
4
Solution:
 Example 2:
1
Write log2   3 in exp onential form.
8
Solution: 1

3
2
8
 Okay, now you try these next three.

1. Write log10 100  2 in exp onential form.

1
2. Write log5   3 in exp onential form.
125

1
3. Write log27 3  in exp onential form.
3
1. Write log10 100  2 in exp onential form.

Solution: 10  100
2
 1
2. Write log5   3 in exp onential form.
125

3 1
Solution: 5 
125
 1
3. Write log27 3  in exp onential form.
3

1
Solution: 27  3
3
When working with logarithms,
if ever you get “stuck”, try
rewriting the problem in
exponential form.

Conversely, when working

with exponential expressions,
if ever you get “stuck”, try
rewriting the problem
in logarithmic form.
Logarithmic Abbreviations
 log10 x = log x (Common log)
 loge x = ln x (Natural log)
 e = 2.71828...
 A commonly used base is base 10.
A log to this base is called a common log.
Since it is common, if we don't write in the base on a log
it is understood to be base 10.

log 100  2
What exponent do you put
on 10 to get 100?
1
log  3 What exponent do you put
on 10 to get 1/1000?
1000
This common log is used for things like the richter
scale for earthquakes and decibles for sound.
Your calculator knows how to find common logs.
Locate the log button on your calculator. Notice that it
is the same key that has 10x above it. Again, the
calculator lists functions and inverses using the same
key but one of them needing the 2nd (or inv) button.
 Remember our natural base “e”?
We can use that base on a log.

log e 2.7182828  1 What exponent do you put

on e to get 2.7182828?
ln
Since the log with this base occurs
ln 2.7182828  1 in nature frequently, it is called the
natural log and is abbreviated ln.

Your calculator knows how to find natural logs. Locate

the ln button on your calculator. Notice that it is the
same key that has ex above it. The calculator lists
functions and inverses using the same key but one of
them needing the 2nd (or inv) button.
Laws of logarithms


Same
base
Laws of logarithms






 Review - Properties of
Logarithms

CONDENSED = EXPANDED

log a MN  = log a M  log a N

1.

2. M
log a = log a M  log a N
N
3. r
log a M = r log a M

(these properties are based on rules of

exponents since logs = exponents)
Using the log properties, write the expression as a
sum and/or difference of logs (expand).
 4
 ab 4
  ab 
log 6    log 6  2 
  3 
 c 
3 2
 c 
When working with logs, re-write any radicals as rational
exponents. 2
using the second property: log 6 ab  log 6 c 3
4
M
log a  log a M  log a N 2
N
using the first property: log 6 a  log 6 b  log 6 c
4 3

log a MN  log a M  log a N

2
using the third property: log 6 a  4 log 6 b  log 6 c
log a M r  r log a M 3
 Using the log properties, write the
expression as a single logarithm
1 (condense).
2 log 3 x  log 3 y
2
1
using the third property: log 3 x  log 3 y
2 2
log a M r  r log a M
this direction

2
x
using the second property: log 3 1
M
log a  log a M  log a N y 2
N
this direction
 Expanding Logarithms
 You can use the properties to expand logarithms.

 log2 7 x 3
=
y
 log27x3 - log2y =
 log27 + log2x3 – log2y =

 log27 + 3·log2x – log2y

 Your turn!
 Expand:
 log 5mn =
 log 5 + log m + log n

 Expand:
 log5 8x
= 3

 log58 + 3·log5x
 Condensing Logarithms
 log 6 + 2 log2 – log 3 =
 log 6 + log 2 – log 3 =
2

 log (6·2 ) – log 3 =

2

62 2
 log =
3

 log 8
Write the following expression as a single logarithm.
 Your turn again!

 Condense:
 log57 + 3·log5t =
 log57t3
 Condense:
 3log2x – (log24 + log2y)=
3
x
 log2
4y
More Properties of Logarithms
This one says if you have an equation, you can take
the log of both sides and the equality still holds.

If M  N , then log a M  log a N

If log a M  log a N , then M  N

This one says if you have an equation and each side

has a log of the same base, you know the "stuff" you
are taking the logs of are equal.
Change of Base Formula
 The 2 bases we are most able to calculate
logarithms for are base 10 and base e. These are
the only bases that our calculators have buttons
for.
 For ease of computing a logarithm, we may want
to switch from one base to another.
log a M
log b M 
log a b
 The new base, a, can be any integer>1, but we
often let a=10 or a=e. (We know how to calculate
common logs and natural logs!)
 Change of base formula:
 u, b, and c are positive numbers with b≠1 and c≠1. Then:
log b u
 logcu =
log b c

 logcu = log u (base 10)

log c

 logcu =
ln u (base e)
ln c
 Use the Change-of-Base Formula and a calculator to
approximate the logarithm. Round your answer to
three decimal places.

log 3 16
Since 32 = 9 and 33 = 27, our answer of what
exponent to put on 3 to get it to equal 16 will
be something between 2 and 3.
log 16
log 3 16   2.524
log 3
put in
calculator
 Example
Find log6 8 using common logarithms.

Solution: First, we let a = 10, b = 6, and

M = 8. Then we substitute into the
change-of-base formula:

log a M log10 8
log b M  . log 6 8 
log a b log10 6
 1.1606
Example
 We can also use base e for a conversion.

Find log6 8 using natural logarithms.

Solution: Substituting e for a, 6 for b
and 8 for M, we have
log e 8
log 6 8 
log e 6
ln 8
  1.1606
ln 6
 Compute
 What is the log, base 5, of 29?
ln(29) 3.37
log 5 (29)    2.09
ln(5) 1.61

 Does this answer make sense? What power

would you raise 5 to, to get 29? A little more than
2! (5 squared is 25, so we would expect the
answer to be slightly more than 2.)
Examples:
 Use the change of base to evaluate:
 log37 =
•(base e)
 (base 10)
•ln 7 ≈
 log 7 ≈ •ln 3
 log 3 •1.771
 1.771
 log 2 (8)  undefined WHY?

One easy explanation is to simply rewrite this

logarithm in exponential form.
We’ll then see why a negative value is not
permitted.

log 2 (8)  y First, we write the problem with a variable.

2 8
y
Now take it out of the logarithmic form
and write it in exponential form.
What power of 2 would gives us -8 ?
1
2  8 and 2 
3 3

8
Hence expressions of this type are undefined.
Evaluating and
Solving
 Example 1
Solve for x: log 6 x  2

Solution:
Let’s rewrite the problem
in exponential form.

6 x
2

We’re finished !
 Example 2
1
Solve for y: log5 y
25
Solution: Rewrite the problem in
exponential form.
1  1  2 
5 
y Since   5 
25 
25
5 5
y 2

y  2
 Example 3

Evaluate log3 27.

Solution: Try setting this up like this:

log3 27  y Now rewrite in exponential form.

3  27
y

3 3
y 3

y3
 Example 4

2
Evaluate: log7 7

Solution:
log7 7  y
2
First, we write the problem with a variable.

7 7
y 2 Now take it out of the logarithmic form
and write it in exponential form.

y2
 Example 5

log 4 16
Evaluate: 4
Solution:
y
log 4 16
4 First, we write the problem with a variable.

Now take it out of the exponential form

log4 y  log4 16 and write it in logarithmic form.

y  16 Just like 2  8 converts to log2 8  3

3
 Example 6
Sometimes it is easier to solve a logarithmic
equation than an exponential one

 Example 7


 Example 9

Solve: log8 (x 14)  log8 (5x)

2

Solution:
Since the bases are both ‘8’ we simply set the arguments equal.

x  14  5x
2

x  5x 14  0
2
Factor
(x  7)(x  2)  0
(x  7)  0 or (x  2)  0
x  7 or x  2 continued on the next page
 Example 9 continued

Solve: log8 (x 14)  log8 (5x)

2

Solution:
x  7 or x  2

It appears that we have 2 solutions here.

If we take a closer look at the definition of a logarithm however, we
will see that not only must we use positive bases, but also we see that
the arguments must be positive as well. Therefore -2 is not a solution.
Let’s end this lesson by taking a closer look at this.
 Example 8

Solve: log3 (4x 10)  log3 (x 1)

Solution: Since the bases are both ‘3’ we simply set the
arguments equal.

4x 10  x 1
3x 10  1
3x   9
x3
Remember to check your solution.
 Example 10

Remember to check your solution.

 Example 11
The secret to solving log equations is to re-write the
log equation in exponential form and then solve.

log 2 2 x  1  3 Convert this to exponential form

check:
2  2x 1
3
 7 
log 2  2   1  3
8  2x 1  2 
7  2x log 2 8  3
7
x This is true since 23 = 8
2
 Example 12
SOLVE
log 4 ( x  3)  log 4 (5 x  1)  3
 x3 
log 4  3
 5x 1 
x3
4 
3

5x 1
x3
64 
5x 1
64(5 x  1)  x  3
320 x  64  x  3
320 x  x  3  64
319 x  67
67
x  .21
319
Source
https://www.slideshare.net/jessicagarcia6
2/logarithms-and-logarithmic-functions-
4772196
https://www.slideshare.net/swartzje/loga
rithmic-functions-31293288
https://www.slideshare.net/jessicagarcia6
2/properties-of-logarithms
https://www.slideshare.net/siking26/loga
rithms-11019206