Log Review

1. (a) Let logc 3 = p and logc 5 = q. Find an expression in terms of p and q for

(i) log c 15;

(ii) log c 25.

1
(b) Find the value of d if log d 6 = .
2
(Total 6 marks)

2. Let a = log x, b = log y, and c = log z.

 x2 y 
Write log  3  in terms of a, b and c.
 z 
 

(Total 6 marks)

3. Let ln a = p, ln b = q. Write the following expressions in terms of p and q.

(a) ln a3b

 a
(b) ln  
 b 
 
(Total 6 marks)

4. Solve log2x + log2(x – 2) = 3, for x > 2.

(Total 7 marks)

5. The mass m kg of a radio-active substance at time t hours is given by

m = 4e–0.2t.

(a) Write down the initial mass.

(b) The mass is reduced to 1.5 kg. How long does this take?

(Total 6 marks)

IB Questionbank Maths SL 1
 2x
6. Solve the equation 9x–1 =  1  .
3

(Total 4 marks)

1
7. Solve the equation log9 81 + log9 + log9 3 = log9 x.
9

(Total 4 marks)

8. A city is concerned about pollution, and decides to look at the number of people using taxis. At
the end of the year 2000, there were 280 taxis in the city. After n years the number of taxis, T, in
the city is given by

T = 280  1.12n.

(a) (i) Find the number of taxis in the city at the end of 2005.

(ii) Find the year in which the number of taxis is double the number of taxis there were
at the end of 2000.
(6)

(b) At the end of 2000 there were 25 600 people in the city who used taxis. After n years the
number of people, P, in the city who used taxis is given by

2 560 000
P= .
10  90e – 0.1n

(i) Find the value of P at the end of 2005, giving your answer to the nearest whole
number.

(ii) After seven complete years, will the value of P be double its value at the end of
2000? Justify your answer.
(6)

(c) Let R be the ratio of the number of people using taxis in the city to the number of taxis.
The city will reduce the number of taxis if R  70.

(i) Find the value of R at the end of 2000.

(ii) After how many complete years will the city first reduce the number of taxis?
(5)
(Total 17 marks)

IB Questionbank Maths SL 2
Answers
1. (a) (i) logc 15 = logc 3 + logc 5 (A1)
=p+q A1 N2
(ii) logc 25 = 2 logc 5 (A1)
= 2q A1 N2

(b) METHOD 1
1
d 2 6 M1
d = 36 A1 N1
METHOD 2
For changing base M1
log 10 6 1
eg  , 2 log10 6  log 10 d
log 10 d 2
d = 36 A1 N1
[6]

2. METHOD 1
log x 2  2log x (A1)

1
log y  log y (A1)
2
log z 3  3log z (A1)

1
2log x  log y  3log z (A1)(A1)
2
1
2 a  b  3c (A1) (C6)
2

METHOD 2
b
x 2  102 a , y  10 2 , z 3  103c (A1)(A1)(A1)
b
 2a 
 x2 y  10  10 2
log10  3   log10   (A1)
 z   103 c 
   
 

 2 a  b 3 c   b 
 log10  10 2    2a   3c  (A2)
   2 
[6]

IB Questionbank Maths SL 3
3. (a) ln a3b = 3ln a + ln b (A1)(A1)
3
ln a b = 3p + q A1 N3

a 1
(b) ln  ln a  ln b (A1)(A1)
b 2
a 1
ln  pq A1 N3
b 2
[6]

4. recognizing log a + log b = log ab (seen anywhere) (A1)

e.g. log2(x(x – 2)), x2 – 2x
recognizing loga b = x  ax = b (seen anywhere) (A1)
e.g. 23 = 8
correct simplification A1
e.g. x(x – 2) = 23, x2 – 2x – 8
evidence of correct approach to solve (M1)
e.g. factorizing, quadratic formula
correct working A1
2  36
e.g. (x – 4)(x + 2),
2
x=4 A2 N3
[7]

5. (a) Initial mass  t = 0 (A1)

mass = 4 (A1) (C2)

(b) 1.5 = 4e–0.2t (or 0.375 = e–0.2t) (M2)

ln 0.375 = –0.2t (M1)
t = 4.90 hours (A1) (C4)
[6]

2x
x–1 1
6. 9 = 
 3
32x–2 = 3–2x (M1) (A1)
2x – 2 = –2x (A1)
1
x= (A1) (C4)
2
[4]

IB Questionbank Maths SL 4
7. METHOD 1
1 1
log9 81 + log9   + log9 3 = 2 – 1 + (M1)
9 2
3
 = log9 x (A1)
2
3
 x = 92 (M1)
 x = 27 (A1) (C4)

METHOD 2
1  1 
log 81 + log9   + log9 3 = log9 81 3 (M2)
9  9 
= log9 27 (A1)
 x = 27 (A1) (C4)
[4]

8. (a) (i) n=5 (A1)

T = 280  1.125
T = 493 A1 N2
(ii) evidence of doubling (A1)
e.g. 560
setting up equation A1
e.g. 280  1.12n = 560, 1.12n = 2
n = 6.116... (A1)
in the year 2007 A1 N3

2 560 000
(b) (i) P (A1)
10  90 e  0.15 
P = 39 635.993... (A1)
P = 39 636 A1 N3

2 560 000
(ii) P
10  90 e  0.17 
P = 46 806.997... A1
not doubled A1 N0
valid reason for their answer R1
e.g. P < 51200

IB Questionbank Maths SL 5
 (c) (i) correct value A2 N2
25600
e.g. , 91.4 , 640: 7
280
(ii) setting up an inequality (accept an equation, or reversed
inequality) M1
P 2 560 000
e.g .  70 ,  70
T  
10  90e  0.1n 280 1.12 n
finding the value 9.31.... (A1)
after 10 years A1 N2
[17]

IB Questionbank Maths SL 6