Logarithm

January 22, 2021

1 Logarithm funtion
1.1 Knowledge and useful technique
• Definition, domain, range, graph, monotone
• Operation: addition, subtraction
( )
log b log b log a −1
• loga b = log c a . Particularly, loga b = log c a = logc b = (logb a)−1 , or loga b ∗ logb a = 1
c c c
n
• logam bn = m loga b. Particularly, when m = n, logam bm = loga b
• (loga b)(logc d) = (loga d)(logc b)
• Common forms of equations with logarithm/power functions
– af (x) = b ⇔ f (x) = log b
– loga f (x) = b ⇔ f (x) = ab
– af (x) = ag(x) ⇔ f (x) = g(x)
– loga f (x) = loga g(x) ⇔ f (x) = g(x)
– af (x) = bg(x) ⇔ f (x) logm a = g(x) logm b
loga g(x)
– loga f (x) = logb g(x) ⇔ loga f (x) = log
ab
• In practice, when we have an equation with logarithm functions of different bases, we can try
to add in a new variable as follows
– Given loga f (x) = logb g(x), let loga f (x) = logb g(x) = k, and then we have f (x) = ak
and g(x) = bk . We can then further work on the equation array for solutions.
– Sometime we may have logf (x) a = logg(x) b. We could also try to set it to logf (x) a =
logg(x) b = k. So a = (f (x))k and b = (g(x))k

1.2 Some examples

Example 1: polynomial equations camouflaged as logarithm equations
Solve log6 (x + 2) + log6 (x + 3) = 1 for x
Solution: log6 (x + 2) + log6 (x + 3) = 1 ⇒ log6 [(x + 2)(x + 3)] = 1 ⇒ (x + 2)(x + 3) = 61 ⇒ x = 0
or x = −5. However, x + 2 and x + 3 must be greater than 0. So the solution is x = 0
Note: it is important to validate the results using the original equations, as the domains may have
changed when equations are transformed.
Example 2: Represent a term with given quantities
Find log3 10 in terms of x = log3 4 and y = log5 3
Solution: log3 10 = log3 2 + log3 5 = 1/2 ∗ log3 4 + 1/ log5 3 = x/2 + 1/y

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Note: One can also try to write all the known quantities as a logarithm term with the same base,
and may add some nuiance variables if needed. For example, y = log5 3 ⇒ z = log3 5 = 1/y.
Then using all these terms with same bases to solve the problem. Specifically, try to express the
quantity in problem in terms of given/known quantities to certain degrees of power. E.g., we have
10 in the question, and 4 and 5 in the known quantities (x and z). Since 10 = 41/2 ∗ 5, we have
log3 10 = log3 41/2 + log3 5 = 1/2 ∗ log3 4 + log3 5 = x/2 + z = x/2 + 1/y.
Example 3: One of common forms equations mentioned in the previous section
√
Given that log4n 40 3 = log3n 45. Find n3
√ √
Solution: Let log4n 40 3 = log3n 45 = k. We have 40 3 = (4n)k and 45 = (3n)k . Get ratios for
these two latter equations: we have
√ √ ( )k
40 3 (4n)k 8 3 4
= ⇒ = ⇔ 23 ∗ 3−3/2 = (22 ∗ 3−1 )k ⇒ k = 3/2
45 (3n)k 9 3
Substitute this into 45 = (3n)k , we will have
45 = (3n)3/2 ⇒ 452 = (3n)3 ⇒ n3 = 45 ∗ 45/33 = 5 ∗ 15 = 75

Note: By setting the equation equal to a new (nuiance) variable, we actually avoid to use the
base-changing formula, which may not be direct for many situations.
Example 4: Suppose that p and q are positive numbers for which log9 p = log12 q = log16 (p + q).
What is the value of q/p?
Solution: Let t = q/p > 0 and log9 p = log12 q = log16 (p + q) = k. So we have q = tp, p = 9k ,
q = tp = 12k , p + √q = (1 + t)p = 16k . So t = (4/3)k and 1 + t = (16/9)k = (4/3)2k . Hence
t2 = 1 + t ⇒ t = 1+2 5 , as t > 0.
Note: Since the question asks for a ratio, we may try to work on the ratio directly, instead of solving
for the unknowns first and obtaining the ratio afterwards.
√
Example 5: What is the value of log2 6 + log3 6? (2020, 12B, Q13)
√ 2
Solution: log2 6+log3 6 = 1+log
√ 2 3+log3 2+1 = 2+log2 3+log3 2. Notice that log2 3 = ( log2 3)
2
and log3 2 = 1/ log2 3 = 1/( log2 3) . We have
√ √ √ √
log2 6 + log3 6 = 2 + log2 3 + log3 2 = 2 + ( log2 3)2 + 1/( log2 3)2 = ( log2 3 + 1/ log2 3)2
√ √ √ √ √
Thus log2 6 + log3 6 = log2 3 + 1/ log2 3 = log2 3 + log3 2.
Note: When two logarithm terms with base a and b for values b and a appear together, the relationship
loga b ∗ logb a = 1 may be considered.

1.3 Summary
Some of commonly used knowledge and problem solution techniques
log b
• loga b = log c a
c
• loga b ∗ logb a = 1
n
• logam bn = m loga b
• (loga b)(logc d) = (loga d)(logc b)
• Given loga f (x) = logb g(x), let loga f (x) = logb g(x) = k, and then we have f (x) = ak and
g(x) = bk . We can then further work on the equation array for solutions.

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1.4 Exercise
These questions are from AMC 12.
1. Positive real numbers x ̸= 1 and y ̸= 1 satisfy log2 x = logy 16 and xy = 64. What is (log2 xy )2 ?
(2019, 12A, Q12)
25 45
(A) 2 (B) 20 (C) 2 (D) 25 (E) 32
√ √ √ √
2. Positive real numbers a and b have the property that log a + log b + log a + log b =
100 and and all four terms on the left are positive integers, where log denotes the base-10
logarithm. What is ab? (2019, 12A, Q15)
(A) 1052 (B) 10100 (C) 10144 (D) 10164 (E) 10200
3. What is the value of log3 7 · log5 9 · log7 11 · log9 13 · · · log21 25 · log23 27? (2018, 12B, Q7)
(A) 3 (B) 3 log7 23 (C) 6 (D) 9 (E) 10
4. The solutions to the equation log3x 4 = log2x 8, where x is a positive real number other than
1 1 p
3 or 2 , can be written as q where p and q are relatively prime positive integers. What is
p + q? (2018, 12A, Q14)
(A) 5 (B) 13 (C) 17 (D) 31 (E) 35
5. Real numbers x and y are chosen independently and uniformly at random from the interval
(0, 1). What is the probability that [log2 x] = [log2 y]? (2017, AMC12B, Q20)
1 1 1 1 1
(A) 8 (B) 6 (C) 4 (D) 3 (E) 2

6. How many ordered pairs (a, b) such that a is a positive real number and b is an integer between
2 and 200, inclusive, satisfy the equation (logb a)2017 = logb (a2017 )? (2017, AMC12A, Q20)
(A) 198 (B) 199 (C) 398 (D) 399 (E) 597

1.4.1 Brief solutions

1. Let t = x/y and log2 x = k. Thus we need to find log2 t. We will have x = ty, x =
ty = 2k , y k = 16, ty 2 = 64. Taking logarithm of base 2, log2 t + log2 y = k, k ∗ log √2 y =
4, log2 t + 2 log2 y = 6. Thus log2 y = 6 − k, √ 2 k = 3 ± 5 and
√ k log2 y = 4. Solve equations,
t√= k − log √2 y = k − (6 − k) = 2k
√ − 6 = ±2 5.√ Thus the result
√ is (±2 5) = 20
√
2. log a + log b + log a + log b = 100 ⇔ ( log a + 1)2 + ( log b + 1)2 = 202. With the
square root terms being integers, via simple calculations, we find (m, n) = (8, 10) or (10, 8).
Both will give a result of 10164
3. Use base-changing formula
4. Let log3x 4 = log2x 8 = k. We have (3x)k = 4 and (2x)k = 8. With 8 = 43/2 , (3x)( k ∗ 3/2) =
(2x)k . Taking k-th root, (3x)3/2 = 2x ⇒ x = 4/27 = p/q. Thus p + q = 31.
5. In order to have the equality, we need to have 2−(k+1) ≤ x, y < 2−k , where k = 0, 1, ....
This is a series of squares with sides being 1/2, 1/4, .... The sum of ares of these squares is
1/4
1/4 + 1/16 + ... = 1−1/4 = 1/3.
6. Let logb a = x. From (logb a)2017 = logb (a2017 ), we have x2017 = 2017x ⇒ x =
0, ±(2017)1/2016 . Each of these three values will result in 199 pairs of a and b. Thus the
result is 199 ∗ 3 = 597.