Indices & Logarithms

Logarithm and Exponentials

Indices & Logarithms
Multiplication of Exponential Numbers
In general,
Write each of the following in another way by using exponents.
a m ⋅ a n = a m+n
(ab)(ab)(ab)
–a.a.a.a Division of Exponential Numbers
4.a.b.4.b.a.a.a
In general ,
am
Evaluate each of the following :
n
= a m −n
(a) -34 a
(b) (-3)4
(c) 2(1.1)3

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Definition of Logarithms Definition of Logarithms

3
If a number X = ay, where a is positive and a≠1, the index y For example, 2 =8
is called the logarithm of the number X to the base a. In
symbol, y = logaX.
log28 = 3

N.B. logaX is undefined only for positive values of X

34 = 81
log381 = 4

When the base a is not stated in logaX,

it may be assumed a = 10.

This is called the common logarithm.

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Definition of Logarithms Properties of

Logarithms
For example, log 1000 = log101000
=3 log a a = 1
log a 1 = 0
log 0.01 = -2
log a MN = log a M + log a N
(10-2 = = 0.01)
M
log a = log a M − log a N
N
log a X n = n log a X

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e2 xe x
e.g. 1 Simplify (a) −3x
(b ) e 4 x − ( e 2 x + 1) 2
e
y = ex
y y = ex
30

25

20

(1) e x e y = e x + y (5) e x → ∞ as x → ∞ 15

x 10
e
(2) = e x− y (6) e x → 0 as x → −∞
y 5
e 1
x r rx x
(3) ( e ) = e (7) e > 0 for all x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
x

(4) e 0 = 1 (a) e6 x (b ) − 2e2 x − 1

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 Applications : Laws of growth and decay
(B) Decay Curve
(A)Growth curve
y y
A
y = Ae kx , k>0

y = Ae − kx , k>0

0 x x
0

e.g. Change of electrical resistance (R) with temp. θ −

t
e.g. Discharge of a capacitor q (t ) = Qe CR
Rθ = R0 eαθ

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Logarithmic Functions
Properties of ln x
If N = a x then x = log a N , where a > 1 . (1) ln A + ln B = ln( AB ) (5) ln x → ∞ as x → ∞
The number a is called the base of the logarithm. ⎛ A⎞
(2) ln A − ln B = ln ⎜ ⎟ ( 6 ) ln x → −∞ as x → 0
e.g. Q 16 = 2 4 , ∴ log 2 16 = 4 ⎝ B ⎠
(3) ln A n = n ln A ( 7 ) domain = (0 , ∞ )
Q 125 = 53 , ∴ log 5 125 = 3
(4) ln 1 = 0 ( 8 ) range = ( −∞ , ∞ )

Q 0 .01 = 10 − 2 , ∴ log 10 0 .01 = -2 y y = ln x

In particular, 1
1 2 3 4 5
x
If N = 10 then x = log N (common logarithm )
x 0
-1
-2
If N = e then x = ln N
x
(natural logarithm )
-3

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e.g.3 The decay of current in an inductive circuit is given by

Solving equations −t
i = 50 e − 0.1t t≥0
2 .58 = ln ⎛⎜
4.92 ⎞
e.g.2 Solve (a) 5 = 3e − 2 x (b) 36 = 72 (1 − e 3 ) (c) ⎟ Find (a) the current when t=0;
⎝ x ⎠
(b) the value of the current when t=3;
(c) the time when the value of the current is 15.

a) –2x = ln(5/3) ⇒ x = -0.26 a) 50

b) 37.04
b) –t/3 = ln (1- 36/72) ⇒ t = 2.08
c) 15 = 50⇒ -0.1t = ln(15/50) i.e. t = 12
2.58
c) x = 4.92 / e = 0.37
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 Tutorial 1b
(Exponential and logarithmic functions)

1. Simplify the following expressions:

(a) log a x 5  log a x 3
1
(b) 2 log a x  3 log a ( )
x
(c) log( x y )  log( xy 2 )  2 log x
3

1
(d) log 2 ( )
4

2. Solve the following equations:

(a) e x  e  x  5
(b) e x  e  x  3
(c) ln( x 2 )  ln( 2 x 4 )  16
(d) 6  x  20

3. The charge q in a capacitor at time t is given by q  q 0 e t , where  is a constant and

1
q 0 is the initial charge. When t = 20, q  q 0 . Find the time at which
2
1
(a) q  q 0 ;
8
1
(b) q  q 0 .
10

Answers:
1. (a) 2logax (b) 5logax (c) log(x2y3) (d) = -2
2. (a) 1.65 (b) 0.96 (c) 12.82 (d) –1.67
3. (a) 60 (b) 66.44

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