LOGARITHMS

Objective:

To convert from exponential form to

logarithmic form and vice versa.

To evaluate logarithms.

Combine logarithms.
Problem.
How will you solve exponential equations such as:

10𝑥 = 3

2𝑥+2 = 7𝑥

when you cannot express both sides using a

common base?

Solution: Use LOGARITHMS

 What is a logarithm?
We know that
2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16
4

24 = 16

Logarithm is a quantity representing the power to

which a fixed number (the base) must be raised to
produce a given number.
Logarithm is the same as exponent.
 What is a logarithm?
We know that
2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16
4

24 = 16

In the example above, we multiply 2 four times to

get 16. Therefore, the logarithm of 16 base 2 is 4.

𝑙𝑜𝑔2 16 = 4
Relationship between
Exponential and Logarithm
Generally,
𝑏𝑥 = 𝑦 (exponential)
is the same as
𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑦 (logarithmic)

Read as “𝑥 is the logarithm of 𝑦 base 𝑏” or

“𝑥 is the logarithm to the base 𝑏 of 𝑦”
“𝑥 is the exponent of 𝑏 to get 𝑦”
 Convert from exponential to
logarithm or vice versa.
1. 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 27 = 3 9. 43 = 64
2. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 32 = 𝑥 10. 112 = 121
3. 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑥 4 = 2 11. 0.5−2 = 4
4. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 16 = (𝑥 − 1) 12. 𝑥2 = 1
5. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥 = 6 13. 3𝑥+2 = 6
6. 𝑙𝑜𝑔4 𝑥 − 1 = 3 𝑥2
14. 5 = 2
7. 𝑙𝑜𝑔0.5 8 = 2𝑥 15. 10𝑥 = 0.1
8. 𝑙𝑜𝑔(𝑥−1) 2 = 0.5 16. 7𝑙𝑜𝑔7 1 = 1
 Answers.

1. 33 = 27 9. 3 = log 4 64
2. 2𝑥 = 32 10. 2 = log11 121
3. 𝑥2 = 4 11. −2 = log 0.5 4
4. 2𝑥−1 = 16 12. 2 = log 𝑋 1
5. 26 = 𝑥 13. 𝑥 + 2 = log 3 6
6. 43 = 𝑥 − 1 14. 𝑥 2 = log 5 2
7. 0.52𝑥 = 8 15. 𝑥 = log10 0.1
8. (𝑥 − 1)0.5 = 2 16. log 7 1 = log 7 1
Laws (Rules) of Logarithms
let b ∈ 𝑅 where 𝑏 > 0 and 𝑏 ≠ 1

1. log 𝑏 1 = 0
2. log 𝑏 𝑏 = 1
3. log 𝑏 𝑏 𝑘 =𝑘
4. 𝑏 log𝑏 𝑘 =𝑘
Evaluate the following logarithms.
Do not use a calculator.
1. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 16 9. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 2
2. 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 81 10. 𝑙𝑜𝑔4 42
3. 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 625 11. 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 53
4. 𝑙𝑜𝑔0.5 2
12. 𝑙𝑜𝑔4 0.25
5. 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 1
13. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 2
6. 𝑙𝑜𝑔4 64
1 14. 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 100
7. 𝑙𝑜𝑔32
32 15. 𝑙𝑜𝑔0.1 100
1
8. 𝑙𝑜𝑔7 16. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 2𝑥+5
49
Key

1. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 16 = 4 9. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 2 = 1
2. 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 81 = 4 10. 𝑙𝑜𝑔4 42 = 2
3. 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 625 = 4 11. 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 53 = 3
4. 𝑙𝑜𝑔0.5 2 = −1 12. 𝑙𝑜𝑔4 0.25 = −1
5. 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 1 = 0
13. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 2 = 1/2
6. 𝑙𝑜𝑔4 64 = 3
1
14. 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 100 = 2
7. 𝑙𝑜𝑔32 = −1 15. 𝑙𝑜𝑔0.1 100 = −2
32
1
8. 𝑙𝑜𝑔7 = −2 16. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 2𝑥+5 = 𝑥 + 5
49
Common Logarithms
Logarithm to the base 10.
𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝑥 is the same as 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥
When the base is not indicated, it implies base 10.
The table of values below shows the powers of 10 and the
corresponding logarithms:
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝒙 ….. 𝟏 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 …..
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎
log 𝒙 ….. −𝟑 −𝟐 −𝟏 𝟎 𝟏 𝟐 𝟑 …..

log 1 = _______ 0 log 10 = ______ 1

Natural Logarithms
Logarithm to the base ℯ (Euler’s number).
Named after a Swiss mathematician, Leonhard Euler, 𝑒
is an irrational number which is approximately
2.71828182845904
It is called the “natural base” because of its technical
considerations in calculus.
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 𝑥 is the same as 𝑙𝑛 𝑥
“𝑙𝑛” indicates logarithm to the base 𝑒.
0
ln 1 = _______ ln 𝑒 = ______1
Evaluate the following logarithms.
Do not use a calculator.
1. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 100,000 9. 𝑙𝑛 𝑒
2. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10−4 10. 𝑙𝑛 𝑒 2
11. 𝑙𝑛 𝑒 𝑒
3. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 1
3
4. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 12. 𝑙𝑛
𝑒
3 1
5. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 100 13. 𝑙𝑛
𝑒2
6. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 1 14. 𝑙𝑛 𝑒
7. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 15. 𝑙𝑛 1
8. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑙𝑜𝑔 1010 16. 𝑙𝑛 𝑙𝑛 𝑒
 Key

1. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 100,000 = 5 9. 𝑙𝑛 𝑒 = 1
2. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10−4 = −4 10. 𝑙𝑛 𝑒 2 = 2
3. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 = 1/2 11. 𝑙𝑛 𝑒 𝑒 = 𝑒
3 1
4. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 = 1/3 12. 𝑙𝑛 = −1
𝑒
3 1
5. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 100 = 2/3 13. 𝑙𝑛 = −2
𝑒2
6. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 1 = 0 14. 𝑙𝑛 𝑒 = 1/2
7. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10 = 0 15. 𝑙𝑛 1 = 0
8. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑙𝑜𝑔 1010 = 1 16. 𝑙𝑛 𝑙𝑛 𝑒 = 0
LAWS OF

LOGARITHMS
Objective:

To combine logarithms.

To solve simple exponential and

logarithmic equations using the
laws of logarithms.
 Combining logarithms
Logarithms can be combined to make a single
logarithm, and vice versa.

Example:

𝑙𝑜𝑔 15
is equal to :
𝑙𝑜𝑔 5 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔 3, or
𝑙𝑜𝑔 6 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔 5 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔 2

…and there could be more different combinations of

logarithms that will yield the same value.
 Laws of logarithms
Since logarithms are just exponents, the laws of
exponents will be used to write the laws of
logarithms.

These laws will help you combine or expand

logarithms, and solve exponential or
logarithmic equations.

The next slide will show the first law of logarithms and
how it is derived from the laws of exponents.
1 Logarithm of a Product Law
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒎𝒏 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒎 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒏
Proof:
Suppose you are given the following:
𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑚 (eqn 1) 𝑏 𝑦 = 𝑛 (eqn 2)
It follows that
𝑥 = log 𝑏 𝑚 (eqn 3) 𝑦 = log 𝑏 𝑛 (eqn 4)
Multiplying eqn 1 & eqn 2:
𝑏 𝑥 𝑏 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑛 or 𝑏 𝑥+𝑦 = 𝑚𝑛 (eqn 5)
Converting eqn 5 to logarithmic form:
𝒙 + 𝒚 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒎𝒏
Replacing the left-hand side by eqn 3 & eqn 4:
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒎 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒏 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒎𝒏
1 Logarithm of a Product Law
log 𝑏 𝑚𝑛 = log 𝑏 𝑚 + log 𝑏 𝑛

The logarithm of a product is EQUAL to the sum

of the logarithms of each factor, and vice versa.

Examples.
log 15 = log(5 ∙ 3) = log 5 + log 3

log 2 (3𝑥) = log 2 3 + log 2 𝑥

ln(4𝑥𝑦𝑧) = ln 4 + ln 𝑥 + ln 𝑦 + ln 𝑧
2 Logarithm of a Quotient Law
𝑚
log 𝑏 = log 𝑏 𝑚 − log 𝑏 𝑛
𝑛
The logarithm of a quotient is EQUAL to the differences
of the logarithm of the numerator and the logarithm of
the denominator, and vice versa.
Examples.
30
log 15 = log = log 30 − log 2
2
𝑟
log 2 = log 2 𝑟 − log 2 𝑦 − log 2 𝑧
𝑦𝑧
4𝑥
ln = ln 4 + ln 𝑥 − ln 3 − ln 𝑦
3𝑦
3 Logarithm of a Power Law
log 𝑏 𝑚𝑛 = 𝑛log 𝑏 𝑚

The logarithm of a power of a number is EQUAL to the

exponent times the logarithm of the number, and vice
versa.
Examples.

log 52 = 2 log 5
1
log 2 𝑥 = log 𝑥
2
ln 𝑟 2 𝑠 3 = 2 ln 𝑟 + 3ln 𝑠
𝟐𝒙𝟒
log 𝟑 𝟑 = log 3 𝟐 + 𝟒 log 𝟑 𝒙 − 𝟑 log 𝟑 𝒚
𝒚
CAUTION!!!!!

𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐛 (𝐦𝐧) ≠ log 𝒃 𝒎 log 𝑏 𝒏

𝒎 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐛 𝐦
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐛 ≠
𝒏 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐛 𝒏

𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐛 𝒎𝒏 ≠ log 𝑏 𝒎 𝒏
Exercise: Express the following as sum or
difference of logarithms.

𝑥2
1. log 2
3𝑦
𝑥2 𝑤
2. log
𝑦𝑧 3
5 𝑎𝑏
3. ln
𝑐2
𝑎+2
4. log 3
𝑎−2
𝐹 2
5. log 𝑏
𝐺
Key

𝑥2
1. log 2
3𝑦
= 2 log 2 𝑥 − log 2 3 − log 2 𝑦
𝑥2 𝑤 1
2. log 𝑦𝑧 3
= 2 log 𝑥 +
2
log 𝑤 − log 𝑦 − 3 log 𝑧
5 𝑎𝑏 1
3. ln = ln 𝑎 + ln 𝑏 − 2 ln 𝑐
𝑐2 5
𝑎+2
4. log 3
𝑎−2
= log 3 (𝑎 + 2) − log 3 (𝑎 − 2)
𝐹 2
5. log 𝑏 𝐺
= 2 log 𝑏 𝐹 − log 𝑏 𝐺
Exercise: Express the following as a
single logarithm. Simplify if possible.

1. log 2 6 + log 2 10 − log 2 3

2. log 4 + log 25 − log 10
1
3. 2 log 𝑥 + log 𝑦 − 3 log 𝑧
2
4. 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑥 + 3𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 3 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑥 2 + 1 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 7
5. log 8 32 − log 8 4
6. 𝑒 2 ln 𝑥
 Key
6∙10
1. log 2 6 + log 2 10 − log 2 3 = log 2
3
= log 2 20
4∙25
2. log 4 + log 25 − log 10 = log
10
= log 10 = 1

1 𝑥2 𝑦
3. 2 log 𝑥 + log 𝑦 − 3 log 𝑧 = log 3
2 𝑧

4. log b 𝑥 + 3log b 3 − log b 𝑥 2 + 1 − log b 7 =

27𝑥
log 𝑏 2
7 𝑥 +1
32
5. log 8 32 − log 8 4 = log 8
4
= log 8 8 = 1
2
6. 𝑒 2 ln 𝑥 = 𝑒 ln 𝑥 = 𝑥2
Change of Base Formula
Most basic scientific calculators only use base 10 or base 𝑒.
Change of Base Formula

The change of base formula allows you to compute

a logarithm to any base, or to convert a logarithm
to base 10 or base 𝑒.

If 𝑎 ≠ 1, 𝑏 ≠ 1 and 𝑀 are positive real numbers,

then

𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑀
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑀 =
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑎

Change of base formula from base 𝑎 to base 𝑏.

Change of Base Formula
Example 1: Convert 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 5 to base 10 (common logarithm)

Answer:
log 5
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 5 =
log 3

Example 2: Convert 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 5 to base 𝑒 (natural logarithm)

Answer:
ln 5
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 5 =
ln 3
Base Switch Formula
log 𝑐 𝑐 1
log 𝑏 𝑐 = =
log 𝑐 𝑏 log 𝑐 𝑏

Examples.

1 1 1
1. log 2 10 = 3. log1000 10 = =
log 2 log 1000 3
1 1
2. log16 2 = =
log 2 16 4