Logarithms and

Exponential Functions
01
Logarithmic Functions

Let 0 < a ∈ R and a ≠ 1. Then the function g : R+ → R, defined such that

g(y) = x ⇔ y = ax
for all y ∈ R+, and x ∈ R, is called the logarithmic function with base a and is denoted by loga.
i.e., loga y = x ⇔ y = ax

BASIC FORMULAE ON LOGARITHM

02 03
F-1 F-2
1. If ax = n, then x = loga n, where n > 0, a > 0 and a ≠ 1 1. log m a + log m b =
log m (ab)
2. Exponential function is always positive.
3. loga a = 1 a
2.log m a − log m b =
log m  
4. loga 1 = 0, a ≠ 1, a > 0 b
5. loga 0 = ± ∞ 3.log m a n = n log m a
6. loga ∞ = ∞
4. a loga n = n
04 05
F-3 F-4
1. loga b × logb a = 0 1
1. log aα b = log a b
Note: α
(i) loga b × logb c × logc d × logd a = 1 β
1 2. log aα ( bβ ) = log a b
2. log a b = α
log b a
log m a
3. log b a =
log m b
4. a logn b = b logn a

06
F-5
1. If x > y ⇒ loga x > loga y, when a > 1 2. If x > y ⇒ loga x < loga y, when 0 < a < 1

Y Y

X′ X
O
X′ X
O

Y′

Y′
07 09
Exponential Functions Graph of Exponential Functions
For any positive real number a, we can define ax for all real numbers Y=R
x. This function is called as exponential function, whose domain
is the set of all real numbers and codomain is also the set of real
numbers.

y = 2x

08
Properties of Exponential Functions (0, 1)
X=R
Let a be a positive real number. Then the following hold for all real 0
numbers x and y :
1. ax ay = ax + y Graph of the function y = 2x.
2. ax > 0
3 ax / ay = ax – y
Y=R
4. (ax)y = axy
1
5. a − x = x x
a 1
y = 
6. a0 = 1 2
7. a1 = a
8. 1x = 1

1. If a > 1, then ax is an increasing function; that is, x ≤ y ⇒ ax ≤ ay.

2. If 0 < a < 1, then ax is a decreasing function; that is, x ≤ y ⇒ ax ≥
ay. (0, 1)
3. If a > 0 and a ≠ 1, ax is an injection; that is, ax ≠ ay for all x ≠ y.
4. For any a > 0 and a ≠ 1, ax = 1 if and only if x = 0. X=R
0

Graph of the function y = (1/2)x

 Questions

1. If log5 log5 log2 x = 0 then value of x is 6. If log3 [log3 [log3 x]] = log3 3, then what is the value of x?
(a) 32 (b) 125 (a) 3 (b) 27
(c) 625 (d) 25 (c) 39 (d) 327

 1 1  9  27  3
2. The value of  +  is 7. What is the value of log10   − log10   + log10   ?
 log 3 12 log 4 12  8  32  4
(a) 0 (b) 1/2 (a) 3 (b) 2
(c) 1 (d) 2 (c) 1 (d) 0
log tan1°+ log10 tan 2°+ log10 tan 3°+…+ log10 tan 89°
log 3 5 × log 25 27 × log 49 7 8. The value of e 10
is
3. The value of is 1
log81 3 (a) 3 (b)
e
(a) 1 (b) 6
2
(c) 1 (d) 0
(c) (d) 3
3
9. What is the value of log2 (log3 81)?
4. If (logx x) (log3 2x)(log2x y) = logx x2, then what is the value of y ? (a) 2 (b) 3
(a) 9/2 (b) 9 (c) 4 (d) 9
(c) 18 (d) 27
1
5. If logk x log5 k = 3, then what is x equal to? 10. What is the value of 2log8 2 − log 3 9 ?
3
(a) k5 (b) 5k3 (a) 0 (b) 1
(c) 243 (d) 125 (c) 2 (d) 1/3
 Answer Key

1. (a)

2. (c)

3. (d)

4. (b)

5. (d)

6. (d)

7. (d)

8. (c)

9. (a)

10. (a)