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LOGARITHMS
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Logarithms
LOGARITHMS
Logarithms are another method to calculate and work with exponents.
Answer these questions, before working through this unit.
I used to think:
In the expression 42 = 16 , what are the terms for the 4, the 2 and the 16?
Which of the following has the same value as log3 9 + log3 4: log3 13 or log3 36 ?
Answer these questions after you have worked through this unit.
Which of the following has the same value as log3 9 + log3 4: log3 13 or log3 36 ?
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ax = b
Base numeral
Base
log a b = x
Index
Base
The mathemetical phrasing is: "Log base a of b equals x". Here are some examples:
Rewrite these expressions with logarithms
a
23 = 8
` log2 8 = 3
42 = 16
` log4 16 = 2
24 = 16
` log2 16 = 4
34 = 81
` log3 81 = 4
2-1 = 1
2
` log2 ` 1 j = -1
2
3-2 = 1
9
` log3 ` 1 j =- 2
9
4 =2
`
` 27 3 = 3
` log27 3 = 1
3
=2
` log4 2 = 1
2
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27 = 3
1
1
42
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62 = 36
53 = 125
72 = 49
25 = 32
103 = 1000
2-2 = 1
4
81 = 9
343 = 7
121 = 11
16 = 2
2. Solve for x:
a
log x 25 = 2
log3 81 = x
log3 x = 3
log x 81 = 2
log5 x = 1
5
log125 5 = x
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log3 9
log10 1000
log4 64
log6 216
log49 7
log2 2
log 12 ` 1 j
4
log4 ` 1 j
16
4. If 10 0 = 1 then:
a
Find log10 1
According to the zero index law a0 = 1 for any a. So find x in the following:
log5 1 = x
log13 x = 0
log20 1 = x
log a 1 = x
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Basics
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Knowing More
Logarithms are called 'logs' for short. Simplifying logs is not always easy to see, so some rules are needed to help.
Log Laws
Log Laws are rules to help simplify logarithms. These rules are:
The Multiplication Rule: log a xy = log a x + log a y
The Division Rule: log a x = log a x - log a y
y
The Exponent Rule: log a x n = n log a x
The Change of Base rule: log a b =
log m b
log m a
Division Rule
Proof
` a = x and a = y
p
`a
` x
y
x
`
y
x
` log a
y
` xy = a p # a q
` xy = a p + q
` log a xy = p + q
= log a x + log a y
Proof
= x and a = y
q
= a p ' aq
= ap-q
= p-q
= log a x - log a y
log10 20 + log10 50
= log10 ^20 # 50h
log6 72 - log6 2
= log6 ` 72 j
2
Multiplication rule
= log10 1000
= log6 36
=3
=2
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Proof
n times
= n log a x
Simplify the following
a
2 log4 8
2 log10 5 + log10 4
= log10 52 + log10 4
= log4 64
= log10 25 + log10 4
=3
= log10 ^25 # 4h
= log4 8
= log10 100
=2
Here are some other rules which are found from exponents:
Since a1 = a it's easy to see the log law
log a a = 1
log3 3
Same number
=0
=1
c
log3 1
log4 4 + 2 log2 2
= 1 + 2^1 h
=3
= 2 log5 5 + 0 - 1
= 2-1 = 1
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Roots in Logs
The rule for exponents
n
x = xn
log3 4 3
x = xn
= log3 3 4
log16 4
= log16 16
= 1 log3 3
4
1
= #1
4
=1
4
x = xn
= log16 16 2
= 1 log16 16
2
= 1 #1
2
=1
2
= log 6 ^wx 2 y 3 h
log x c w x m
y
2
log10 ` a + b j
10 100
= log10 ` 10a + b j
100
= 2 log x w + 1 - log x y
= log10 ^10a + bh - 2
= 2 log x w - log x y + 1
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6 log8 4 - 2 log9 3
= ^3 # 2h log8 4 - log9 32
= 2 log8 43 - log9 9
= 2 log8 64 - 1
= 2 log8 82 - 1
2 log a ` 1 j + 2 log a 5
5
2
= log a ` 1 j + log a 52
5
= log a ` 1 j + log a 25
25
= log a ` 1 # 25j
25
= ^2 # 2h log8 8 - 1
= log a 1
= 4-1
=0
=3
= `6 # 1 j log5 5 - `8 # 1 j log2 4
3
4
= log3 32 + 4 log2 ` 20 j
10
= 2 log5 5 - 2 log2 22
= 2 log5 5 - ^2 # 2h log2 2
= 2 log3 3 + 4 log2 2
= 2^1 h + 4^1 h
= 2^1 h - 4^1 h
=6
= -2
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= 6 log5 5 3 - 8 log2 4 4
6 log5 3 5 - 8 log2 4 4
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3 log8 4
log10 2 + log10 50
4 log8 2 + log8 32
log x y3 - log x y2
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log3 27 + log3 3 81
9 log4 3 8
log x 4 3 x - 2 log x 2
3 log y 4 3 y2 - 2 log y 4 4y
5 - 3 log a b + log a a
10
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log a w2 y3 x
log10 abc
log2 ` a j
ab
log x 3
log2
xy
x2 + x
log3 ` 1 ab2j
9
y2 - 25
8
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Logarithms
1
5
1
16
= 12
4
= 5-1
= 4-2
2
100
= 22
10
1 -2
`2j
= 22
= 2 # 10-2
=4
This rule is used to simplify logs with fractions. Here are some examples:
Simplify these logarithms
a
12
log2 1
8
log3 1
81
= log2 13
2
= log3 14
3
= log2 2-3
= log3 3-4
=- 3
=- 4
3
1000
= log10 3 3
10
log10
log5 8 - log5 40
= log10 ^3 # 10-3h
= log5 8
40
1
= log5
5
= log5 5-1
= log10 3 - 3
= -1
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Change of Base
There is a law for logs which allows us to change the base:
log a b =
log m b
log m a
New base is m
Old base is a
Proof
Let c = log a b
` ac = b
` log m a c = log m b
Exponent Rule
` c log m a = log m b
log m b
log m a
log m b
` log a b =
log m a
`c=
log m b
log m a
= 1/
= 1
log m a
log m b
log b a
` log a b =
1
log b a
log4 8 =
=
log2 8
log2 4
log125 25 =
3 log2 2
2 log2 2
log5 25
log5 125
=2
3
=3
2
= 11
2
c
1
= log6 216
log216 6
log8 16
= log8 16 # log32 8
log8 32
= log6 63
log2 16
log2 8
#
log2 8
log2 32
= 3 log6 6
4 log2 2 3 log2 2
#
3 log2 2 5 log2 2
=3
=4
5
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log5 1
25
log4 1
64
log x 1
x
log2 1
2
log x 12
x
log 12 4
log9 27
log64 16
log y y3
5 log a a
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log5 27
log5 3
log m 25 # log5 m
log x x
log4 6 # log36 4
1 # 1
log y x log x y2
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Thinking More
Exponential Equations
Exponential equations are equations with a variable in the exponent. These are solved by finding a common base
on both sides and making the exponents equal.
Solve for the variable in the following
a
3 x = 81
53y + 1 = 625
3 x = 34
53y + 1 = 54
^22hp + 2 = ^25h2p - 4
Common base
Common base
`x=4
4 p + 2 = 322p - 4
` 22p + 4 = 210p - 20
` 3y + 1 = 4
Common base
`y=1
` 2p + 4 = 10p - 20
` p=3
On the calculator,
the "log" button is
"log10" (log base 10)
2x = 9
5 y - 2 = 10
` y - 2 = log5 10
` x = log2 9
log10 9
log10 2
= 0.954f
0.301f
log10 10
Use the log button
on the calculator
log10 5
1
` y-2 =
= 1.43f
0.698f
`x=
` y-2 =
` y = 3.43 ^2 d.p.h
= 3.17 ^2 d.p.h
c
3 2m + 1 = 7 3 - m
` log7 32m + 1 = log7 73 - m
Find log7
` ^2m + 1h log7 3 = 3 - m
` ^2m + 1hc
` 2m c
Common base
` mc
Exponent rule
log10 3
m= 3-m
log10 7
log10 3
log10 3
m+m = 3-c
m
log10 7
log10 7
2 log10 3
log10 3
m
+ 1m = 3 - c
log10 7
log10 7
` m^0.564575... + 1h = 2.435424966
` m = 1.556604773
. 1.56 (to 2 d.p.)
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2 c = 16
4 y = 256
73a = 343
22c + 1 = 32
92x = 27 x + 1
32y + 4 = 93y - 4
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Logarithmic Equations
Logarithmic equations have the variable inside the logarithm. Log laws are used to get the variable by itself.
Solve for the variable in these equations
a
log4 64 = x + 2
log m 81 = 4
log y 5 = 12
` x + 2 = log4 43
` m4 = 81
` y12 = 5
` x+2 = 3
` m4 = 34
`m=3
` 12 log10 y = 0.698f
`x=1
` log10 y = 0.058f
y = 100.058f
y = 1.14 ^2 d.p.h
Applying Logarithms
Logarithms are in real life formulas, and so they can be used to solve real problems.
Finding sound level
Sound level is measured in decibels (dB) and calculated using the formula
dB = 160 + 10 log10 P
where P is the sound intensity.
a
Find the sound intensity (P) if the the sound level is 110dB.
110 = 160 + 10 log10 P
` log10 P =- 5
` P = 10-5
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2. Use your calculator to find the variables in these equations correct to 2 decimal places.
a
4 x = 20
3 2x = 6
4 m + 1 = 10
3k - 2 = 7k
52p - 1 = 15 p
43x - 1 = 9 x + 2
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3. The level of acidity of a liquid is measured using the pH-scale. To find the level this formula is used:
pH =-log10 6H+ @
where H + is the concentration of the hydrogen ions.
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Exponential Graphs
Exponential graphs are of functions of the form y = a x or y = ` 1 j where a 2 1 . They have this form:
a
x
y = ` 1 j = a-x
a
x
y = ax
y
^1, ah
^- 1, ah
y
4
3
y = `1 j
2
y = 2x
^-1, 2h
^1, 2h
The y-intercept of
ALL exponential
curves is always ^0, 1h
^1, 0.5h
^-1, 0.5h
-2
-1
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y = 3x
(Steeper curve)
8
7
6
y = 2x
(Gentler curve)
5
4
3
2
1
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
-1
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4. The curve below represents y = 5 x . Find the missing values in the sketch:
y
(3, d )
(2, c )
(1, b )
(-1, e )
(-2, f )
(0, a )
x
5. Without sketching the graphs, identify the y-intercepts of y = 6 x and y = 10 x . How do you know this?
6. The two curves below represent y = 4 x and y = 8 x . Identify each graph and answer these questions:
y
D (2, )
B (1, )
E (2, )
A=
B=
C=
D=
C (1, )
A
E=
x
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C (-2, )
B=
C=
D=
B (-1, )
A
D (1, )
x
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Logarithmic Graphs
The logarithmic function y = log a x is the inverse (opposite) function of y = a x . This means the graph of
y = log a x is a reflection of the exponential graph about the line y = x .
y
If a 2 1
^1, ah
^ a, 1h
The properties of the logarithm curve are the inverse of the exponential curve:
They always cuts the x-axis at ^1, 0h since log a 1 = 0 for any value of a.
The logarithmic graph never cuts the y-axis since the x-value can not be negative or zero if a 2 0 .
The greater the value of a (the base), the gentler the curve.
Draw the curve of y = log 2 x
The curve of y = log2 x is the inverse of y = 2 x . Thus y = log2 x is the reflection of y = 2 x about the line y = x .
y
^3, 8h
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
^2, 4h
^8, 3h
^1, 2h
^-1, 0.5h 1
^2, 1h
-1
-1
^4, 2h
^0.5, -1h
Since y = log2 x is the inverse of y = 2 x , if y = 2 x goes through any point (a,b) then y = log2 x will go
through (b,a). For example, the exponential passes through (1,2) so the logarithm passes through (2,1).
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-1
^9, 2h
^4, 2h
2
^2, 1h
0 ^1, 0h
0
1
^3, 1h
-1
-2
-3
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8. The graph below represents y = log3 x and the dashed line represents y = 3 x .
y
^1, 3h
1
`- 1, 3 j
B=
C=
x
B
C
D=
Which function has a y-intercept and which has an x-intercept? What are the intercepts?
9. One of the lines below represents y = log3 x and the other represents y = log 7 x :
y
a
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Answers
Knowing More:
Basics:
1. a log6 36 = 2
log5 125 = 3
log2 32 = 5
3. a 2 5
6
41
2
4. a log10 6
log a
log7 49 = 2
log10 1000 = 3
log81 9 = 1
2
log343 7 = 1
3
log2 ` 1 j = -2
4
h log121 11 = 1
2
j log16 2 = 1
4
x=5
x=4
x = 27
x=9
x=5 5
x=1
3
log10 1000 = 3
1 log2 a - 1 log2 b
2
2
log6 216 = 3
1 log x y - 1 log x ^ x + 1h
3
3
2. a
3. a log3 9 = 2
c
log4 64 = 3
log49 7 = 1
2
g log 1 1 = 2
2 4
1
3
log a
log a c a3 m
b
log2 2 = 1
2
h log4 1 = -2
16
f
6. a log3 a + 2 log3 b - 2
4. a log10 1 = 0
log5 1 = x
`x=0
log13 x = 0
`x=1
log20 1 = x
`x=0
log a 1 = x
`x=0
1. a 3
3
2
2. a 2
log x y
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log2 ^ y - 5h + log2 ^ y + 5h - 3
Knowing More:
1. a -2
-3
-1
-1
-2
-2
2. a
3
2
2
3
3
2
5
4
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bc
^ b + ch
x2 y3
w
Logarithms
Answers
1
2
1
2
1
2
Thinking More:
6. b A is common on both curves because
the y-intercept on an exponential graph
is always (0,1)
7. a
A = ^0, 1h
C = ^-2, 9h
Thinking More:
1. a c = 4
d
2. a
3.
y=4
a=1
x=3
y=3
c=2
8. a
x = 0.82
m = 0.66
k = -2.59
p = 3.15 (2 d.p.)
x = 2.95 (2 d.p.)
A = ^0, 1h
B = ^1, 0h
D = ^3, 1h
9. a
pH = 3.77 (2 d.p.)
H+ = 10-7
pH = 6
b
c
4. a
D = `1, 1 j
3
y-intercept is (0,1).
There are no x-intercepts.
C = ` 1 , -1 j
3
x = 2.16
B = ^-1, 3h
y=1
y=5
y = 25
y = 125
y=1
5
y= 1
25
E = ^2, 16h
B = ^1, 8h
D = ^2, 64h
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