Notre Dame of Tacurong College High School Department School Year 2011-2012

A Simple Research Paper in Mathematics IV

Submitted By: Christine S. Paje Jackielene Mae C. Palmes Eunice Eve Catbagan GC Mohammad Piang Almirads Mling

Submitted To: Mrs. Alice R. Paclibar

Logarithm

Logarithms were originally developed to simplify complex arithmetic calculations. They were designed to transform multiplicative processes into additive ones. If at first this seems like no big deal, then try multiplying 2,234,459,912 and 3,456,234,459. Without a calculator! Clearly, it is a lot easier to add these two numbers.

Today of course we have calculators and scientific notation to deal with such large numbers. So at first glance, it would seem that logarithms have become obsolete. Indeed, they would be obsolete except for one very important property of logarithms. It is called the power property and we will learn about it in another lesson. For now we need only to observe that it is an extremely important part of solving exponential equations.

Our first job is to try to make some sense of logarithms. Our first question then must be: What is a logarithm? Of course logarithms have a precise mathematical definition just like all terms in mathematics. So lets start with that.

Suppose b>0 and b1, there is a number p such that: logb n=p if and only if bp=n. Now a mathematician understands exactly what that means. But, many a student is left scratching their head.

The first, and perhaps logarithms is to realize equations. You must be logarithmic form and vice

the most important step, in understanding that they always relate back to exponential able to convert an exponential equation into versa. So lets get a lot of practice with this!

Example : Write 23=8 in logarithmic form. Solution: log2 8=3 We read this as:the log base 2 of 8 is equal to 3.

It is also very important to be able to start with a logarithmic expression and change this into exponential form. This is simply the reverse of what we just did.

Example: Write log3 81=4 in exponential form. Solution: 34=81

We now know that a logarithm is perhaps best understood as being closely related to an exponential equation. In fact, whenever we get stuck in the problems that follow we will return to this one simple insight. We might even state a simple rule.

When working with logarithms, if ever you get stuck, try rewriting the problem in exponential form. Conversely, when working with exponential expressions, if ever you get stuck, try rewriting the problem in logarithmic form. Lets see if this simple rule can help us solve some of the following problems.

Example 1: Solve for x: log6 x=2 Solution: Lets rewrite the problem in exponential form. Answer: 62=x Example 2: Solve for y: log5 1/25=y Solution: Lets rewrite the problem in exponential form. Answer: 5y=1/25

These next two problems tend to be some of the trickiest to evaluate. Actually, they are merely identities and the use of our simple rule will show this.

Example 1: Evaluate: log7 72 Solution: Log7 72=y First we write the problem as a variable. 7y=72 Now take it out of the logarithmic form and write it in exponential form. y=2

Example 2: Evaluate 4 Solution: 4

log 16 4 log 4 16

=y First, we write the problem with a variable. and write it in

Log4y=log416 Now take it out of the exponential form logarithmic form. Y=16

Ask your teacher about the last two examples. They may show you a nice shortcut. Finally, we want to take a look at the Property of Equality for Logarithmic Functions.

S u p p o s e T h e n

b 0a > n d b 1 . l b x =g bx i o g l o f a n d 1 2

o n l y

i f

x= 2 x 1

Basically, with logarithmic functions, if the bases match on both sides of the equal sign , then simply set the arguments equal. Example 1: Solve: log3(4x+10)=log3(x+1) Since the bases are both 3 we simply set the arguments equal. 4x+10=x+1 3x+10=1 3x=-9 X=-3 Example 2: Solve: log8(x2-14)=log8(5x) Solution: Since the bases are both 8 we simply set the arguments equal. X2-14=5x

X2-5x-14=0 (X-7)(x+2)=0 (X-7)=0 or (x+2) =0 X=7 or x=-2 Solve: log8(x2-14) =log8 (5 x) Solution: x=7 or x=-2 It appears that we have 2 solutions here. If we take a closer look at the definition of a logarithm however, we will see that not only must we use positive bases, but also we see that the arguments must be positive as well. Therefore -2 is not a solution. Lets end this lesson by taking a closer look at this.

Our final concern then is to determine why logarithms like the one below are undefined. Log2 (-8) Can anyone give us an explanation? Log2 (-8) = undefined WHY? One easy explanation is to simply rewrite this logarithm in exponential form. Well then see why a negative value is not permitted.

Log2 (-8)=y First, we write the problem with a variable. 2y=-8 Now take it out of the logarithmic form and write it in exponential form. What power of 2 would give us -8? 2=8 and 2-3=1/8 Hence expressions of this type are undefined.

That concludes our introduction to logarithms. In the lessons to follow we will learn some important properties of logarithms. One of these

properties will give us a very important tool which we need to solve exponential equations. Until then lets practice with the basic themes of this lesson.

Logarithm, in mathematics, the exponent or power to which a stated number, called the base, is raised to yield a specific number. For example, in the expression 102 = 100, the logarithm of 100 to the base 10 is 2. This is written log10100 = 2. Logarithms were originally invented to help simplify the arithmetical processes of multiplication, division, expansion to a power, and extraction of a root, but they are now used for a variety of purposes in pure and applied mathematics. The first tables of logarithms were published independently by the Scottish mathematician John Napier in 1614 and the Swiss mathematician Justus Byrgius in 1620. The first table of common logarithms was compiled by the English mathematician Henry Briggs. Common logarithms use the number 10 as the base number. A system of logarithms often employed uses the transcendental number e as a base; they are called natural logarithms.

The method of logarithms can be illustrated by considering a sequence of powers of the number 2: 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26, corresponding to the sequence of numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64. The exponents 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are the logarithms of these numbers to the base 2. To multiply any number in this sequence by any other number in the series it is only necessary to add the logarithms of the numbers, then find the antilogarithm of the sum of the logarithms, which is equal to the base number raised to the power of the sum. Thus, to multiply 16 by 4, first note that the logarithm of 16 is 4, and the logarithm of 4 is 2. The sum of the logarithms 4 and 2 is equal to 6, and the antilogarithm of 6 is 64, which is the product desired. In division the logarithms are subtracted. To divide 32 by 8 subtract 3 from 5, giving 2, which is the logarithm of the quotient, 4. To expand a number to any power, multiply the logarithm by the power desired, and takes the antilogarithm of the product. Thus, to find 43: log 2 4 = 2; 3 2 = 6; antilog 6 = 64, which is the third power of 4. Roots are extracted by dividing the logarithm by the desired root. To find the fifth root of 32: log232 = 5; 5 5 = 1; antilog 1 = 2, which is the fifth root of 32. The problem in constructing a table of logarithms is to make the intervals between successive entries sufficiently small. In the above example, where the entries are the powers 2, 4, 8, and so on, the entries are too far apart to be useful in multiplying any larger numbers. By advanced mathematical processes, the logarithm of any number to any base can be calculated, and exhaustive tables of logarithms have been prepared. Each logarithm consists of a whole number and a decimal fraction, called respectively the characteristic and the mantissa. In the common system of logarithms, which has the base 10, the logarithm of the number 7 has the characteristic 0 and the mantissa .84510 (correct to five decimal places) and is written 0.84510. The logarithm of the number 70 is 1.84510; and the logarithm of the number 700 is 2.84510. The logarithm of the number .7 is -0.15490, which is sometimes written 9.84510-10 for convenience in calculation. Logarithm tables have been replaced by electronic calculators and computers with logarithmic functions.

Materials

Two types of logarithms are used in this text: (a) common logarithms (abbreviated log) whose base is 10 and (b) natural logarithms (abbreviated ln) whose base is e (=2.71828). log x = n, where x = 10n ln x = m, where x = em Most equations in chemistry and physics were developed in natural, or base e, logarithms, and we follow this practice in this text. The relation between log and ln is ln x = 2.303 log x Despite the different bases of the two logarithms, they are used in the same manner. What follows is largely a description of the use of common logarithms. A common logarithm is the power to which you must raise 10 to obtain the number. For example, the log of 100 is 2, since you must raise 10 to the second power to obtain 100. Other examples are log 1000 = log (103) = 3 log 10 = log (103) = 1 log 1 = log (100) = 0 = log (10-1) = -1 = log (10-4) = -4 To obtain the common logarithm of a number other than a simple power of 10, you must resort to a log table or an electronic calculator. For example, log 2.10 = 0.3222, which means that 100.3222 = 2.10 log 5.16 = 0.7126, which means that 100.7126 = 5.16 log 3.125 = 0.49485, which means that 100.49485 = 3.125

To check this on your calculator, enter the number, and then press the "log" key. When using a log table, the logs of the first two numbers can be read directly from the table. The log of the third number (3.125), however, must be interpolated. That is, 3.125 is midway between 3.12 and 3.13, so the log is midway between 0.4942 and 0.4955. To obtain the natural logarithm ln of the numbers shown here, use a calculator having this function. Enter each number and press "ln." ln 2.10 = 0.7419, which means that e0.7419 = 2.10 ln 5.15 = 1.6409, which means that e1.6409 = 5.16 To find the common logarithm of a number greater than 10 or less than 1 with a log table, first express the number in scientific notation. Then find the log of each part of the number and add the logs. For example, log 241 = log (2.41 x 102) = log 2.41 + log 102 = 0.382 + 2 = 2.382 log 0.00573 = log (5.73 x 10-3) = log 5.73 + log 10-3 = 0.758 + (-3) = -2.242 Significant Figures and Logarithms Notice that the mantissa - defined as the decimal portion of the logarithm, in this cases it is equal to 0.242 - has as many significant figures as the number whose log was found. (So that you could more clearly see the result obtained with a calculator or a table, this rule was not strictly followed until the last two examples.) Obtaining Antilogarithms If you are given the logarithm of a number, and find the number from it, you have obtained the "antilogarithm," or "antilog," of the number. Two common procedures used by electronic calculators to do this are: Procedure A Procedure B 1. Enter the log or ln. 1. Enter the log or ln. 2. Press 2ndF. 2. Press INV. 3. Press 10x or ex. 3. Press log or ln x. Test one or the other of these procedures with the following examples: 1. Find the number whose log is 5.234. Recall that log x=n, where x=10n. In this case n=5.234. Enter that number in your calculator, and find the value of 10n, the antilog. In this case, 105.234=100.234 x 105=1.71 x 105 Notice that the characteristic (5) sets the decimal point; it is the power of 10 in the exponential form. The mantissa (0.234) gives the value of the number x. Thus, if you use a log table to find x, you need only look up 0.234 in the table and see that it corresponds to 1.71.

2. Find the number whose log is -3.456. 10-3.456=100.544 x 10-4=3.50 x 10-4 Notice here that -3.456 must be expressed as the sum of -4 and +0.544. Mathematical Operations Using Logarithms Because logarithms are exponents, operations involving them follow the same rules as the use of exponents. Thus, multiplying two numbers can be done by adding logarithms. log xy=log x + log y For example, we multiply 563 by 125 by adding their logarithms and finding the antilogarithm of the result. log 563 = 2.751 log 125 = 2.097 log xy = 4.848 xy = 10
4.848

= 104 x 100.848 = 7.04 x 104

One number (x) can be divided by another (y) by subtraction of their logarithms.

For example, to divide 125 by 742, log 125 = 2.097 -log 742 = 2.870

Similarly, powers and roots of numbers can be found using logarithms. log xy = y(log x)

As an example, find the fourth power of 5.23. We first find the log of 5.23 and then multiply it by 4. The result, 2.874, is the log of the answer. Therefore, we find the antilog of 2.874. (5.23)4 = ? log (5.23)4 = 4 log 5.23 = 4 (0.719) = 2.874 (5.23)4 = 102.874 = 748 As another example, find the fifth root of 1.89 x 10-9.

The answer is the antilog of -1.745. (1.89 x 10-9)1/5=10-1.745=1.80 x 10-2

Conclusion

http://www.science-site.net/logcalc.htm http://www.thocp.net/reference/sciences/mathematics/logarithm_hist.htm http://www.brookscole.com/physics_d/templates/student_resources/0030269 61X_serway/review/log.html http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Logarithm.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logarithm Microsoft Encarta 2009.