MATH 1314 College Algebra Logarithms

Definition: Let b be any positive number other than 1 and let x be any positive number. Then by definition, the logarithm to the base b of x, denoted log b x , is the number that can be used as an exponent on the base b in order to result in x. Examples: According to the definition, log 2 8 is the exponent that can be used on the base 2 in ! 2 is 8, 3 is the exponent that can be used on the base 2 order to result in 8. Because the 3rd power of to produce 8. So it follows that log 2 8 = 3 . Similarly,
log 3 9 = 2 because 32 = 9 , ! "2 1 1 , log10 100 = "2 because 10 = 12 = 100 10 ! 2 2 log8 4 = ! because 8 2 / 3 = 3 8 = 2 2 = 4 , and 3 0 log 5 1 = 0 because ! 5 = 1.

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Definitions: ! log b x is the base b logarithm function. Its domain is (0, ") and it range is ("#, #) . The domain is especially important. Only positive quantities have logarithms. ! Example: Give the domain of f ( x ) = log 9 (2 x " 3) . The! quantity whose logarithm is indicated must be positive. ! So 2x " 3 > 0 2x > 3 ! 3 x>2

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3 ," . The domain is the interval 2

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Exercises: Determine the domain of each of the following. 1. f ( x ) = log 7 (5 x + 10) 2. f ( x ) = log 9 ( x 2 " 4) 3. f ( x ) = log 3 (5 x 2 + 1) ! Definitions: A base 10 logarithm, log10 x , is usually abbreviated log x and is called a common logarithm of x. A base e logarithm, loge x , is usually abbreviate ln x and is called a natural ! ! logarithm of x.
! of the following. Exercises: Determine each ! 4. log 2 16 5. log 5 125 6. log 3 1 9

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! ! 7. log 7 1

8. log 9 27 13. log 7 7 3

9. log1000
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1 10. log 10

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11. ln e 3

12. ln e"2

y ! ! The statements log x are equivalent;! Definitions: that means if one of the ! b x = y and b = statements is true so is the other. For example, if is true, then log t = 4 ! ! 3 ! it must also be true that ! 4 3 = t . Likewise, if p 5 = w , then log p w = 5 . A statement in the form logb x = y is said to be in ! a statement ! logarithmic form and in the form b y = x is said to be in exponential form. ! Exercises: Write the equivalent exponential statement for each of the following. ! ! ! = " 3 log n = k 14. log 2 32 = 5 15. log 2 1 16. 17. log x = 2 18. ln5 = w p 8 !

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(Thomason Fall 2008)

Exercises: Write the equivalent logarithmic statement for each of the following. 1 19. 16 3/ 2 = 64 20. 9"2 = 81 21. d 0 = 1 22. 10 u = 37 23. e 5 = r Definition: An equation that has the variable in an exponent is called an exponential equation. Exponential equations can often be solved by isolating! the exponential term ! ! on one side of the ! equation and then writing the equivalent logarithmic statement. Example: Solve 5 2 4 x + 1 = 41 exactly for x.
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2 4 x = 8 Divide both sides by 5. log 2 8 =! 4 x Write the equivalent logarithmic statement. 3 = 4 x Evaluate log 2 8 , which is 3. 3 = x Divide both sides by 4. 4

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Exercises: ! Solve each of the following exactly for x. 2x 24. 4 3 " 108 = 0 25. 10 5 x + 2 + 5 = 7 26. 4 e 2 x " 5 = 7

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Definition: An equation that has the variable in a logarithm is called a logarithmic equation. Logarithmic equations can often be solved by isolating the logarithmic term on one side of the ! ! equation and then writing the equivalent exponential statement. Example: Solve 5log 2 ( x " 3) " 7 = 13 exactly for x. 5log 2 ( x " 3) = 20 Add 7 to both sides of the given equation. log 2 ( x " 3) = 4 Divide both sides by 5. 24 = x " 3 Write the equivalent exponential statement. ! 16 = x " 3 Evaluate 2 4 , which is 16. 19 = x Add 3 to both sides. Exercises: Solve each of the following exactly for x. !x " 2) " 8 = 16 27. 8log 4 (5 28. 3log(2 x " 4) " 1 = 5 29. 7ln(3 x + 4) + 5 = 26

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Property: The base b exponential function and the base b logarithmic function are inverse functions. For example if we let f ( x ) = b x and g( x ) = log ! b x , we see that ! log b x =x ( f o g)( x ) = f (g( x )) = f (logb x ) = b and (b x ) = logb (b x ) = x. ! (g o f )( x ) = g( f ( x )) = g! Examples: 3log 3 5 = 5
log 5 5 23 = 23 ! 7 log 7 p = p

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10 log 2 = 2
2% " log 7 $ 7 5 x ' = 5 x 2 # & !

e ln v = v

8 log 8 (2 x + 4) = 2 x + 4

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log 4 4 x " 3 = x " 3 ! !

log 10 3 x " 2 = 3 x " 2 !

" 2% ln$e 3 p ' = 3 p 2 # &

(Thomason Fall 2008)