Logarithmic Function

This is the Logarithmic Function:

f(x) = loga(x)
a is any value greater than 0, except 1

Properties depend on value of "a"

When a=1, the graph is not defined

Apart from that there are two cases to look at:

a between 0 and 1

a above 1

Example: f(x) = log(x)

Example: f(x) = log2(x)

For a between 0 and 1

For a above 1:

As x nears 0, it heads to infinity

As x nears 0, it heads to -infinity

As x increases it heads to -infinity

As x increases it heads to infinity

It is a Strictly Decreasing function

it is a Strictly Increasing function

It has a Vertical Asymptote along the y-

It has a Vertical Asymptote along the y-

axis (x=0).

axis (x=0).

In General:

It is always on the positive side of (and never crosses) the y-axis

It always intersects the x-axis at x=1 ... in other words it passes through (1,0)

At x=a, f(x)=1 ... in other words it passes through (a,1)

It is an Injective (one-to-one) function

Its Domain is the Positive Real Numbers: (0,

+)

Its Range is the Real Numbers:

Inverse
loga(x)

is the Inverse Function of

ax (the Exponential Function)

So the Logarithmic Function can be "reversed" by the Exponential Function.

The Natural Logarithm Function

This is the "Natural" Logarithm Function:

f(x) = loge(x)
Where e is "Eulers Number" = 2.718281828459 (and more ...)
But it is more common to write it this way:

f(x) = ln(x)
"ln" meaning "log, natural"
So when you see ln(x), just remeber it is the logarithmic function with base e: loge(x).

Graph of f(x) = ln(x)

At the point (e,1) the slope of the line is 1/e and the line is tangent to the curve.