Logarithmic

Functions
For x > 0 and 0 < a ≠ 1,
y = loga x if and only if x = a y.
The function given by f (x) = loga x is called the
logarithmic function with base a.

Every logarithmic equation has an equivalent exponential form:

y = loga x is equivalent to x = a y
A logarithm is an exponent!
A logarithmic function is the inverse function of an exponential
function.
Exponential function: y = ax
Logarithmic function: y = logax is equivalent to x = ay
Examples: Write the equivalent exponential equation
and solve for y.

Logarithmic Equivalent Solution

Equation Exponential
Equation

y = log216 16 = 2y 16 = 24 → y = 4
1 1 1
y = log2( ) = 2y = 2-1→ y = –1
2 2 2
y = log416 16 = 4y 16 = 42 → y = 2
y = log51 1=5y 1 = 50 → y = 0
The base 10 logarithm function f (x) = log10 x is called the
common logarithm function.
The LOG key on a calculator is used to obtain common
logarithms.
Examples: Calculate the values using a calculator.
Function Value Keystrokes Display
log10 100 LOG 100 ENTER 2
2
log10( ) LOG ( 2 ÷ 5 ) ENTER – 0.3979400
5
log10 5 LOG 5 ENTER 0.6989700
log10 –4 LOG –4 ENTER ERROR

no power of 10 gives a negative number

Properties of Logarithms
1. loga 1 = 0 since a0 = 1.
2. loga a = 1 since a1 = a.
3. loga ax = x and alogax = x inverse property
4. If loga x = loga y, then x = y. one-to-one property

Examples: Solve for x: log6 6 = x

log6 6 = 1 property 2→ x = 1

Simplify: log3 35
log3 35 = 5 property 3

Simplify: 7log79
7log79 = 9 property 3
Graph f (x) = log2 x
Since the logarithm function is the inverse of the exponential
function of the same base, its graph is the reflection of the
exponential function in the line y = x.
y y = 2x y=x
x 2 x

–2 1
horizontal y = log2 x
4
asymptote y = 0
–1 1
2
x-intercept
x
0 1 (1, 0)
1 2
vertical asymptote
2 4
x=0
3 8
 Example: Graph the common logarithm function f(x) = log10 x.
x 1 1 1 2 4 10
100 10
f(x) = log10 x –2 –1 0 0.301 0.602 1

y by calculator
f(x) = log10 x
x
5
(0, 1) x-intercept

x=0
vertical –5
asymptote
 The graphs of logarithmic functions are similar for different
values of a.
f(x) = loga x (a > 1)

Graph of f (x) = loga x (a > 1) y-axis y y = ax y=x

vertical
1. domain (0, ∞)
asymptote y = log2 x
2. range (−∞,+∞)
3. x-intercept (1, 0)
4. vertical asymptote domain
x = 0 as x → 0 + f ( x) → −∞ x
x-intercept
5. increasing
(1, 0)
6. continuous
7. one-to-one range
8. reflection of y = a x in y = x
 y y = ln x
The function defined by
f(x) = loge x = ln x x
5
(x > 0, e ≈ 2.718281…)
is called the natural
logarithm function.
–5

y = ln x is equivalent to e y = x

Use a calculator to evaluate: ln 3, ln –2, ln 100

Function Value Keystrokes Display
ln 3 LN 3 ENTER 1.0986122
ln –2 LN –2 ENTER ERROR
ln 100 LN 100 ENTER 4.6051701
Properties of Natural Logarithms
1. ln 1 = 0 since e0 = 1.
2. ln e = 1 since e1 = e.
3. ln ex = x and eln x = x inverse property
4. If ln x = ln y, then x = y. one-to-one property
Examples: Simplify each expression.
1
( )
ln 2  = ln e −2 = −2 inverse property
e 

e ln 20 = 20 inverse property

3 ln e = 3(1) = 3 property 2

ln 1 = 0 = 0 property 1
 −t
1 8223
Example: The formula R = 12
e (t in years) is used to estimate
10
the age of organic material. The ratio of carbon 14 to carbon 12
1
in a piece of charcoal found at an archaeological dig is R = 15 .
10
How old is it? −t
1 8223 1
e = original equation
1012 1015
−t
1
e 8223
= multiply both sides by 1012
1000
−t
1
ln e 8223
= ln take the natural log of both sides
1000
−t 1
= ln inverse property
8223 1000
 1 
t = −8223  ln  ≈ −8223 ( − 6.907 ) = 56796
 1000 
To the nearest thousand years the charcoal is 57,000 years old.