LOGARITHM

LOGARITHM OF NUMBER:
The logarithm of the number N to the base ‘a’ is the exponent indicating the power to which
the base ‘a’ must be raised to obtain the number N. the number is designated as log a N.
(a) loga N = x, read as log of N to the base a
 ax  N
If a = 10 then we write log N or log10 N and If a = e we write
In N or logeN (Natural log)
(b) Necessary conditions: N > 0; a > 0;
a1 Remember
(c) loga 1 = 0 log10 2  0.3010
log10 3  0.4771
(d) loga a = 1
l n 2  0.693
(e) log1/a a = -1
l n10  2.303
(f)
log a  x.y   log a x  log a y; x, y  0

(g)
 x
log a    log a x  log a y; x, y  0
 y
(h)
log a x p  p log a x ; x  0

(i)
1 Note that : If the number & the base are
log a q x  log a x ; x  0
q on one side of the unity, then the
logarithm is positive ; If the number &
(j)
1 the base are on different sides of unity,
log a x  ; x  0, x  1 then the logarithm is negative.
log x a

(k)
log a x  log b x / log b a ; x  0,a, b  0, b  1,a  1

log a b.log b c.log c d  log a d ; a, b, c, d  0,  1

(l)
(m)
a loga x  x;a  0,a  1

a log b c  clog b a ; a, b, c  0 ; b  1
(n)
(o)
 x  y if a 1 
log a x  log a y  
 x  y if 0  a  1
 log a x  log a y  x  y ; x, y  0 ; a  0, a  1
(p)
(q)
x
e Ina  a x
log10 2  0.3010 ; log10 3  0.4771; l n2  0.693, l n10  2.303
(r)
(s)
If a  1then log a x  p  0  x  a p

(t)
If a  1then log a x  p  x  a p

(u)
If 0  a  1then log a x  p  x  a p

(v)
If 0  a  1then log a x  p  0  x  a p