LOGARITHMS

There is a strong link between numbers written in exponential form and

logarithms, so before starting Logs, let’s review some concepts of exponents
(Indices) and exponent rules.
We know that

16= 24

Here, the number 4 is the power. Sometimes we call it an exponent. Sometimes we call it an
index. In the expression 24, the number 2 is called the base.

Why do we study logarithms ?

In order to motivate our study of logarithms, consider the following:
we know that 16 = 24
.
We also know that 8 = 23
Suppose that we wanted to multiply 16 by 8.

Similarly if we wanted to divide 16 by 8:

What is a logarithm ?

Fill in the blanks.

logarithmic exponential form
form
log 4 64=3 64=43

log 3 81 = 4

1
log125 5=
3

26=64
1
83 = 2
 Solve the following equations for x.

a) log 𝑥 81= 2 b) x= log 4 16 c) log 5 𝑥 = 3 d)log 𝑎 1= x

INVESTIGATION

1. Use the definition of logarithms and the properties of exponents to verify

the following:

a) log 𝑎 𝑥 + log 𝑎 𝑦 = log 𝑎 𝑥𝑦

𝑥
b) log 𝑎 𝑥 - log 𝑎 𝑦 = log 𝑎
𝑦

c) log 𝑎 𝑥 𝑛 = n. log 𝑎 𝑥
 2. Show that :

1
a) log 𝑎 1 = 0 b) log 𝑎 𝑎 = 1 c) - log 𝑎 𝑥 = log 𝑎
𝑥

3. For which values of a, x and y are these properties valid ?

log𝑏 𝑥 1
4. Show that log 𝑎 𝑥 = hence show that log 𝑎 𝑏 =
log𝑏 𝑎 log𝑏 𝑎

In Investigation 10, you derived the following properties of logarithms:

Express each of the following as a single logarithm.

a) log 2 + 2 log 3 - log 6

1
b) log 𝑎 𝑝 – 2 log 𝑎 𝑞 + log 𝑎 𝑟
2

c) 1 + log 𝑏 𝑎𝑏

Without the use of a calculator, find the value of the following.

a) log 3 7 × log 7 3 b) log 2 27 × log 3 64

Solve for x.
a) 5x = 36 b) 42x+1 = 10 c) 2(3x)2 = 7

Solve the equations.

a) 23-x = 8x b) 3√27 = 9x-1