Boyle

ABM GROUP

Logarithmic
Inequalities and
its Graphs
Introduction
 Logarithmic Inequalities
Inequalities with a logarithm on one (or both)
sides.

They are helpful in evaluating situations involving

repeated multiplication, such as in the cases of
interest and exponential decay, just as exponential
inequalities.
 If a > 1 and x > y, then logax > log a y.
Otherwise, if 0<a<1, then logax < loga y.

The base of a logarithm can't be 1 or a

nonpositive number. Likewise, the converse is
true as well.

If a > 1 and logax > logay, then x > y.

Otherwise, if 0<a<1, then x < y.
 Remember

f(x) = logax is monotonically increasing (x and

f(x) have a direct relationship) when a > 1,
monotonically decreasing (x and f(x) have an
inverse relationship) when 0 < a < 1.

The domains of the logarithm is positive.

Logarithmic Inequalities

Same Base
 Same Base
You can apply what you've learned from the introduction when a > 1.

log 3( 3x + 1 ) > log3( x - 3 )

1. Find the domains: 2. Solve for x. 3. Find the intersection

{ x > -2
3x + 1 > 0 3x + 1 > x - 3 x>3
x > -1/3 (negative) 3x + 1 - x - 1 > x - 3 - x - 1
2x > -4
2x(1/2) > -4(1/2) x>3
x-3>0 x > -2
x>3 4. Final Answer:
Inequality Form: x > 3
Interval Notation: (-3, +∞)
 Logarithmic
Inequalities -
Base less than 1
 Bases Less than 1

When it comes to Logarithmic inequalities with the

case that the bases are less than 1, the larger side is
the one with the smaller exponent.
Example:

log 1/2 (3x) > log (2x + 3)

1/2
 Bases Less than 1
Example: log (3x) > log (2x + 3)
1/2 1/2
3x > 0
_
1 log 1/2 (3x)
> _
log
1 1/2 (2x + 3)
2x + 3 > 0
2 2
_
1 log1/2 (3x) > _
log
1 1/2 (2x + 3) Final Answer:
Inequality Form:
2 2
0<x<3
3x < (2x + 3) x<3 Interval Notation:
(0,3)
 Logarithmic
Inequalities -
Similar Base
 Logarithmic Inequalities - Similar Base

In many inequalities, the bases are different but can be

rewritten in terms of the same base. For example:
2
log 2 (x+1) > log 4 (x )

Here, the bases are different, but they are related by the fact that
2
4=2 . Rewriting the inequality to use 4 as a base gives:
2 2
log 4 ((x+1) ) > log 4 (x )
 Logarithmic Inequalities - Similar Base

2 2
log 4 ((x+1) ) > log 4 (x )
x ≠ -1, x ≠ 0
2 2 Combine the intervals:
(x+1) > x
Find the domains: 1
2 < x < 0 or x > 0
Rewrite in standard form Final Answer:
2
2x + 1 > 0 x >0 Inequality Form:
1
2x + 1 - 1 > 0 - 1 x < 0 or x > 0 2
< x < 0 or x > 0

Interval Notation:
2x > -1 (- 21 ,0) U (0,∞)
x > - 21
 Inequality Form:
1
2
< x < 0 or x > 0

Interval Notation:
Final
Answer (- ,0) U (0,+∞)
1
2
Logarithmic Inequalities

Different
Base
Change of Base Formula

logc b Rearranging any log by making a

a logc a fraction with the log of the argument
in the numerator and the log of the
base in the denominator.

log π
Example: log2 π =
log 2
 Different Base
What values of x must satisfy the following inequality:

log7 (x+5) > log 5 (x+5) Hence,

log (x+5) log (x+5)
log 7
> log 5
Use the change of base formula:
log (x+5) log (x+5) < 0
log7(x+5) =
log 7
Solve: Inequality Form:
log (x+5) x+5 < 1 -5 < x < -4
log5(x+5) = x < -4
log 5 Interval Notation:
(-5, -4)
 Logarithmic Inequalities:
Multiple Terms
In the case of multiple terms, it is generally worth assigning another
variable to a logarithmic term, solving the resulting inequality, and
then working with the single-term inequality.
In the case of an inequality chain, it is usually appropriate to treat
each inequality separately, then combine the results.

 Example

log2 (x) + 2
(log 2(x)) > 6
Let y = log 2 (x), => y + y 2 > 6 => y2 + y > 6
y2 + y - 6 > 0
(y + 3)(y - 2) > 0
 Example
y+3<0 y-2 >0
y + 3 -3 < 0 - 3 y-2+2>0+2
y<-3 y>2
 Example
y+3<0 y-2 >0
y + 3 -3 < 0 - 3 y-2+2>0+2
y<-3 y>2
2
log 2 (x) > 2 => x > 2 => x > 4
log 2 (x) > log 24 => x > 4
 Example
-3 1 1
log2 (x) < - 3 => x < 2 => x < 2 => x < 8
3

1 1
log2 (x) < log 2(8) => x < 8

1 1
0 < x < 8 or x > 4 (0, 8) U (4, )
 Inequality Form:
1
0 < x < 8 or x > 4

Final Interval Notation:

Answer 1
(0, 8) U (4, )
Logarithmic Inequalities

Graphs
(Number Line)
 Number Line
Close - the shaded circle indicates that a
Basic Terms value is included in the solution.

Open - the hollow circle indicates that a value

is NOT included in the solution.
 Example: x > 3
| | | | | |
Examples
0 3
 Example: x ≥3
Examples
| | | | | | |
0 3
log2 (2x+3) > log 2 (x-2)
2x + 3 > x - 2 subtract x to both sides

x+3>-2 subtract 3 to both sides

x > -5
 log2 (2x+3) > log 2 (x-2)
2x + 3 > 0 x-2>0
subtract 3 to both sides add 2 to both sides
2x > -3 x>2
divide both sides by 2

x > -3/2
 Number Line

| | | | | | | | | | | |
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
 Number Line

| | | | | | | | | | | |
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
 Number Line

| | | | | | | | | | | | |
-3/2
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
 Number Line

| | | | | | | | | | | | |
-3/2
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
 Number Line

| | | | | | | | | | | | |
-3/2
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
 Number Line
Final Answer:
x>2 (2, +∞)

| | | | | | | | | | | | |
-3/2
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
Thank You
SEE YOU NEXT TIME