Logarithms

William Manamela
June 2, 2020

1 Logarithms definition
we introduce the logarithmic functions as inverses of exponential functions and
discussed a few of their functional properties from that perspective. In this
section, we explore the algebraic properties of logarithms. Historically, these
have played a huge role in the scientific development of our society since, among
other things, they were used to develop analog computing devices called slide
rules which enabled scientists and engineers to perform accurate calculations
leading to such things as space travel and the moon landing.
The logarithms are used to linearize data in experiments.

2 Inverse Properties of Exponential and Loga-

rithmic Functions
Let consider the follwoing situation in exponential form:

N umber = baseExponent (1)

In logarithmic form we have:

Exponent = logbase (N umber) (2)

We can summarize the above statements in this way which shows that ex-
ponents and logs are inverse of one another:

A = BC if and only if C = logB (A) b > 0and b 6= 1. (3)

3 One-to-one Properties of Exponential and Log

Functions
Let f (x) = bx and g(x) = logb (x) where b > 0 and b 6= 1.Then f and g are
one-to-one.
Algebraic Properties of Logarithm Functions

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 Let g(x) = logb (x) where b > 0, b 6= 1 be a logarithmic function and Let X
and Y be real valued.

logb (b) = 1 (4)

logb (1) = 0 (5)

Product rule of logs: logb (X × Y ) = logb (X) + logb (Y ) (6)

X
quotient rule of logs: logb ( ) = logb (X) − logb (Y ) (7)
Y

Power rule of logs: logb (X n ) = n logb (X) (8)

log(X) ln(X)
Change of base rule: logb (X) = = (9)
log(b) ln(b)

4 Common logarithms and Natural Logarithms

4.1 Common logarithms
Are logarithms that we are used to and have base 10, log10 (x).

4.2 Natural Logarithms

All Logarithms with base e. Where e is an irrational, Euler number or a tran-
scendental number approximately equal to 2.718281828459.
They are writen as follows loge (x) or simply as ln(x) ( lin of x or natural
logarithm of x). Natural Logarithms are used in science and engineering to
linearize experimental data. They still follow the same rules of logarithms.

eln(x) = x
ln(e) = 1 (10)
ln(1) = 0 (11)

Product rule of logs: ln(X × Y ) = ln(X) + ln(Y ) (12)

X
quotient rule of logs: ln( ) = ln(X) − ln(Y ) (13)
Y

Power rule of logs: ln(X n ) = n ln(X) (14)

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5 Examples
5.1 Expand the following using the properties of loga-
rithms and simplify. Assume when necessary that all
quantities represent positive real numbers.
1.
8
logb ( ) = logb (8) − logb (X) quotient rule
X
= logb (23 ) − logb (X) Since 23 = 8
= 3 logb (2) − logb (X)

2.
 3 2 3
ln = 2 ln power rule
ex  ex 
= 2 ln(3) − ln(ex) quotient rule
 
= 2 ln(3) − ln(e) − ln(x) product rule − (ln(e) + ln(x)) = − ln(e) − ln(x)
= 2 ln(3) − 2 ln(e) − 2 ln(x) multiply out by 2
= 2 ln(3) − 2 − 2 ln(x) Since ln(e) = 1

3.
s
100x2  100x2  13
log( 3 ) = log
yz 5 yz 5
1  100x2 
= log power rule of logarithms
3 yz 5
1 h    i
= log 100x2 − log yz 5 Quotient rule fo logarithms
3
1 h  i
= log(100) + log(x2 ) − log(y) + log(z 5 )
3
1h i
= log(102 ) + log(x2 ) − log(y) − log(z 5 )
3
1h i
= 2 log(10) + 2 log(x) − log(y) − 5 log(z) power rule of logarithms
3
2 2 1 5
= log(10) + log(x) − log(y) − log(z) muliply out by 1/3 all over.
3 3 3 3
2 2 1 5
= + log(x) − log(y) − log(z) The log of ten base 10 is one (log(10) = 1)
3 3 3 3

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5.2 Use the properties of logarithms to write the following
as a single logarithm.
1.
x − 1
log3 (x − 1) − log3 (x + 1) = log3 Quotient rule
x+1

2.

6 log5 (x) + 2 = log5 (x6 ) + 2 Power rule

6
= log5 (x ) + 2log5 (5) Since 2 = 2log5 (5)
6 2
= log5 (x ) + log5 (5 ) Power rule
= log5 (x6 ) + log5 (25)
= log5 (25x6 ) Product rule

3.

log(x) + 4 log(y) − log(z) = log(x) + log(y 4 ) − log(z) POWER RULE

= log(xy 4 ) − log(z) Product RULE
 xy 4 
= log Quotient rule
z

4.
1 1  1 1 
− ln(x) − = (−1) ln(x) − Note that − = − ln(e)
2 2 2 2
−1 1
= ln(x ) − ln(e) Power rule
2
1
= ln(x−1 ) − ln(e 2 ) Power rule
√
= ln(x−1 ) − ln( e)
 x−1 
= ln √ quotient rule
e
 1 
= ln √
x e

6 Exponential Equations
In this section we will develop techniques for solving equations involving expo-
nential functions.

4
6.1 Examples
6.1.1 Solve for x in each of the following equations.
1.

23x = 161−x
∴ 23x = (24 )1−x Since 24 = 16
∴ 23x = (2)4−4x
∴ 3x = 4 − 4x We have the same base on both side,therefore we equate the exponents
∴ 7x = 4
∴ x = 4/7

2.

7x = 24
∴ ln(7x ) = ln(24) Since the base are not the same we apply natural logarithms
∴ x ln(7) = ln(24) power rule
ln(24)
∴x= diving both side by ln(7)
ln(7)

3.

9 × 3x = 72x
∴ ln(32 × 3x ) = ln(72x ) Since the base are not the same we apply natural logarithms on bot
∴ ln(32+x ) = ln(72x ) Same base we add the exponents 32 × 3x = 32+x
∴ (2 + x) ln(3) = (2x) ln(7) Power rule
∴ 2 ln(3) + x ln(3) = (2x) ln(7) Multiplying out by(2 + x) ln(3) = 2 ln(3) + x ln(3)
∴ 2 ln(3) = (2x) ln(7) − x ln(3) Grouping like terms one side
h i
∴ 2 ln(3) = x 2 ln(7) − ln(3) Taking out common factor of x
2 ln(3 h i
∴x= Dividing both side by 2 ln(7) − ln(3)
2 ln(7) − ln(3)

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 4.
100
75 =
1 + 3e−2x
∴ 75(1 + 3e−2x ) = 100 We multiply both side by 1 + 3e−2x
∴ 75 + 75 × 3e−2x = 100 Multiplying out
∴ 255e−2x = 100 − 75
∴ 255e−2x 25
25
∴ e−2x =
225
25
∴ ln(e−2x ) = ln( ) Since ln(e) = 1
225
25
∴ −2x = ln( )
225
25
ln( )
∴ x = − 225
−2

6.2 Example
6.3 Newton cooling example
A hot bowl of soup is served at a dinner party. It starts to cool according to
Newton’s Law of Cooling so its temperature, T (measured in degrees Fahrenheit)
after t minutes is given by

T (t) = 65 + 186e−0.06t

How long will it take from the time the food is served until the temperature is
120◦ F

Solution
We need to solve the equation 65 + 186e−0.06t = 120.

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 65 + 186e−0.06t = 120
∴ 186e−0.06t = 120 − 65
55
∴ e−0.06t =
186
 55 
−0.06t
∴ ln(e ) = ln
186
 55 
∴ −0.06t = ln
186
ln(0.29569889)
∴t=
−0.06
−1.218413488
∴t=
−0.06
∴ t = 20, 31

6.4 Bacteria example

N (t) = N0 e( rt)
At the start of an experiment conducted by CPUT students at one of the
laboratory, the number of bacteria was found to be 1000. If the number of
bacteria decreases exponentially with exponential death rate of k = 0.09, then
the number of bacteria at time t [minutes] is given by: N (t) = 100e−0,09t

1. Calculate the number of bacteria at time t = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . , 10.(Hint:

draw a table to show this)
2. Using question 1 above Draw a graph to represent the number of bacteria
against time. Label your graph on the x-and y-axis, including the heading.
3. Calculate the time to decrease the number of bacteria to 10% of the orig-
inal number.

Solution

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 Figure 1:

Figure 2:

10% of bacteria of the original bacterias is given by 10/100 ∗ 100 = 10

bacterias.

10 = N (t)
∴ 10 = 100e−0,09t
∴ 10/100 = e−0,09t divide both side by 100
−0,09t
∴ ln(10/100) = ln(e ) Apply natural log on both sides
∴ ln(10/100) = −0, 09t
ln(10/100)
∴ =t
−0, 09t
∴ t = 25, 59 minutes

7 Logarithmic Equations
In this section we will develop techniques for solving equations involving logar-
itmic functions.

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7.1 Examples
7.1.1 Solve for x in each of the following equations.
1.

log2 (x + 2) + log2 (3) = log2 (27)

∴ log2 (3(x + 2)) = log2 (27) Product rule
∴ 3(x + 2) = 27 Since the base are the same we drop the logarithsm from both side
∴ 3x + 6 = 27
∴ 3x = 27 − 6
∴ 3x = 21
∴x=7

2.

log3 (x) + log3 (x − 2) = log3 (x + 10)

∴ log3 (x(x − 2)) = log3 (x + 10)
∴ log3 (x2 − 2x) = log3 (x + 10)
∴ x2 − 2x = x + 10 Since the base are the same we drop the logarithms from both sides
2
∴ x − 2x − x − 10 = 0
∴ x2 − 3x − 10 = 0
∴ (x − 5)(x + 2) = 0
∴ x 6= −2 or x = 5

3.
1
log(x4 ) − log(2x − 1) = log(x2 ) + log(2)
2
1
∴ log(x4× 2 ) − log(2x − 1) = log(2x2 ) Power and Product rule used
∴ log(x2 ) − log(2x − 1) = log(2x2 )
 x2 
∴ log = log(2x2 )
2x − 1
x2
∴ = 2x2 Since the base are the same we drop the logarithms from both side
2x − 1
∴ x2 = 2x2 (2x − 1) Multiply both side by 2x − 1
∴ x2 = 4x3 − 2x2
∴ 4x3 − 2x2 − x2 = 0
∴ 4x3 − 3x2 = 0
∴ x2 (4x − 3) = 0
∴x=0 or x = 3/4

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4.

ln(x + 3) + ln(x) = ln(4)

∴ ln(x(x + 3)) = ln(4) Product rule
∴ ln(x2 + 3x) = ln(4)
∴ x2 + 3x = 4 Since the base are the same we drop the logarithsm from both side
∴ x2 + 3x − 4 = 0
∴ (x + 4)(x − 1) = 0
∴ x 6= −4 or x = 1

5.

ln(5x2 + 2) = 4
2
∴ eln(5x +2)
= e4 To get rid of the logs(ln) we apply exponetial function e on both side
2 4
∴ 5x + 2 = e
∴ 5x2 = e4 − 2
e4 − 2
∴ x2 =
r5
e4 − 2
∴x=±
5

6.
1
log4 ( ) − log9 (1/3) + log5 (0.008)
16
1 1 1
= log4 (16−1 ) − log9 (3−1 ) + log5 (1/125) Since 0.008 = , = 3−1 , = 16−1
125 3 16
1
= log4 ((42 )−1 ) − log9 (3−1 ) + log5 (5−3 ) Since 16 = 42 , 5−3 =
125
= log4 ((4)−2 ) − log9 (3−1 ) + log5 (5−3 )
= (−2) log4 (4) − (−1) log9 (3) + (−3)log5 (5) Power rule of logarithms
log(3) log(3)
= (−2) + − 3 Since log4 (4) = 1 , log5 (5) = 1 , log9 (3) = change of base
log(9) log(9)
log(3)
= (−2) + −3
log(32 )
log(3)
= −2 + − 3 power rule
2 log(3)
1
= −2 + − 3
2
= −9/2

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