LOGARITHMIC

FUNCTIONS
Study the following
mathematical statements.
1. f(x) = log (2x – 1) + 2

2. 2log9 (x + 1) = 3log9 (x + 2)

3. log2 (2x + 3) < log2 (x – 1)

Logarithmic function – is a function
in the form f(x) = logb x where b > 0
and b ≠ 1. It is the inverse of the
exponential function.
Examples:
1.y = log4 x + 3
2.g(x) = 2log2 x + 3
Logarithmic equation – is an
equation that contains logarithmic
expression(s).

Examples:
1.log3 x + 3 = log3 x + 5
2.log2 x - 3 = 2log2 x + 3
Logarithmic inequality– is an
inequality composed of at least one
logarithmic expression and relational
signs (<, >, <, >).
Examples:
1.xlog (x + 1) > 1
2.log3 x < 3log3 (x – 2)
Tell whether each of the following is
a logarithmic function, logarithmic
equation or logarithmic inequality.
𝒙+𝟑
1.h(x) = log2 ( ) Logarithmic function
𝟓

𝒙+𝟑
2.log3 ( ) > 2log3 x Logarithmic inequality
𝟐−𝒙

𝟑𝒙+𝟏 𝟏
3.log ( ) = log ( ) Logarithmic equation
𝟐 𝒙−𝟐
Laws of Logarithms
- Logarithms are simply exponents. Thus,
the laws of exponents are the basis for the
laws of logarithms which are as follows:
Let m, n, and b be positive real numbers
with b > 0 and b ≠ 1.
Logarithm of a Product
• logb mn = logb m + logb n
Example:
log (5)(4) or log
log3 5 + log3 4 = ______________________
3 3 20
Logarithm of a Quotient
𝑚
• logb = logb m - logb n
𝑛
Example: 𝟏𝟐
log2 = log2 6
• log2 12 – log2 2 = _______________
𝟐

Logarithm of a Power
• logb mn = nlogb m
Example:
3 log10 5
• log10 53 = _______________
Logarithm of a Root
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑚
• logb 𝑚 =
𝑛
𝑛

Logarithm of 1 to Any Base

• logb 1 = 0

Logarithm of b to the Base b

• logb b = 1
Logarithm of b to the Base b
• logb b = 1

Logarithm of bm to the Base b

• logb bm = m

Logarithm of b to the Base bm,

1
• log𝑏 𝑚 b =
𝑚
Try this.
𝑨𝑩𝟐
Express logb as a sum and/or
𝑪
difference of logarithms.
Step 1. Rewrite the given expression using the
rules for the logarithm of a quotient and the
logarithm of a product.
𝑨𝑩𝟐
logb = logb AB2 - logb 𝑪
𝑪
𝑨𝑩𝟐
logb = logb A + logb B2 - logb 𝑪
𝑪
Step 2. Rewrite the radical expressions as
exponential expressions with rational
exponents.
𝑨𝑩𝟐
logb = logb A + logb B2 – logb C1/2
𝑪

Step 3. Apply the rule for the logarithm

of a power.
𝑨𝑩𝟐
logb = logb A + 2logb B – ½ logb C
𝑪
Express 5loga x – 2loga y + 10 loga z as a
single logarithm.

Step 1. Use the rule for the logarithm of a

power.

loga x5 – loga y2 + loga z10

Step 2. Use the rules for the logarithm of
a product and the logarithm of a
quotient.

loga x5z10 – loga y2

𝒙𝟓 𝒛𝟏𝟎
loga
𝒚𝟐
 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟐 𝒏 𝟑𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟐 𝒑
Rewrite 7log2 m + - as a single
𝟐 𝟐
logarithm.

Step 1. Use the rule for the logarithm of

a power.
7log2 m + ½ 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟐 𝒏 – ½(𝟑)𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟐 𝒑

= log2 m7 + 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟐 𝒏1/2 – 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟐 𝒑3/2

Step 2. Use the rules for the logarithm of a
product and the logarithm of a quotient in
reverse.
= log2 m7 𝒏1/2 – 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟐 𝒑3/2
𝒎7𝒏1/2
= log2 𝟑
𝒑𝟐
Step 3. Rewrite exponential expressions
with rational exponents as radical
expressions.
𝒎7 𝒏
= log2
𝒑𝟑
Do these:
𝟒𝟑(𝟐𝟓)𝟑
1. Express log7 as as a sum and/or
𝟏𝟓
difference of logarithms.
= log7 43 + 3𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟕 𝟐𝟓 - 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟕 15
2. Rewrite 1/2log5 x - 2log5 y as a single
logarithm. 𝒙
= log5
𝒚𝟐
3. Express 5logx y – 2logx 7 - ½logx z as a
single logarithm.
𝒚𝟓
= logx
𝟒𝟗 𝒛
Assignment:

A. Tell whether each of the following is a

logarithmic function, logarithmic
equation or logarithmic inequality.

1. g(x) = log4 (𝒙 + 𝟐)
2. log4 (𝟑) = log4 x2
𝒙+𝟏
3. log ( ) > log (𝟑𝒙 + 𝟒)
𝟐𝒙
Let’s try:
1. log4 (8)(3) = ____________________
𝟏𝟑
2. log2 ( ) = _______________________
𝟐𝟓

3. logc (4)3 = ______________________

Evaluate:
1. log10 5 + log10 20 = ___________________
2. log2 48 + log2 3 = ___________________
Consider the following:

From the definition, logarithm

is the inverse of the exponential
function, that is

x = logb y → bx =y
Examples:
Convert the following to logarithmic
form:

1. 8 = 23 log2 8 = 3

2. 104 = 10,000 log10 10,000 = 4

𝟏 𝟏
3. 5-1 = log5 = -1
𝟓 𝟓
Convert the following to exponential
form:

1.log2 16 = 4 24 = 16

𝟏 -2
2.log𝟏 36 = -2 ( )
𝟔
= 36
𝟔

𝟏
𝟏
3.log8 2 = 𝟖𝟑 =𝟐
𝟑
B. Transform the given logarithmic
function into exponential function or
vice versa.
1. 5x = 25
2. 3 = log4 64
3. x5 = 73
4. log7 98 = y
5. 37 = y5