Laws of Exponents

Let’s dig deep into our

memories and try to
remember the laws of
exponents.

Product Rule x �x = x
m n m +n

Quotient Rule x m �x n = x m -n

It’s all coming back now. I remember this stuff.

 Laws of Logarithms
What are the Laws of Logarithms?
Since Logarithms are just exponents
written in a different form, maybe the
Laws of Logarithms are the same as the
Laws of Exponents.

Product Rule logb (xy ) = logb x + logb y

Quotient Rule logb (x �y ) = logb x - logb y
Power Rule logb (x )n = n logb x
This looks pretty easy, but how
does it work with actual numbers?
 Examples of the Logarithm Laws

Product Rule logb (xy ) = logb x + logb y

log2 (32 �8) = log2 32 + log2 8

Quotient Rule logb (x �y ) = logb x - logb y

log2 (32 �8) = log2 32 - log2 8

Power Rule logb (x ) = n logb x

n

May I log2 (8)4 = 4 log2 8

press the
easy button
 Logarithm Laws
in Action
1
1
log x = log x 2 = log x I can do that.
2
�m �
Express log �3
�in terms of log m and log n
�n �
1
�m � �m� 1 3�m� 1
log � �= log � � = log � �= (log m - log n )
3

�n � �n � 3 �n � 3

That one made my brain hurt, but I think I can do it.

 More Logarithm
Laws in Action
If log 2 = x and log 3 = y, express each
of the following in terms of x and y

a ) log 6 b ) log24
log 6 = 2 �3 log 24 = log(8 �3)
1
This really isn’t
= log ( 2 �3)2 = log(2 �3)
3
as difficult as I
1 thought it was.
= log ( 2 �3) = log(2)3 + log 3
2
1
= ( log 2 + log 3) = 3log 2 + log3
2
1 = 3x + y
= (x + y )
2
Solving Equations that That sounds
confusing, but

Contain Logarithms I guess I’ll give

it a try.

If log b A = log b B then A = B

If log N = 2log x + log y

solve for N in terms of x and y
Try to put the equation in the form log b A = log b B

Undo the power law log N = log x2 + log y

Undo the product law log N = log x2y

Drop the log and set
the numbers equal N = x2y
 More Equations that
Contain Logarithms
1
Solve for x: log x - log 8 = log 7
3
Put the equation in the form log b A = log b B
1

Undo the power law log x - log 8 = log 7

3

Evaluate what you can log x - log 2 = log 7

x
Undo the quotient law log = log 7
2
Drop the log and set x
the numbers equal =7
2
Solve the equation x = 14
 Exponentiating Logarithmic Equations
I’m not even sure what that means. Let’s give it a look.

Solve for x: log4 (x - 3) + log4 (x + 3) = 2

Logarithms are exponents written in a different form

Undo the product law (x - 3)(x + 3) �

log4 �
� �= 2
Write in exponential form (x - 3)(x + 3) = 42

Evaluate what you have (x - 3)(x + 3) = 16

x 2 - 9 = 16
You must check for x 2 = 25
extraneous roots That looked
x = �5 hard at first,
but it really
Write your final answer x=5 wasn’t hard
after all.