Logarithmic Functions

Logarithmic Functions
and Models
 Logarithmic Functions
 What Is a Logarithm ?

The base-a logarithm of x is the power
of a that yields x, written
log a x

The base-a logarithm of x is the inverse
function of the base-a exponential function,
that is
log a (ax) = x and a log a x = x

See
Logarithms

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 Logarithmic Functions
Consider the exponential function
f(x) = ax , 0 < a ≠ 1
 We can show that f(x) is a 1–1 function

 So f(x) does have an inverse function f –1(x)

f –1 (f(x)) = f –1 (ax ) = x = a loga x

 Since we showed that
log a ay = log a x = y
we call this inverse the logarithm function
with base a

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 Logarithmic Functions
 Consider the exponential function
f(x) = a x, 0 < a ≠ 1
 Since log a x is an inverse of a x then
loga x
log a (ax) = x = a

Questions:
What are the domain and range of ax ?
What are the domain and range of log a x ?

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 Logarithmic Functions
 A Second Look y
f(x) = ax , for a > 1
Graphs of f(x) = ax and

x
=
(1, a) g x

y
= lo
a
f –1(x) = log a x are mirror ● –1
f (x)
images with respect ●
(0, 1)
●(a, 1)
to the line y = x ●(1, 0) x
Note that y = f –1(x)
if and only if f(y) = a y = x
y = loga x iffi a y = x
Remember:
loga x is the power of a that yields x
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 Logarithmic Functions
 A Third Look y
f(x) = ax , for a > 1
 log a x = y means a y = x

x
=
(1, a) g x
What if x = a ? Then

y
= lo
a

● –1
f (x)
log a a = y and a y = a ●
(0, 1)
●(a, 1)
●(1, 0) x
So for any base a ,
with a > 0, a ≠ 1

log a a = 1

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 Logarithmic Functions
 A Third Look y
f(x) = ax , for a > 1
 log a x = y means a y = x

x
=
(1, a) g x
What if x = 1 ? Then

y
= lo
a

● –1(x)
a y = 1 and so y = 0 ●
(0, 1)
f
●(a, 1)
WHY ? ●(1, 0) x
So for any base a ,
with a > 0, a ≠ 1

log a 1 = 0

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 Logarithmic Functions
y
f(x) = ax,
 A Fourth Look for a < 1

What if 0 < a < 1 ?

x
=
y
Then what is f –1(x) ? (a, 1)
Are the graphs still (0, 1) ● (1, a)
symmetric with ● x
(1, 0)
respect to line y = x ?
YES ! f–1(x) = logax

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 Logarithmic Functions
y
f(x) = ax,
 A Fourth Look for a < 1
 Is it still true that

x
=
f(1) = a and f –1(x) = 1 ?

y
(a, 1)
YES ! (0, 1) ●●● (1, a)
●
 Is it possible that ● x
(1, 0)
loga x = a x ?
f–1(x) = logax
YES !
on the line y = x
Question: For what x does log x =
a ax ?
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 Logarithmic Functions
Example f(x) = ax y
for a =
 Let a = ½
½
Then f(x) = ax = (½)x

x
=
y
Then what is f–1(x) ? (½,1)
●●● (1,½)
(0,1)
f –1(x) = log a x = log½ x ●
●
(1,0)
x
It is still true that
f(1) = (½)1 = ½
f –1(x) = log1/2 x
and f–1(½) = log½(½) = 1
Where do the graphs intersect?
WHY ?
y = (½)x = log½x = x
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 Exponent / Log Comparisons

Compare ax with loga x
Exponential Inverse Function
102 = 100 log10100 = 2
34 = 81 log3 81 = 4
(½)–5 = 32 log1/2 32 = –5

25 = 32 log2 32 = 5
–3 log5 (1/125) = –3
5 = 1/125
loge(20.08553692) ≈ 3
e3 ≈ 20.08553692
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 Exponent / Log Comparisons
 Compare Logarithms
 Common Logarithm
 Base 10
 Log10 x = Log x
 Natural Logarithm
 Base e
 Loge x = ln x

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 One-to-One Property Review
 Since a x and loga x are 1-1

1. If x = y then ax = ay

2. If ax = ay then x = y
 3. If x = y then loga x = loga y
 4. If loga x = loga y then x = y
 These facts can be used to solve equations
Solve: 10x – 1 = 100
10x – 1 = 102
x–1=2 Solution set : { 3 }
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 Think about it !

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