INTRODUCTION TO

LOGARITHMS
Review exponents: Simplify the given
expressions

 
In this lesson, we will look at it from another
perspective. What if the exponent is missing?


Figure
  out what is the missing number in the following
expressions?
 Exponential form:
Logarithmic form:
 
Note:
 
 In both the logarithmic and exponential forms, is the base.
 In the exponential form, c is an exponent. But c = This
implies that the logarithm is actually an exponent.
 In the logarithmic form a cannot be negative. For example,
is not defined since 2 raised to any exponent will never
result to a negative number.
 The value of can be negative. For example, because
Example 1:without using a calculator, find the
value of the following logarithmic expression.

 
 Definition

Let
  and be positive real numbers such
that . The logarithm of with base ,
denoted by , is defined as the number
such that That is, is the exponent that
b must be raised to produced .
Logarithms and exponents allow us to express the same
relationship in two different ways. This table shows how the
expressions in Example 1 can be written using two equivalent
forms.

Logarithmic Form Exponential Form

=5  
25= 32
=3   3
9 =729
1
 
5 =5
0
 
7 =1

Logarithmic form:
Exponential form:  
 

Common Logarithms are logarithms with base 10; the

base is usually omitted when writing common
logarithms. This means that is a short notation for .

Logarithms with base e are called natural logarithms,

and are denoted by “”. In other words, is another way
of writing
 Representation of real-life situation
  In chemistry, the pH level measures the acidity of a
water-based solution that is measured by the
concentration of hydrogen ions (written [ in the
solution. It is obtained by
pH= -

Ex. A 1-liter solution contains 0.00001 moles of

hydrogen ions. Find its pH level.
 Basic properties of logarithms

 
Let b and x be real numbers such that b>0 and b≠1.

1.

2.

3. If , then
Example: Use the properties of logarithms to
find the value of the following logarithmic
expressions

 
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
 Laws of logarithms

   b>0, b≠1 and let n ∊

Let R. For u>0, v>0, then

1. =

2. =
 Use the properties of logarithms to expand
each expression in terms of the logarithms of
the factors

 
1.
2.
3.
Use the properties of logarithms to condense
the expressions as a single logarithm.

 
1.
2.
3.
 Change –of-Base Formula


Let  , , and be positive real numbers, with .

Examples.
a. (change to base 2)
b. (change to base 3)
c. (change to base 5)
Solving Logarithmic Equations

 Rewriting
  to exponential from
 Using logarithmic properties
 Applying the One-to-one property of Logarithmic
functions, as stated below.
For any logarithmic function ,
if then .
Example. Find the value of in the following
equations.  

 
1.
  (one-to-one property)

 2.

  (changing into exponential form)

 Example. Find the value of in the following
equations.  

 
3.
  (using the property )

(factorization using )
(Zero Factor Property)

Check: 3 is a solution since and are defined.

However, is not a solution since and are not defined.
 Solving Logarithmic Inequality

 
Property of Logarithmic Inequalities
Given the logarithmic expression ,
If , then if and only if
If , then if and only if
Example. Solve the following logarithmic
inequalities.

 
1.
Step 1: Ensure that the logarithms are defined.
   

 
Step 2: Ensure that the inequality is satisfied.
Since the base is

Therefore,
 Example. Solve the following logarithmic
inequalities.

 
1.
Step 1: Ensure that the logarithms are defined.

   

 Step 2: Ensure that the inequality is satisfied.

Since the base is

Therefore,
Thank you!