Rules

to be Kind in
your Class
Meeting
Q1_Week 9
Introduction to
Logarithms
Review on Exponents
Simplify the given expressions and find the value of x in each case.
a. 24 = x Answer: 16

b. 43 = x Answer: 64

c. 5-1 = x Answer: 1/5

d. 16-1/2 = x Answer: 1/4

 Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
• define logarithms;
• write exponential equations to logarithmic form, and vice-
versa;
• find the value of logarithmic expressions;
• distinguish logarithmic functions, logarithmic equations, and
logarithmic inequalities;
• represent real-life situations using logarithmic functions; and
• solve problems involving logarithms.
For example: Figure out the missing number
in the following expressions.
a. 5x = 625 Answer: 4

b. 3x = 1/9 Answer: -2

Answer: 0
c. 7x = 1

d. 10x = 100,000 Answer: 5

Logarithms, the inverse process
of exponentiation.
• Think of a logarithm of x to the base b (denoted by logbx as the
exponent of b that gives x. For example, log381 = 4 because 34
= 81. Some additional examples are given below:
Example 1. Without using a calculator, find the
value of the following logarithmic expression.
 What is Logarithm?

Definition
Let a, b, and c be positive real numbers such
that b ≠ 1. The logarithm of a with base b,
denoted by logba, is defined as logba = c if and
only if a = bc.
Note:
1. In both the logarithmic and exponential
forms, b is the base.
2. In the exponential form, c is an
exponent; this means that the logarithm
is actually an exponent. Hence,
logarithmic and exponential functions
are inverses.
3. In the logarithmic form logb x, x cannot
be negative.
4. The value of logb x can be negative.
Common logarithms are logarithms with
base 10; log x is a short notation for log 10 x.

Natural logarithms are logarithms to the base e

(approximately 2.71828), and are denoted by “ln”.
In other words, lnx is another way of writing logex.
Example 2. Rewrite the following exponential equations in
logarithmic form, whenever possible.

a. 53 = 125
b. 7-2 = 1/49
c. 102 = 100
d. (0.1)-4 = 10000
e. e2= x
f. (–2)2 = 4
•Example
  3. Rewrite the following logarithmic
equations in exponential form.

a. log m = n
b. log3 81 = 4
c. log 5 =2
d. log 3/4 64/27 = -3
e. log4 2 = 1/2
f. log10 0.001 = -3
g. ln 8 = a
Example 4. Find the value of the following
logarithmic expressions.
 logarithmic functions, logarithmic
equations, and logarithmic inequalities
  Logarithmic Logarithmic Logarithmic
equation Inequality Function
Definition An equation An inequality Function of the
involving involving form f(x) = logbx
logarithms. logarithms. (b>0, b≠1).
Example logx 2 = 4 ln x2 > (ln x)2 g(x) = log3 x
 Example 5:
• Determine whether the given
is a logarithmic function,
logarithmic equation,
logarithmic inequality or
neither.
1. g(x) = log5 x
2. y = 2 log4 x
3. log (4x) = -log (3x + 5)
4. x log 2 (x) – 1> 0
5. log x(x-3) = log 4
Representation of real-life situations that use
logarithms.
Sample application 1
• The Richter Scale. In 1935,Charles Richter proposed a
logarithmic scale to measure the intensity of an
earthquake. He defined the magnitude of an
earthquake as a function of its amplitude on a
standard seismograph. The following formula
produces the same results, based on the energy
released by an earthquake.
 Earthquake Magnitude on a Richter scale

••  The magnitude R of an earthquake is given by

Where E (in joules) is the energy released by the earthquake

(the quantity is the energy released by a very small
reference earthquake).
• Example
Suppose that an earthquake released
approximately 1012 joules of energy.
1.What is its magnitude on a Richter scale?

2.How much more energy does this earthquake

release than that by the reference earthquake?
 Solution:
•1. 
Since E = 1012 , then = 107.6 . Since by
definition, log 107.6 = 7.6 is the exponent by
which 10 must be raised to obtain 107.6 , then log
107.6 = 7.6.
Thus, (7.6) ≈ 5.1.
2. This earthquake releases
10 / 10 = 10 ≈ 39810717
12 4.40 7.6

times more energy than that by the

reference earthquake.
 Sample application 2
The Decibel
••  Sound
intensity. In acoustics, the decibel (dB) level of
a sound is D = 10 log
Where I is the sound intensity in watts/m2 (the
quantity watts/m2 is least audible sound a human can
hear).
• Example
The decibel level of sound in a quiet office is
10 watts/m .
-6 2

1.What is the corresponding sound intensity in

decibels?
2.How much more intense is this sound than
the least audible sound a human can hear?