8.

4 – Properties of Logarithms
 Properties of Logarithms
 There are four basic properties of
logarithms that we will be working with.
For every case, the base of the logarithm
can not be equal to 1 and the values must
all be positive (no negatives in logs)
Since logs and exponentials of the same base are inverse functions of
each other they “undo” each other.

f x   a x
f 1
x   log a x
Remember that:
f  f 1  x and f 1  f  x
This means that: 1 log a x
ff a x
inverses “undo”
1 x
each each other
f  f  log a a  x
7
2 log 2 5
=5 log 3 3 =7
 Product Rule

logbMN = LogbM + logbN

 Ex: logbxy = logbx + logby

log 2 + log 3
 Ex: log6 =
 Ex: log39b = log39 + log3b
 Quotient Rule
M
log b  log b M  log b N
N

x
 Ex: log 5  log 5 x  log 5 y
y
a log a  log 5
 Ex: log 2  2 2
5
MN log M  log N  log P
 Ex: log 2  2 2 2
P
 Power Rule
x
log b M  x log b M

2
 Ex: log 5 B  2 log 5 B

x
 Ex: log 2 5  x log 2 5
3 4
 Ex: log 7 a b  3 log 7 a  4 log 7 b
 Properties of Logarithms

CONDENSED
= EXPANDED

log a MN  =log a M  log a N

1.

2. M
log a =log a M  log a N
N
3. log a M r = r log a M
(these properties are based on rules of exponents since logs
= exponents)
Let’s try some
 Working backwards now: write the following as a single
logarithm.

log 4 4  log 4 16 log 5  log 2 2 log 2 m  4 log 2 n

Let’s try some
 Write the following as a single logarithm.

log 4 4  log 4 16 log 5  log 2 2 log 2 m  4 log 2 n

Let’s try something more
complicated . . .
Condense the logs
log 5 + log x – log 3 + 4log 5

log4 5  2 log4 x  5(log4 3x  log4 5x)

 Using the log properties, write the expression as a sum and/or
difference of logs (expand).

 4
 ab 4
  ab 
log 6    log 6  2 
3 2   3 
 c   c 
When working with logs, re-write any radicals as rational exponents.

2
using the second property: log 6 ab 4  log 6 c 3
M
log a  log a M  log a N 2
N
using the first property: log 6 a  log 6 b 4  log 6 c 3

log a MN  log a M  log a N

2
using the third property: log 6 a  4 log 6 b  log 6 c
log a M r  r log a M 3
 Using the log properties, write the expression as a single logarithm
(condense).

1
2 log 3 x  log 3 y
2
1
2
using the third property:
log 3 x  log 3 y 2
log a M r  r log a M
this direction

2
x
using the second property: log 3 1
M
log a
N
 log a M  log a N y 2

this direction
More Properties of Logarithms
This one says if you have an equation, you can take the log of both
sides and the equality still holds.

If M  N , then log a M  log a N

If log a M  log a N , then M  N

This one says if you have an equation and each side has a log of the
same base, you know the "stuff" you are taking the logs of are equal.
Let’s try something more
complicated . . .
Condense the logs
log 5 + log x – log 3 + 4log 5

log4 5  2 log4 x  5(log4 3x  log4 5x)

Let’s try something more
complicated . . .
 Expand 3
4
10 x 2 x 
log log8  

3y2  5 
Let’s try something more
complicated . . .
 Expand 3
4
10 x 2 x 
log log8  

3y2  5 