Logarithmic Functions

 In this section, another type of function will

be studied called the logarithmic function.
There is a close connection between a
logarithmic function and an exponential
function. We will see that the logarithmic
function and exponential functions are
inverse functions. We will study the concept
of inverse functions as a prerequisite for
our study of logarithmic function.
One to one functions
We wish to define an inverse of a function.
Before we do so, it is necessary to
discuss the topic of one to one
functions.

First of all, only certain functions are one

to one.
Definition: A function is said to be one to
one if distinct inputs of a function
correspond to distinct outputs. That is,
if
Graph of one to one function
 This is the graph of a one to one function. Notice that if we choose two
different x values, the corresponding values are also different. Here, we
see that if x =- 2 , y = 1 and if x = 1, y is about 3.8.
 Now, choose any other
 pair of x values. Do you
 see that the
 corresponding y
 values will always be
different?
Horizontal Line Test
 Recall that for an equation to be a function, its graph
must pass the vertical line test. That is, a vertical line
that sweeps across the graph of a function from left to
right will intersect the graph only once.

 There is a similar geometric test to determine if a

function is one to one. It is called the horizontal line
test. Any horizontal line drawn through the graph of a
one to one function will cross the graph only once.
If a horizontal line crosses a graph more than once,
then the function that is graphed is not one to one.
Which functions are one to one?
40 12

30 10

20 8

10 6

0 4
-4 -2 0 2 4
-10 2

-20 0
-4 -2 0 2 4
-30
Definition of inverse function
 Given a one to one function, the inverse function is
found by interchanging the x and y values of the
original function. That is to say, if ordered pair (a,b)
belongs to the original function then the ordered pair
(b,a) belongs to the inverse function. Note: If a
function is not one to one (fails the horizontal line
test) then the inverse of such a function does not
exist.
Logarithmic Functions
 The logarithmic function with base two is defined to be the
inverse of the one to one exponential function x
y2
 Notice that the exponential 9
 function
y2 x 8
7
6
5 graph of y = 2^(x)
 is one to one and therefore has 4
approaches the negative x-axis as x gets
an inverse. 3 large
2
passes through (0,1)
1
0
-4 -2 0 2 4
Inverse of exponential function
 Start with
y2 x

 Now, interchange x and y coordinates:

x  2y
 There are no algebraic techniques that can be used to solve for y,
so we simply call this function y the logarithmic function with
base 2.
log 2 x  y
 So the definition of this new function is
 if and only if
log 2 x  y x  2y
 (Notice the direction of the arrows to help you remember the
formula)
Graph, domain, range of
logarithmic function
 1. The domain of the logarithmic function is the
same as the range of the exponential function
 (Why?) y2 x

 2. The range of the logarithmic function is the same

as the domain of the exponential function
 (Again, why?)
y2 x

 3. Another fact: If one graphs any one to one

function and its inverse on the same grid, the two
graphs will always be symmetric with respect the line y
= x.


Three graphs: y  2 x , log 2 x  y , y=x

Notice the symmetry:

 

  
 


Logarithmic-exponential
conversions
 Study the examples below. You should be able to
convert a logarithmic into an exponential expression
and vice versa.
 1. log 4 (16)  x  4 x  16  x  2
 1  1
 2.
 
log 3    log 3  3   log 3 33  3
 27  3 
 3. 125  5  log 5 125   3
3

1
 4. 1
81  9  81  9  log 81 9  
2
2
 Solving equations
Using the definition of a logarithm, you can solve equations
involving logarithms: See examples below:

log b (1000)  3  b  1000  b  10  b  10

3 3 3

log 6  x   5  6  x  7776  x
5
Properties of logarithms
 These are the properties of logarithms. M and N are
positive real numbers, b not equal to 1, and p and x are
real numbers.

1. log b (1)  0 5. log b MN  log b M  log b N

M
2. log b (b)  1 6. log b  log b M  log b N
N
3. log b b  1
x
7. log b M p  p log b M
4. b logb x
x 8. log b M  log b N iff M  N
Solving logarithmic equations
1. Solve for x: log 4 ( x  6)  log 4 ( x  6)  3 
2. Product rule log 4 ( x  6)( x  6)  3 
3. Special product log 4  x 2  36   3 
4. Definition of log
43  x 2  36 
64  x  36 
2

5. X can be 10 only
100  x 2 
6. Why?
10  x 
x  10
Another example
 Solve:

log   log(10000 )  x 
 2. Quotient rule

log x
 3. Simplify 10000
 (divide out common factor of pi)  1 
log  x
 4. rewrite
 10000 
log10 104   x 
 5 definition of logarithm
10 x  104 
 6. Property of exponentials x  4
Common logs and Natural logs
 Common log  Natural log

log x  log10 x ln( x)  log e x

e  2.7181828
Solving an equation
1. Solve for x. Obtain the  Solution:
exact solution of this ln( x  1)  1  ln( x) 
equation in terms of e
(2.71828…) ln( x  1)  ln( x)  1
2. Quotient property of logs  x 1
ln   1
 x 
3. Definition of (natural log) x 1
e1  
4. Multiply both sides by x x
5. Collect x terms on left side ex  x  1  0 
6. Factor out common factor ex  x  1 
7. Solve for x
x(e  1)  1 
1
x
e 1
Solving an exponential equation
 Solve the equation  Solution:
2 x 1
5  80 52 x 1  80 
ln 52 x 1   ln(80) 
1. Take natural logarithm of both
sides

2. Exponent property of logarithms (2 x  1) ln(5)  ln(80) 

3. Distributive property 2 x ln(5)  1ln(5)  ln 80 
4. Isolate x term on left side 2 x ln(5)  ln 80  ln 5 
5. Solve for x ln 80  ln 5
x
2 ln(5)
Application
 How long will it take money  Solution:
to double if compounded mt
monthly at 4 % interest ?  r
A  P 1  
 1. compound interest  m
formula 12 t
 2. Replace A by 2P (double  0.04 
2 P  P 1  
the amount)  12 
 3. Substitute values for r
and m 2  (1.003333...)12t
 4. Take ln of both sides ln 2  ln  (1.003333...)12t 
 5. Property of logarithms
 6. Solve for t and evaluate ln 2  12t ln(1.00333...)
expression ln 2
 t  t  17.36
12 ln(1.00333...)