Scribd
Upload
56 views

44 2 Logarithmic Function

The logarithmic function f(x) = loga(x) takes the logarithm of x with respect to some base a. There are two cases depending on whether a is between 0 and 1 or above 1. If a is between 0 and 1, the function is strictly decreasing with a vertical asymptote at x=0, approaching infinity as x approaches 0. If a is above 1, the function is strictly increasing with a vertical asymptote at x=0, approaching negative infinity as x approaches 0. In general, the function intersects the x-axis at x=1 and passes through (a,1), is always positive, and is its own inverse when applied to the exponential function. The natural logarithm

Uploaded by

api-299265916
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
56 views

44 2 Logarithmic Function

The logarithmic function f(x) = loga(x) takes the logarithm of x with respect to some base a. There are two cases depending on whether a is between 0 and 1 or above 1. If a is between 0 and 1, the function is strictly decreasing with a vertical asymptote at x=0, approaching infinity as x approaches 0. If a is above 1, the function is strictly increasing with a vertical asymptote at x=0, approaching negative infinity as x approaches 0. In general, the function intersects the x-axis at x=1 and passes through (a,1), is always positive, and is its own inverse when applied to the exponential function. The natural logarithm

Uploaded by

api-299265916
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Logarithmic Function

This is the Logarithmic Function:

f(x) = loga(x)
a is any value greater than 0, except 1

Properties depend on value of "a"

When a=1, the graph is not defined

Apart from that there are two cases to look at:

a between 0 and 1

a above 1

Example: f(x) = log(x)

Example: f(x) = log2(x)

For a between 0 and 1

For a above 1:

As x nears 0, it heads to infinity

As x nears 0, it heads to -infinity

As x increases it heads to -infinity

As x increases it heads to infinity

It is a Strictly Decreasing function

it is a Strictly Increasing function

It has a Vertical Asymptote along the y-

It has a Vertical Asymptote along the y-

axis (x=0).

axis (x=0).

In General:

It is always on the positive side of (and never crosses) the y-axis

It always intersects the x-axis at x=1 ... in other words it passes through (1,0)

At x=a, f(x)=1 ... in other words it passes through (a,1)

It is an Injective (one-to-one) function


Its Domain is the Positive Real Numbers: (0,

+)

Its Range is the Real Numbers:

Inverse
loga(x)

is the Inverse Function of

ax (the Exponential Function)

So the Logarithmic Function can be "reversed" by the Exponential Function.

The Natural Logarithm Function


This is the "Natural" Logarithm Function:

f(x) = loge(x)
Where e is "Eulers Number" = 2.718281828459 (and more ...)
But it is more common to write it this way:

f(x) = ln(x)
"ln" meaning "log, natural"
So when you see ln(x), just remeber it is the logarithmic function with base e: loge(x).

Graph of f(x) = ln(x)


At the point (e,1) the slope of the line is 1/e and the line is tangent to the curve.

You might also like