2 Logarithm

Definition
Every positive real number N can be expressed in exponential form as a x = N where 'a' is also a positive
real number different than unity and is called the base and 'x' is called an exponent.
We can write the relation ax = N in logarithmic form as logaN = x. Hence ax = N  logaN = x.
Hence logarithm of a number to some base is the exponent by which the base must be raised in order
to get that number.

Limitations of Logarithm: loga N is defined only when (i) N > 0, (ii) a > 0, (iii) a 1

Note: (i) For a given value of N, loga N will give us a unique value.
(ii) Logarithm of zero does not exist.
(iii) Logarithm of negative reals are not defined in the system of real numbers.

Example 1:
If log4m = 1.5, then find the value of m.
Solution:
log4m = 1.5  m = 43/2  m = 8

Example 2:
p4q4
If log5p = a and log2q = a, then prove that = 1002a − 1
100
Solution:
log5p = a  p = 5a
log2q = a  q = 2a

( 10 ) ( 100)
4a 2a
p4q4 54a .24a
 = = = = 1002a 1
100 100 100 100

Example 3:
The value of N, satisfying loga[1 + logb{1 + logc(1 + logpN)}] = 0 is:
(A) 4 (B) 3 (C) 2 (D) 1
Solution:
1 + logb{1 + logc (1 + logpN)} = a0 = 1
 logb{1 + logc(1 + logpN)} = 0  1 + logc(1 + logpN) = 1
 logc (1 + logpN) = 0  1 + logpN = 1
 logpN = 0  N=1

Logarithm 41
 Concept Builders - 1

(i) Express the following in logarithmic form:

(a) 81 = 34 (b) 0.001 = 10 3
(c) 2 = 1281/7
(ii) Express the following in exponential form:
(a) log232 = 5 (b) log 2
4=4 (c) log100.01 = 2

(iii) If log 2 3
1728 = x, then find x.

Fundamental Identities
Using the basic definition of logarithm, we have 3 important deductions:
(a) loga1 = 0 i.e., logarithm of unity to any base is zero.
(b) logNN = 1 i.e., logarithm of a number to the same base is 1.


(c) log N= 1= logN i.e., logarithm of a number to the base as its reciprocal is 1
1
N
N

Note: N = ( a )
log a N
Example: 2log2 7 = 7

Concept Builders - 2

(i) Find the value of the following:

log 2 5
3  1
(a) log 1.43 (b)  
30 2

(ii) If 4log2 2x =36, then find x.

The Principal Properties of Logarithms

-
(a) logamn = logam + logan

m
(b) loga = logam logan
n
(c) logamx = x logam

Example 4:
2 25 625
Find the value of 2 log + 3 log + log .
5 8 128
Solution:
3
2 25 128 22  52  27 22 56 27
2 log + 3 log + log = log 2 + log  3  + log 4 = log 2 . 9 . 4 = log 1 = 0
5 8 625 5 2  5 5 2 5

42 Logarithm
Example 5:
b −c e −a a −b
x y z
If logex logey = a, logey logez = b and logez logex=c, then find the value of       .
y z x
Solution:
x x
logex logey = a  loge =a  = ea
y y
y y
logey logez = b  loge =b  = eb
z z
z z
logez logex = c  loge =c  = ec
x x

( ) ( ) ( )
b −c c −a a −b
 ea × eb × ec

= e ( ) ( ) ( ) = e0 = 1
a b −c +b c −a + c a −b

Example 6:

If a2 + b2 = 23ab, then prove that log

( a + b) =
1
(log a + log b).
5 2
Solution:
a2 + b2 = (a + b) 2 2ab = 23ab
 (a + b) 2 = 25ab a + b = 5 ab .... (i)
Using (i)

L.H.S. =log
( a + b) = log
5 ab
=
1
log ab =
1
(log a + log b)= R.H.S.
5 5 2 2

Example 7:
If logax = p and logbx2 = q, then logx ab is equal to (where a, b, x R+ {1}) -

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
(A) + (B) + (C) + (D) +
p q 2p q p 2q 2p 2q
Solution:
(B)
logax = p  ap = x  a = x1/p.
q
Similarly, b = x2  b = x2/q
 1 2 1
 +  1 1
Now, logx ab = logx x1/p x2/q = logx x p q2
= +
2p q

Concept Builders - 3

1 1
Show that log 9 + 2 log 6 + log 81 log 12 = 3 log 3
2 4

Logarithm 43
Base Changing Theorem
Can be stated as "quotient of the logarithm of two numbers is independent of their common base.
log a m
"Symbolically, logbm = , where a > 0, a 1, b > 0, b  1
log a b

log a log b 1
Note: (i) logba. logab = . = 1 ; hence logba =
log b log a log ab
logbc logba
(ii) a =c
1
(iii) Base power formula: log ak m = logam
k
(iv) The base of the logarithm can be any positive number other than 1, but in normal
practice, only two bases are popular, these are 10 and e(  2.718 approx.). Logarithms of
numbers to the base 10 are named as 'common logarithm' and the logarithms of
numbers to the base 'e' are called Natural or Napierian logarithm. We will consider logx
as logex or nx.
(v) Conversion of base e to base 10 and vice-versa:
log 10a log ea
logea = = 2.303 × log10a ; log10a = = log10e × logea = 0.434 logea
log 10 e log e 10

Example 8:
If a, b, c are distinct positive real numbers different from 1 such that
(logba . logca logaa) + (logab . logcb logbb) + (logac . logbc logcc) = 0, then abc is equal to:
(A) 0 (B) e (C) 1 (D) none of these
Solution:
(logba. logca 1) + (logab . logcb 1) + (logac . logbc 1) = 0

log a log a log b log b log c log c

 . + . + . =3
log b log c log a log c log a log b
 (log a)3 + (log b)3 + (log c)3 = 3log a . log b . log c
 (log a + log b + log c) = 0
[ If a3 + b3 + c3 3abc = 0, then a + b + c = 0 if a  b  c]
 log abc = log 1  abc = 1

Example 9:
1 4
log5 3
+ 27log9 36 + 3
log 7 9
Evaluate: 81
Solution:
log3 5 4log9 7
81 + 27log9 36 + 3
3/2
4log3 5 log3 ( 36) log 3 72
= 3 + 3 + 3
= 625 + 216 + 49 = 890.

44 Logarithm
 Concept Builders - 4

log 3 135 log 3 5

(i) Evaluate:
log 15 3 log 405 3

(ii) Evaluate: log927 log279

log3 2
(iii) Evaluate: 2log3 5 5

(iv) Evaluate: log34 . log45 .log56 .log67 .log78 . log89

1 1
(v) If +  x then x can be:
log 3  log 4 

(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 3.5 (D) 

(vi) If loga3 = 2 and logb8 = 3, then logab is:

(A) log32 (B) log23 (C) log34 (D) log43

Points to Remember
(i) If base of logarithm is greater than 1 then logarithm of greater number is greater. i.e.
log28 = 3, log24 = 2 etc. and if base of logarithm is between 0 and 1 then logarithm of

greater number is smaller, .i.e., log1/28 = 3, log1/24 = 2, etc.

 x  y if a1
logax < logay  
x  y if 0  a  1
(ii) It must be noted that whenever the number and the base are on the same side of unity
then logarithm of that number to that base is positive, however if the number and the
base are located on different side of unity then logarithm of that number to that base
is negative.
1  1  1 
log10 3 10 = ; log 7 49 = 4; log 1   = 3 ; log2   = 5; log10(0.001) = 3
3 2 
8  32 
1 1
(iii) x+   if x is positive real number and x +  2 if x is negative real number.
x x
(iv) n  2, n  N
n
a = a1/n  nth root of 'a' ('a' is a non-negative number)
some important values: log102  0.3010 ; log103  0.4771 ; n 2  0.693, n 10  2.303.

Logarithm 45
Logarithmic Inequality
Let 'a' is a real number such that
(i) If a > 1, then logax > logay  x>y
(ii) If a > 1, then logax <   0 < x < a
(iii) If a > 1, then logax >   x > a
(iv) If 0 < a < 1, then logax > logay  0<x<y
(v) If 0 < a < 1, then logax <   x > a

Form - I :
f(x) > 0, g(x) > 0, g(x)  1
Form Collection of system
 f(x)  1
 , g(x)  1
(a) logg(x)f(x)  0  
0  f(x)  1 , 0  g(x)  1

 f(x)  1
 , 0  g(x)  1
(b) logg(x)f(x)  0  
0  f(x)  1 ,
 g(x)  1


 f(x)  (g(x))
a
, g(x)  1
(c) logg(x)f(x)  a  
0  f(x)  (g(x)) , 0  g(x)  1
a


0  f(x)  (g(x))
a
, g(x)  1
(d) logg(x)f(x)  a  
 f(x)  (g(x)) , 0  g(x)  1
a


From - II :
When the inequality of the form
Form Collection of system

 f(x)  g(x), (x)  1,
(a) log(x)f(x)  log(x)g(x)  
0  f(x)  g(x) , 0  (x)  1


 0  f(x)  g(x), (x)  1,


(b) log(x)f(x)  log(x)g(x)  
f(x)  g(x)  0, 0  (x)  1


Example 10:
Solve the logarithmic inequality log1/5(2x2 + 7x + 7)  0.
Solution:
Since, log1/51 = 0, the given inequality can be written as:
log1/5(2x2 + 7x + 7)  log1/51
when the domain of the function is taken into account the inequality is equivalent to the system

2x + 7x + 7  0
2

of inequalities  2
2x + 7x + 7  1

 
Solving the inequalities by using method of intervals x  
 2 

46 Logarithm
Example 11:
Solve the inequality log1/3 (5x 1) > 0.
Solution:
by using the basic property of logarithm.
 2
5x  2  x 
   5

  

   1
 5x  1  x 
 5
 1 2
 The solution of the inequality is given by  ,  Ans.
5 5

Example 12:
Solve the inequality log(2x + 3) x2 < log(2x + 3) (2x + 3).
Solution:
The given inequality is equivalent to the collection of the systems
 0  2x + 3  1 (i)
 2
 x  2x + 3
 2x + 3  1 (ii)
 
 0  x2  2x + 3

Solving system (i) we obtain

  
2
 + 

System (iii) is equivalent to the collection of two systems

   
 2
   
 2

 
system (iv) has no solution. The solution of system (v) is x   ,
 2 
solving system (ii) we obtain.
   
 or   x  ( 1, 3)
 +    

 
x    ( 1, 3)
 2 

Example 13:
 2x 
Solve the in equation log   log 2  > 0.
5 
2 

 10

 
 

Logarithm 47
Solution:
This inequation is equivalent to the collection of following systems.
 2 +  2
+
  1, 0   1,
 10  10
 and 
log  2x   1, 0  log  2x   1
 2  5   2
 5 
Solving the first system we have.
 2 + 
   x  2 or x  10
 2x    
 2 x  5 x  5
5
Therefore the system has solution x > 10
Solving the second system we have.
  2 +   2 +  2
+ 
 
  2x  5
1  2  x5
 5 2
   +  

 5
 x5
2
5
 The system has solutions < x < 6 6 combining both systems, then solution of the
2
original inequation is:
5
x( ,6 6 )  (10, ) Ans.
2

Concept Builders - 5

Solve the following inequalities

(i) log3x + 5(9x2 + 8x + 8) > 2

(ii) log0.2(x2 x 2) > log0.2( x2 + 2x + 3)

(iii) logx(x3 x2 2x) < 3

Characteristic and Mantissa

For any given number N, logarithm can be expressed as logaN = Integer + Fraction.
The integer part is called as characteristic and the fractional part is called as mantissa. When the value
of log n is given, then to find digits of 'n' we use only the mantissa part. The characteristic is used only
in determining the number of digits in the integral part (if n  1) or the number of zeros after decimal
and before first non-zero digit in the number (if 0 < n < 1).
Note: If xR then x = [x] + {x} similarly logaN = [logaN] + {logaN} where [·] denotes greatest integer
function and {·} denotes fraction part function.
Here [logaN] is characteristic of N to base 'a' and {logaN} is mantissa of N to base 'a'.

48 Logarithm
Note: (i) The mantissa part of logarithm of a number is always non-negative (0  m < 1).
(ii) If the characteristic of log10N be n, then the number of digits in N is (n + 1).

(iii) If the characteristic of log10N be ( n), then there exist (n 1) zeros after decimal in N.

Antilogarithm
The positive real number 'n' is called the antilogarithm of a number 'm' if log n = m
Thus, log n = m  n = antilog m

Concept Builders - 6

(i) Evaluate: log10 (0.06)6.

(ii) Find number of digits in 1820.

200

(iii) Determine number of cyphers (zeroes) between decimal and first significant digit in   .
6
5
(iv) Find antilog of to the base 64.
6

Miscellaneous Examples

Example 14:
Show that log418 is an irrational number.

Solution:
log 2 3 1 1
log418 = log4(32 × 2) = 2log43 + log42 = 2 + = log23 +
log 2 4 log 2 4 2

assume the contrary, that this number log23 is rational number.

p
 log23 = Since, log23 > 0 both numbers p and q may be regarded as natural number
q
 3 = 2p/q
 2p = 3q
But this is not possible for any natural number p and q. The resulting contradiction completes
the proof.

Example 15:
If in a right-angled triangle, a and b are the lengths of sides and c is the length of hypotenuse
and c b  1, c + b  1, then show that
logc+ba + logc ba = 2logc+ba . logc ba.

Logarithm 49
Solution:

We know that in a right-angled triangle

c2 = a2 + b2

c2 b2 = a2 .......... (i)

1 1 log a ( c − b ) + log a (c + b )
LHS = + =
log a ( c + b ) log a ( c − b ) log a ( c + b) .log a (c − b )

=
(
log a c2 − b2 ) =
loga a2
(using (i))
log a ( c + b ) .log a ( c − b ) loga (c + b) .loga (c − b)

2
= = 2log(c+b) a.log(c-b)a = RHS
log a ( c + b ) .log a ( c − b )

50 Logarithm
 ANSWERS KEY FOR CONCEPT BUILDER

1. (i) (a) log381 = 4 (b) log10(0.001) = 3 (c) log1282 = 1/7

(ii) (a) 32 = 25 (b) 4 = ( 2 )4 (c) 0.01 = 10 2

(iii) 6

1
2. (i) (a) 1 (b) (ii) 3
5

4. (i) 3 (ii) 5/6 (iii) 0

(iv) 2 (v) (A) (vi) (C)

 4 17   5
5. (i)   (ii)  2,  (iii) (2, )
 3 22   2

6. (i) 8.6686 (ii) 26 (iii) 155

(iv) 32

Logarithm 51
 Objective Exercise - I

1. If 2a = 3 and 9 b = 4 then value of (ab) is:

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4

2. If log2(4+log3(x)) = 3, then sum of digits of x is:

(A) 3 (B) 6 (C) 9 (D) 18

3. Sum of all the solution(s) of the equation log10(x)+log10(x+2) log10(5x+4) = 0 is:

(A) 1 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 5

4. The product of all the solutions of the equation x1+log10 x = 100000x is:
(A) 10 (B) 105 (C) 10 1
(D) 1

5. If x1 and x2 are the roots of equation e3/2. x2 nx = x4, then the product of the roots of the equation
is:
(A) e2 (B) e (C) e3/2 (D) e 2

6. If log2(x2+1)+log13(x2+1) = log2(x2+1) log13(x2+1), (x0), then log7(x2+24) is equal to:

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4

  a 4b3 
7. Given log3a = p = logbc and logb9 = .If log 9   = p3+p2+p+ (pR {0}), then
p2  c 
( +  +  + ) equals:
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4

8. ( ) ( )
If loga 1 − 1 + x = loga2 3 - 1 + x , then number of solutions of the equation is:

(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) infinitely many

9. The number of solution(s) of ( )

log 3 3x2 . log9(81x ) = log9x3 is:

(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3

10. Product of solutions of equation |log 2x| = 3 is:

(A) 2 (B) 1/2 (C) 4 (D) 1/4

11. If x, y  2n when nI and 1 + logxy = log2y, then the value of (x + y) is:
(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 6 (D) 8

52 Logarithm
12. If n  N such that characteristic of n2 to the base 8 is 2, then number of possible values of
n is:
(A) 14 (B) 15 (C) 448 (D) infinite

13. The number of integral solutions of | log5 x2 4 | = 2+ | log5 x 3 | is:

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 0

1− a −b
2( 1−b)
14. If 60 = 3 and 60 = 5 then the value of 12
a b
equals to:
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 3 (D) 12

15. If  and  are the roots of the equation (log2x)2 + 4(log2x) 1 = 0 then the value of log + log equals
to:
(A) 18 (B) 16 (C) 14 (D) 18

16. If the product of the roots of the equation x2 − 3kx + 2e2log k − 1 = 0 is 7, then the roots of the
equation are real if k equals to:
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 2 (D) ±2

17. The solution set of the inequality log  

(x2 − 3x + 2)  2 is:
sin  
 3

1   5 1   5
(A)  ,2  (B)  1,  (C)  , 1   2,  (D) ( 1, 2)
2   2 2   2

18. If log0.3 (x − 1) < log0.09 (x − 1), then x lies in the interval:

 3
(A) (2, ) (B) (1, 2) (C) (−2, −1) (D)  1, 
 2

19. Solution set of the inequality 2 − log2 (x2 + 3x)  0 is:

(A) [−4, 1] (B) [−4, − 3)  (0, 1]
(C) (−  −3)  (1, ) (D) (−  −4)  [1, )

20. If log0.5 log5 (x2 4) > log0.5 :

(A) ( 3, 5 )  ( 5 , 3) (B) ( 3, 5 )  ( 5 , 2)
(C) ( 5 , 3 5 ) (D) 

2
21. The set of all solutions of the inequality (1 / 2)x −2x
< 1/4 contains the set:
(A) ( , 0) (B) ( , 1) (C) (1, ) (D) (3, )

22. The set of all the solutions of the inequality log1 x

(x 2)  1 is:
(A) ( , 0) (B) (2, ) (C) ( , 1) (D) 

Logarithm 53
 ANSWER KEY

1. (A) 2. (C) 3. (C) 4. (D) 5. (A) 6. (B) 7. (C)

8. (C) 9. (B) 10. (D) 11. (D) 12. (B) 13. (A) 14. (A)

15. (D) 16. (B) 17. (C) 18. (A) 19. (B) 20. (A) 21. (D)

22. (D)

54 Logarithm
 Objective Exercise - II

Single Correct Type Questions

 
1. If x = log2  56 + 56 + 56 + 56 + ......  , then which of the following statements holds good:
 
 
(A) x < 0 (B) 0 < x < 2 (C) 2 < x < 4 (D) 3 < x < 4

2. The greatest value of (4log10x logx (.0001)) for 0 < x < 1 is:
(A) 4 (B) 4 (C) 8 (D) 8

logb+ca+log c-ba
3. Let ABC be a triangle right angled at C. The value of (b+c   c b  1) equals to:
logb+ca .log c-ba
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 1/2

(log  ) ( )
+ (log   ) = 79, ( > 0,  > 0,      1) then value of log   β + (log  ) can be:
2 2
4. If 

(A) 7 (B) 9 (C) 9 (D) 7

One or More than One Correct Type Questions

log 3 135 log 3 5
5. Let N = . Then N is :
log 15 3 log 405 3
(A) a natural number (B) a prime number
(C) a rational number (D) an integer

5
6. Values of x satisfying the equation log52 x + log5x   = 1 are:
x
1
(A) 1 (B) 5 (C) (D) 3
25

7. The equation log x2 16 + log2x64 = 3 has:

(A) one irrational solution (B) no prime solution
(C) two real solutions (D) one integral solution

 2 9 
(log3 x) − log3 x + 5
8. The equation x 2 
= 3 3 has:
(A) exactly three real solution (B) at least one real solution
(C) exactly one irrational solution (D) complex roots.

2
9. The solution set of the system of equations log3x + log3y = 2 + log32 and log27(x + y) = is :
3
(A) {6, 3} (B) {3, 6} (C) {6, 12} (D) {12, 6}

Logarithm 55
10. Consider the quadratic equation, (log108) x2 (log105) x = 2(log210) 1 x. Which of the following
quantities are irrational:
(A) sum of the roots (B) product of the roots
(C) sum of the coefficients (D) discriminant

11. If loga x = b for permissible values of a and x then identify the statement(s) which can be
correct:
(A) If a and b are two irrational numbers then x can be rational.
(B) If a rational and b irrational then x can be rational.
(C) If a irrational and b rational then x can be rational.
(D) If a rational and b rational then x can be rational.

12. Which of the following statements are true

(A) log23 < log1210 (B) log65 < log78
(C) log326 < log29 (D) log1615 > log1011 > log76

1
13. If  log0.1 x  2, then:
2
1 1 1
(A) maximum value of x is (B) x lies between and
10 100 10
1 1
(C) minimum value of x is (D) minimum value of x is
10 100

ANSWER KEY

1. (C) 2. (D) 3. (B) 4. (C) 5. (ABCD) 6. (ABC) 7. (ABCD)

8. (ABCD) 9. (AB) 10. (CD) 11. (ABCD) 12. (BC) 13. (ABD)

56 Logarithm
 Subjective Exercise - I

1. Find the logarithms of the following numbers to the base 2.

(i) 1 (ii) 2 (iii) 4 (iv) 8
1 1 1
(v) (vi) (vii) (viii) 2
2 32 16
1 1
(ix) 3
8 (x) 2 2 (xi) (xii)
5
2 7
8

1
2. Find the logarithms of the following numbers to the base .
3
1 1
(i) 1 (ii) (iii) (iv) 3 (v) 9
3 9
1 1
(vi) 81 (vii) 3
3 (viii) (ix) 9 3 (x)
7
3 9 3 4

3. Find all values of 'a' for which each of the following equalities hold true.
(i) log2a = 2 (ii) loga2 = 1

(iii) loga1 = 0 (iv) log10(a(a + 3)) = 1

(v) log1/3(a2 1) = 1 (vi) log2(a2 5) = 2

1
4. Find the logarithms of the following numbers to the base .
2
1 1
(i) 1 (ii) (iii) (iv) 16
2 8
1 1
(v) 2 (vi) (vii) 2 2 (viii)
2 4 2 4

5. Find all values of 'a' for which the following equalities hold true.
(i) log3a = 2 (ii) log1/3(a) = 4
(iii) log1/3(a) = 0 (iv) loga1 = 0
(v) loga(a+2) = 2 (vi) log3(a2+1) = 1

6. Find all values of x for which the following equalities hold true.
(i) log2x2 = 1 (ii) log3x = log3(2 x)
(iii) log4x2 = log4x (iv) log1/2(2x+1) = log1/2(x+1)
(v) log1/3(x2+8) = 2

Logarithm 57
7. Find all the values of x for which the following equalities hold true.
(i) log2x2 = 2 (ii) log1/4x2 = 1
(iii) log1/2x log1/2(3 x) = 0 (iv) log2(x+1) log2(2x 3) = 0

8. Find the logarithms of the following numbers to the base 5.

(i) 1 (ii) 5 (iii) 25 (iv) 625
1 1 1
(v) (vi) (vii) (viii) 5
5 25 5
1 1
4
(ix) 52 (x) 53 (xi) 53 5

9. Find value of the following

(i) log  5−2 6 (ii) log (6+2 5 )

3− 2   5+1
 
(iii) log73. log52.log37.log2(125) (iv) 25 log5 3

1
(v) 6 log6 5 + 3 log9 16 (vi) log64 +
log 9 6

10. Find the value of following:

  
(i) log5   (ii) log3(4 sin2(x) + 4 cos2(x) 1)
 5

500 4
(iii) log128 + log123 + log126 (iv) log5 log5
3 3

15 13 5
(v) log39 + log39 log39 (vi) 2log62 + 3log63 + log612
7 3 21

5 log 4 (3− 6 ) −6 log ( 3− 2 )

11. Calculate: 4 2 8

1 3
log 6 3
 2

( 7)
log5 9
81 +3
− ( 125)
log25 7 log25 6
12. Simplify: . 
409  
 

(1−log7 2) − log5 4
13. Find the value of 49 + 5 .

14. Prove that ax– by = 0 where x = log ab and y = logba , a > 0, b > 0 and a, b  1.

58 Logarithm
15. Solve the following equations:

1
(i) logx 13 = 2 (ii) log4(2 log3(1 + log2(1 + 3log3x))) =
2

(iii) log3(1 + log3(2X 7)) = 1 (iv) log3(3X 8) = 2 x

(v)
(
log 2 9 − 2x )=1 (vi) log5 x(x2 2x + 65) = 2
3−x

(vii) log105 + log10(x +10) 1 = log10(21x 20) log10(2x 1)

(viii) x
1+log10 x
= 10x (ix) 2(logx 5 )2 – 3logx 5 + 1 = 0

(x) 3 + 2logx+13 = 2log3(x + 1)

16. Let a and b be real numbers greater than 1 for which there exists a positive real number c,
different from 1, such that 2(logac + logbc) = 9logabc. Find the largest possible value of log a b.

2 3
17. Find the value of the expression + .
log 4 (2000) log 5 (2000)
6 6

18. If a = log1218 and b = log2454 then find the value of ab + 5(a b).

19. Solve the following inequalities :

 3
(i) log 5  2x2 − x −   1
8 
8 
(ii) log 1 ( x2 − 5 x + 6)  −1
2

2x − 6
(iii) log 7 0
2x − 1
FG 2 IJ
(iv) log1/4(2 x) > log1/4 H x + 1K
(v) log1/3(2x+2 4x )  2
(vi) logx(4x 3)  2

4x + 6
20. Find the number of integers satisfying log1/5  0.
x

21. Find the number of positive integers not satisfying the inequality log 2(4x 2.2x + 17) > 5.

Logarithm 59
 ANSWER KEY

1. (i) 0 (ii) 1 (iii) 2 (iv) 3 (v) 1 (vi) 5

(vii) 4 (viii) 1/2 (ix) 1 (x) 3/2 (xi) 1/5 (xii) 3/7

2. (i) 0 (ii) 1 (iii) 2 (iv) 1 (v) 2 (vi) 4

(vii) 1/3 (viii) 1/7 (ix) 5/2 (x) 9/4

3. (i) 4 (ii) 2 (iii) a > 0, a 1 (iv) 5,2 (v) 2,2

(vi) 3,3

4. (i) 0 (ii) 1 (iii) 3 (iv) 4 (v) 1/2 (vi) 1/2

(vii) 3/2 (viii) 9/4

5. (i) 9 (ii) 1/81 (iii) 1 (iv) a > 0, a  1 (v) 2

(vi) 2, − 2

6. (i) 2, − 2 (ii) 1 (iii) 1 (iv) 0 (v) 1, 1

1 3
7. (i) x = ±2 (ii) x=± (iii) x= (iv) x=4
2 2

8. (i) 0 (ii) 1 (iii) 2 (iv) 4 (v) 1 (vi) 2

(vii) 1/2 (viii) 1/4 (ix) 1/2 (x) 1/3 (xi) 1/3

9. (i) 1 (ii) 2 (iii) 3 (iv) 9 (v) 9 (vi) 2

−1
10. (i) (ii) 1 (iii) 2 (iv) 3 (v) 1 (vi) 4
2

25
11. 9 12. 1 13.
2

15. (i) {1+ 3} (ii) {3} (iii) {4} (iv) {2}

(v) {0} (vi) { 5} (vii) {3/2, 10} (viii) {10 1, 10}

(ix) { 5 , 5} (x) { (3 3 ) / 3,8}

60 Logarithm
16. 2 17. 1/6 18. 1

19. (i)
 1 1 3 
(ii) (1, 2)  (3, 4) (iii)
FG − , 1IJ
− , −    , 1 H 2K
 2 4  4 

3 
(iv) ( 1, 0)(1, 2) (v) ( , 2) (vi)  , 1  ( 1, 3
4 

20. 1 22. 2

Logarithm 61
 Subjective Exercise - II


( ) ( )  
( ) ( ) 
2 2
 + +  − +
1. Let A denotes the value of log10   + log10   when
 2   2 
   
a = 43 and b = 57 and B denotes the value of the expression 2 ( log 6 18
) · (3 ) . Find the value of
log6 3

(A·B).

2. Compute the following:

logb (logb N)
4 3 logb a
(a) log1/3 729. 9 .27−1 −4/3
(b) a

3. Find the square of the sum of the roots of the equation

log3x.log4 x.log5 x = log3 x.log4 x + log4 x.log5 x + log5 x.log3 x.

 1
log 1/5  
2 4 1
4. Simplify: 5 + log 2
+ log 1/2 .
7+ 3 10 + 2 21

2
5. Given that log2a = s, log4b = s2 and log c2 8 = .
s +1
3

a2b5
Write log2 as a function of 's' (a, b, c > 0, c  1).
c4

log2 24 log2 192

6. Prove that
log96 2 log 12 2

7. Solve the following equations :

 x2 
(i) log 2 1/2 (4x) + log2   = 8 (ii) log0.5x(x2–14) log16x(x3+40) log4x x = 0
8
2+ x  2 
(iii) log3(4.3x 1) = 2x + 1 (iv) log5   = log5  
 10   x + 1
(v) 1 + 2log(x+2)5 = log5(x + 2) (vi) log424x = 2log2 4

(vii) log2(4.3x 6) log2(9x 6) = 1 (viii) 2log8(2x)+log8(x2 + 1 2x) =
3
(ix) log 23 6 log 23 2 = ( log 210 x –2) log312

(x) log62x+3 log6(3x 2) = x (xi) (3 x2 − 7.2x + 3.9

)
− 9 3 log ( 7 − x ) = 0

8. Given that log23 = a, log35 = b and log72 = c, express the logarithm of the number 63 to the base
140 in terms of a, b and c.

62 Logarithm
9. If a, b and c are positive real numbers such that alog3 7 = 27; blog7 11 = 49 and clog11 25 = 11 .

Find the value of  a( 3 ) + b( 7 ) + c( 11 ) .

2 2 2
log 7 log 11 log 25

 

x
10. If 'x' and 'y' are real numbers such that 2log(2y 3x) = logx + logy, find :
y

11. Let 'L' denotes the antilog of 0.4 to the base 1024.

and 'M' denotes the number of digits in 610 (Given log102 = 0.3010, log103 = 0.4771)

and 'N' denotes the number of positive integers which have the characteristic 2, when base

of the logarithm is 6. Find the value of LMN.

12. (a) Given : log1034.56 = 1.5386, find log103.456 ; log100.3456 and log100.003456.

(b) Find the number of positive integers which have the characteristic 3, when the base of

the logarithm is 7.

(c) If log102 = 0.3010 and log103 = 0.4771, find the value of log10(2.25)

(d) Find the antilogarithm of 0.75, if the base of the logarithm is 2401.

13. If (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) are the solution of the system of equation.

log225(x) + log64(y) = 4

logx(225) logy(64) = 1,

then show that the value of log30(x1y1x2y2) = 12.

Logarithm 63
 ANSWER KEY

1. 12

2. (a) 1 (b) logbN

3. 3721 4. 6

5. 2s + 10s2 3(s3 +1)

7. (i) {2 7, 2} (ii) {1/ 2 ,1, 4} (iii) { 1, 0} (iv) {3}

(v) { 9/5, 23} (vi) {2} (vii) {1} (viii) {2}

1
(ix) { 10− 3 , 10 3 } (x) {log34} (xi) x= ,6
5

1 + 2ac
8. 9. 469 10. 4/9 11. 23040
2c + abc + 1

12. (a) 0.5386;  .5386;  .53863 (b) 2058

(c) 0.3522 (d) 343

64 Logarithm
 JEE-Main (Previous Year Questions)

1. If logpx =  and logqx = , then the value of logp/qx is: [KCET-1997]

− −  
(1) (2) (3) (4)
  − −

2. If logxa, ax/2 and logbx are in G.P. Then x is equals to: [KCET-1998]
(1) loga(logba) (2) loga(logea)+logalogbb
(3) loga(logab) (4) none of these

3. If logx256 = 8/5, then x is equals to: [KCET-2000]

(1) 64 (2) 16 (3) 32 (4) 8

4. If log 2, log(2x 1) and log (2x + 3) are in A.P., then x is equals to: [KCET-2000]
(1) 5/2 (2) log25 (3) log23 (4) log32

5. The number log27 is: [DCE-2000]

(1) an integer (2) a rational (3) an irrational (4)a prime number

6. The roots of the equation log2(x2 4x + 5) = (x 2) are: [KCET-2001]

(1) 4, 5 (2) 2, 3 (3) 2, 3 (4) 3, 5

1 1 1
7. If x = 198 !, then value of the expression + + .... + equals: [DCE-2005]
log2 x log 3 x log 198 x

(1) 1 (2) 0 (3) 1 (4) 198

8. If log0.3 (x 1) < log0.09 (x 1), then x lies in the interval: [DCE-2006]

(1) (2, ) (2) (1, 2) (3) ( 2, 1) (4) none of these

ANSWER KEY

1. (4) 2. (1) 3. (3) 4. (2) 5. (3) 6. (3) 7. (3)

8. (1)

Logarithm 65
 JEE-Advanced (Previous Year Questions)

1. Let (x0, y0) be the solution of the following equations:

(2x)n2 = (3y)n3

3nx = 2ny .

Then x0 is: [JEE(Advanced)-2011]

1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D) 6
6 3 2

 
1 1 1 1
2. The value of log 3  4− 4− 4− ........  is: [JEE(Advanced)-2012]
3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 
2  
 

3. If 3x = 4x 1, then x = [JEE(Advanced)-2013]

2log 3 2 2 1 2log2 3
(A) (B) (C) (D)
2log 3 2 − 1 2 − log 2 3 1 − log 4 3 2log2 3 − 1

((log 9) )
1

4. The value of 2
2 log (log 9)
2 2
 ( )
7 log4 7
is ___________. [JEE(Advanced)-2018]

5. Let m be the minimum possible value of log3 (3y1 + 3y2 + 3y3 ) , where y1, y2, y3 are real numbers
for which y1 + y2 + y3 = 9. Let M be the maximum possible value of (log3x1 + log3x2 + log3x3), where
x1, x2, x3 are positive real numbers for which x1+x2+x3 = 9. Then the value of log2 (m3) + log3(M2)
is ______. [JEE(Advanced)-2022]

6. The product of all positive real values of x satisfying the equation [JEE(Advanced)-2022]

( )
x 16 (log 5 x ) − 68log 5 x = 5−16 is_____________.
3

ANSWER KEY

1. (C) 2. 4 3. (ABC) 4. 8 5. 8.00 6. 1

66 Logarithm