LOGARITHMS

DEFINITION
Thelogarithmis an exponent or power to which a base must be raised to
Mathematically,.logarithms are expressed as, x is the obtain a given number.
logarithm to the base a.
of b
b[where a>O; a#1and b> 0] which cn also be
written as
x= log,b.
Case-1. Ifb <( 0, then log,b will be
imaginary and if b=0, then log,b will be meaningless.
Case-2. log,b exists only if b> 0: a>0 and a= 1.
72. TYPES OF LOGARITHMS
There are two types of logarithms.
7.2.1. Natural or Napier Logarithms
The logarithm function to the base 'e' is called the Natural or Napier logarithms and is denoted
by log,.
f() = logx,
where 'e' represents a variable. It is fixed irrational number that is equal to 2. 718281828459.
Sometimes 'e' isalso known as Euler's number or Napier's constant.
7.2.2. Common or Brigg's Logarithm
The logarithm function to the base 10 is called comabn or Brigg's logarithms and is denoted by
\oBo
f) = log0*
Ifin alogarithms expression when base is not mentioned. It is taken as 10.
3 . LAWS OF LOGARITHMs
7.3.1. The First Law of Logarithm or Product Law
Suppose, x = d' and y=d" then equivalent logarithmic forms are log,x =n and log,ym
Using the rule of indices
Now,the logarithmic form of the statement

log, xy= m+n.

APPLIED MATHEMATICS-I
 7-2 Logarithms
So, if we want to multiply twolog, xy = log,
numbers x+ log,)
together and find thelogarithm of the result, we Can
two numbers. Thisisthe first law of
this by adding together
product law.
the logarithms of the

Law
\ogarihuns,
7.3.2. The Second Law of Logarithm or Quotient
Duppose, x= d and y = then equivalent logarithmic forrms are
log,x= n and log, y=m

Consider, = a"-"(Using the rule of indices)

Now, the logarithmic form of the statement

loga = n- m

loga y log,x-log,y
=

This is the second law of logarithms or quotient law.

7.3.3. The Third Law of LOgarithms PowerLav
Suppose,
then equivalent logarithmic forms is log,x =n
Consider, xn= (ym =an
Taking M as a single term,then the logarithmic fornm is
log,x" =
Thus when finding the logarithm of a mn=m log,x
the logarithm of the number by power of anumber, then it can be
that power. This law is called evaluated by
third law of logarithm ormultipys
7.3.4. The Zero Exponent Law of power
raised to the powerLogarithms
We know that any number
zero is 1.
a =1
thenequivalent logarithmic form is
log,1 = 0
Therefore logarithm of lin any base is zero.
7.3.5. The Identity Law of
Logarithms
log, a = 1
7.3.6. The Exponent Law of
log,() =Logarithms
k
7.3.7. The Logarithm of
Base to a Power
O8, k = k Law ofiLogarithms
APPLIED MATHEMATICS-I
 -Logarithms 7-3
7.38. The Change of Base Law of Logarithms
log, b
log log. a
LET US RECALL ALLTHE FORMULAE AT AGLANCE
a'=x(where a > 0; x>0; and a # 1)
(a) '=logr
(b) log, 1=0
(c) log,a=|
iÀ log, (mn) = log, + log, n

= log, m- log, n

() log, m'" =nlog, m

(g) log, m=
log, m
log, a
(h) log, m=log, mlog, b
() log, b:
log, a
() log, b-log, c=log, c

(k) loB, , a' =:(m÷0)

m

QUESTIONS
SOLVED EXAMPLES BASED ON VERY SHORT TYPE
AND SHORT TYPE QUESTIONS
form:
Example 1. Convert the following exponential form to logarithmic
(b) s2
(a) 5° =] 25

(c) 27 = 33 (d) 6 =
36

Solution. (a) Given, 5° = |

log,1 = 0 Ans.

(b) Given, 52 =
25
1
=-2 Ans.
logs 25
(c) Given, 27 = 33
log,27 = 3 Ans.

1
(d) Given, 6-2 =
36

APPLIED MATHEMATICS
 7-4 Logarithms
1 =-2 Ans.
log6 36
logarithmicform toexponential form:
Example 2. Convert the following
(6)log,8I =4
(a) log, 4 = 2
(a) log, = 0
(c) log:
Solution. (a) Given log,4 =2
22 = 4 Ans.
(b) Given, log, 81 =4
34 = 81 Ans.
1
(c) Given, log 3
=-1
1
3-1 = Ans.
(d) Given, log, 1 = 0
5° = 1 Ans.
Example 3. Find the value ofx if
(a) log,3 --1 (6) logo r + 5) = 1
(c) log, (x6) =1 (d) 4*+ l= 256
Solution. (a) Given, log, 3=-1
3 =rl
1
-=3
1
Ans.
3
(b)Given, log,o(x + 5) = 1
x+5= 10 = 10
x =10-5 =5
(c) Given, Ans.
log, (-6) = 1
x-6 = 6! =6
X= 12 Ans.
(d) Given, 4+1 = 256
Taking log both sides to the base 2,.
’
log, 4n +l=
(n+ 1) log, 4= log,256
log, 28
(n+ 1) log, 2 = 8 log, 2
2 (n + 1) log, 2
= 8 log, 2
2 (n+ 1) =8
(:: log,
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 Logarithms
n =3 Ans.
Example4..Iflog, y =100 and log,x =20 then find the value ofy.
Solution.Given, log. y = 100 and log, x = 20
log, y x log,x = 100 x 20
log, y = 2000 (: log,b x log,c = log,c)
(2)2000 =y Ans.
Example 5. Find the value of [logo(5 logo 100)].
solution. Given, [logo (5 log,o 100)13
= [logo (S logo10j
= [log,o (10 logo 10)]3
[log,o (10 x 1)]3 (:: log, a= 1)
= (log,, 10) = (1)³ =1 Ans.
3
Example 6. Find the value of log 4 2
if log 2 = 0.3010300 and log 3 = 0.4771213.
3 3
Solution. Given, log 4 = log 4 + log 2
2

log 4 = log 2 + log 3 - log 2

2
3
log 4 2 = 2log 2+ log 3 - log 2
3
log 4 2 = log 2 + log 3
3
log 4 = 0.3010300 + 0.4771213
2
3
= 0.7781513 Ans.
log 4

Example 7. Show that log,3ax log jb=G

b
Solution. L.H.S - log,3 a Xlog,3
b log, b
log, a X
loge . log, b=
log, a
loge logelog,a b
log, a == R.H.S. Proved.
9
3 loge 3 log, a
2) + log (x-2) =log 5.
Xample 8. Findthe value ofx if log(x +
Solution.Given, 2)+ log (-2) = log 5
log (r + (: log m+ log n= log mn)
log 5
log (x + 2) (x -2) = log 5
log( -4) =
APPLIED MATHEMATICS
 x4 =5
x' =9
X=+3
But
X# 3 (·: x-2>0 ’x>
x=3 Ans.
1
Example 9. Ifa? + b? =7 ab, prove that log 3 (a + b) =(log a + log b).
Solution. Given, a+ b² =7 ab
a+ b2 + 2ab - 7ab + 2 ab (Adding 2ab on both sides)
(a+ b}² = 9ab
2
a+b
= ab
3
Now applying logon both sides,we get

log 3
= log ab
a +b
2 log = log a + log b
3
1
log,(a + b) =2 (log a +log b) Proved
Example 10. Findx if go2* =9.
Solution. Given,
3o82 * = 32
’ log, x = 2 (Equating power from both sides)
22 = x
x= 4 Ans.

SOLVED EXAMPLES BASED ON LONG TYPE OUESTIONS

Example 11. f x = log, bc ; y = log, ca; z = log, ab then prove that
1
=1
1+ x
1+ y. 1+z
Solution. .:. x= log, bc
1+x= 1+ log, bc =log, at log, bc =l)
("log,a
1+x = log, abc
Similarly, 1+y = log, abc
and 1+z =
1
loge
abc
1
L.H.S. = + 1
1+ x 1+ y
1 1 1
log, abc
loga abc
loga abc

APPLIED MATHEMATICS
 =\oBabc Logarithms 7-7
at \ogobe
Example 12. If log x =
logahe abc = 1= bt \oabc C
log, b = 1

log z R.H.S. Proved

|+ m- 2n log y
m. t
logb a

n- 21 n+l- 2m
Solution. Given. log x then prove that xy z =
1.
|+ m - 2n log y
m + n - 21 log z
log x= k(l+ n +l- 2m - k(let)
log y= m-2n)
k(m
and,
log z= k +n-21)
NoW, log x+ log y+ log z (n+1-2m)
= k(lt
log xyz = k(l + m-2n)+ k(m +
n-x) + k
log xyz m-2n +mtn-21+ n (n+l-2m)
t|-2m)
=kx0=0=log
xyz = 1
Proved.
1

Example 13. Solve, 3 log, (x +

2 2) +3 = log, (4 - x) +
log, (6 +x
Solution. Given, log, (x + 2)
+3 =log, (4 -x) +log,
3
-x 2logA (+ 2) +3log, 4 = (6+x
2 3 log (4-x) +3 log,
(6 + x) (" log, a =1)
3[log, (x+ 2) + log, 4] =
3([log, (4 - x) + log4 (6+ x)]
log, 4 (x +2) =log, (4-x)(6 +x)
Taking antilog both sides,
4 (x + 2) = (4-x) (6 +x)
4x+8 = 24 +4x 6x-x
4x +8 = 24- 2x-x
x+ 6x- 16 = 0
+8r -2x-16 = 0
(r+ 8) (r-2) = 0
x = 2,-8 Ans.

Example 14. If log, a log, b lo82 and a b'c= i, thenfind the value of p.
log, a log, b log, c =k (let)
Solution. Given, 4 6 p

log, a = 4 k

log, b
= k
6
APPLIED MATHEMATICS-I
 7-8 Logartthms
log, b= 6k
b= 26k

aiso, log2 C= k
3p
log, c = 3pk
c= 23pk

ßb'c= 1(Given)
(2 4k³ (26kh? (2 3ph) = 1
2 12k.212 k.2 3pk = |
2 12 k+ 12k+ 3pk = | =2° (::2° =1)
224 k+3pk = 2°
24k + 3pk = 0
3pk = - 24 k
p=-8 Ans.

Example 15. Solve log, log, log, x=0

Solution. Given, log, log, log, x =0
log, log, x=30 = 1
log, x = 4! =4
x=2= 16 Ans.

EXERCISE-1
VERY SHORT TYPEQUESTIONS; SHORT TYPE QUESTIONS (1-10)
AND REMAINING LONG TYPE QUESTIONS
Convert the following exponential form to logarithmic form:
(a) s2 =25 (b)32 1

(c) 8=23 (a) 4-3

64
2. Convert the following logarithmic form to exponential form:
(a) log, 9-2 (b) log, 16=2
(c) logs =-1 () log, 1=0
3. Find the value ofx if
(a) log,2=-1
(c) log, (-4) =4 (6) log, (*--2) =1
(d) 3*+2= 81
4. Find the value of log, log,
log, 16.
5. Find the value of log, 225225.
6. If log,1o (x+ 5) = 1, then find the
value of x.
APPLIED MATHEMATICS-I
 7. If log,o 4++log10 b= logio (a+ b), Logarithms 7-9
8. If log(+ 1)+ log (*(-1)
then find the value of a.
- =log 3, then find the
1 2
value of x.
9. If log8 X + log,g 6 3 then find the value of x.
10. Prove that log (1 + 2 + 3) =log 1 +
log 2 +log 3.
F5-P = 4-9 =20 "; prove that
P
+!o
12. If log, a= c; lo8, b= 2c then find the
value of a.
1
13. Show that
36 =2
log 36 logi8 36

14. Find the value of log *-log ) (log *² + log y')

(log x- log y') (log x + log y)
15. Prove that 7 log 16 + 5 log 25 81
15 24 +3 log 80 = log 2.

ANSWERS
1. (9) log, 25, (b) logs (c) log, 8
1
() log4 64
2. (a) 32=9 (b) 4²= 16 (c) s ' l
5 (d) 40 =l

3. (a) x=*2 (b) x=7 (c) x=85 (d) x=2

4. 1 b
5. 450 6. S 7
b-1
8. x=2 9. 24 12. Jb 14. 1

7.3.9. Anti Loaarithm

tis the inverse of the logarithm of a number. Consider a number 'a' having a base *b' and
logarithm 'x. The mathematical expression of the log and antilog of anumber is as under:
If
log, a = X
then a = antilog x.
u t nse LOa Tables
7.3.10. How
Characteristic and Mantissa of a Logarithm. The logarithm of positive real number n'
consists oftwo parts one is Characteristic and another iss Mantissa. The integral part is known as
e characteristic and is always an integer (positive or negative or zero). where as the decimal
Part is called the Mantissa and is never negative and is always less than one.
2. How to Find the
Characteristic
(a) When the number is greater than one. The characteristic is one ièss than the number of
digit in the left of decimal point in the given number.
APPLIED MATHEMATICS-I
7-10 Logarithms
Example: (a) 6.725Characteristic is 0.
(6) 67.25Characteristic is 1.
(c) 672.5Characteristic is 2.
(b) When the
number is less than one. In this case the characteristic is one more than the
number of zero, between the first significant digits, of the number and it is negative. In
- l or -2, it is used as 1 (one bar) or 2 (two bar)
etc.
of place
Example: (a) 0.6732Characteristic is 1
(b) 0.06732Characteristic is 2
(c) 0.006732Characteristic is 3
3. How to Find the Mantissa. The mantissa is read off from the log
tables. It is always pOsitive
and the zeros in the beginning and at the end of the number are ignored.
Example 16. Find the value of log 1237.
Solution. Step-1. Take the first two digit. i.e., 12 and locate the same in the first column of the
log table.
Step-2. Follow the horizontal row begining with the first two digits i. e., 12 and look for the
column under the third digit 3 of the four figure log table and record the number i.e. 0.0899.
Step-3. Continue the same horizontal row and record the mean difference under the fourth
i.e., 7 and the mean differentce of 7 is 24. digit
Step-4. Add the mean difference recorded in Step-3 to the number in Step-2.
The mantissa is 0.0899 + 0.0024 = 0.0923
log 1237 = Characteristic + Mantissa.
= 3.0923 Ans. (::
Characteristic of 1237 (4 digit is 3)
Example 17. Find the value of antilog of 1.3478 .
Solution. Step-1. The characteristic is ignored to find the antilog. The tables are
mantissa (the decimal part) only. read for the
Step-2. To get actilog 1.3478; we use only 3478 toread to
antilog tables.
Step-3. Take the first two digits i.e., 34 and locate in their
four figure antilog tables. position the first vertical column of the
Step-4. Go through the horizontal row beginning with 34, and look up the
headed by the third digit (7 in 3478). The number from the value under the columl
table is 2223.
Step-5. In the same horizontalrow, see the mean difference under the
add it to 2223. VWe get (2223 + 4 fourth digit (8 in 3473) anu
=2227)
Step-6. Write this number is standard form 22.27.1
.:. Anti log 1.3478 = 22.27 Ans.

1. Find the EXERCISE-2

logarithm of the following:
(a) 2925
(b) 2775300
(c) 2.3723
 Logarithms 7-11
2. Find the antilog offthe
(a) 1.8688
following.
(b) 25.4534
(c) 2.9523

L. (a) 3.4661, (b) 6.4433 (c) 0.3751 ANSWERS

(a) 0.7322 (b) 2.841 x 102 (c) 908.3918

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

|EXERCISE-3
1 Which of the following
statement is not correct
(a) log (1 +2+3)= log 1 + log 2+ log3
(b) loB10 10 = 1
(c) log (2 +3) = log (2 x 3)
(d) log,o l=0
2. If log 2=0.3010and
(a) 2.870
log3=0.4771, then the value of log. 512 is
(b) 2.967 (c) 3.876 (d) 3.912
log5
3. is equal to
log 5
1
(a) s (b) (c) 2 (a) 2
4. If log + log = log (x + y) then

(a) atb=1 (b) ab =1 (c) a-b= 1 (d) -=1

b
1 1 1
5. The value of
log3 60 log, 60 log, 60 1S equal to
(a) 4 (b) 3 (c) 2 (a) 1
6. The value of log, then x is equal to
254 144 169 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
81 81 81 4
7. If af = b then
log a C log a d
(a) log b d
(6) log b (c) log b C (d)
C

d
8. The value of log, 81 is equal to
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4
9. If log0000 1
4
then the value ofx is equal to
1
(a) 1 (b) -1 (c) 10 () - 10
APPLIED MATHEMATICS-I
7-12 Logarithms
5 log10 10000 is equal to
10. The value of 10 log1o 100 (d) 2
(c) -1
(a) 0 (6) 1
is equal to
11. If log, [log, (log, x)] = 1,then x (c) 64 (a) 512
(a) 4 (6) 16
is equal to
12. The value of log
(c) 3 (d) o
(a) 1 (6) 2 1
1 1
1) 1S equal to
13. The value of
(log, yz +1) (log, Z + 1) (log, xy +
1
(c) 3 (d)
(a) 1 (6) 2 2

14. If log a - 5 log 3 =-2, then value of ais equal to

(a) 1.41I (b) 2.52 (c) 2.43 (a) 3.51
15. Iflog, a +log, a + log a =9 then a is equal to
(a) 1 (b) 3 (c) 9 (d) 27
16. If the logarithm of anumber is - 3.153, what are the characteristic and mantissa
(a) Characteristic =3, mantissa =0.153
(6) Characteristic = 4, mantissa =-0.153
(c) Characteristic =-3, mantissa = 0.153
() Characteristic =4, mantissa = 0.847
log (1 +2+3)
17. The value of log 1 + log 2 + log 3 is equal to
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (a) 3
18. The value of 5*5 is equal to
(a) 1 (6) 3 (c) 6 (d) 9
19. The logarithm of 125 to the base 5 is
(a) 0
equal to
(b) 1 (c) 2
20. The value of log, a x log, b is (d) 3
equal to
(a) b (6) a (C) a (d) 1

1. (c)
6. (a)
2. (c)
7. (c)
ANSWERS
3. (d)
8. (d) 4. (a) 5. (d)
11. (d) 12. (d) 9. (c) 10. (6)
16. () 17. (6) 13. (a) 14. (c) 15. ()
18. (d) 19. (d) 20. (d)

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