Logarithmic Functions

Lecture Notes

Maham Kiran

May 2022
Outline:

 Logarithmic Function
 Properties of Logarithmic Functions
 Special Logarithmic Functions
 Converting from Logarithmic to Exponential Function
 Converting from Exponential to Logarithmic Function
 Graph of a Logarithmic Function
 Finding Domain of a Logarithmic Function
 Solving Exponential Equation
 Solving Logarithmic Equation
 Change-of-Base Formula
 Examples
 Practice Problems
Logarithmic Function:

A logarithmic function, 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥, 𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ 1, is the inverse function to an

exponential function 𝐹(𝑥) = 𝑎 .

A logarithmic base 𝑎 of a positive number 𝑥 satisfies the following definition.

For 𝑥 > 0, 𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ 1,

𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥 is equivalent to 𝑎 = 𝑥

We read it as: Logarithm with base 𝑎 of 𝑥 or log 𝑎 base of 𝑥.

 It is a one-to-one function.
 The vertical asymptote is 𝑥 = 0. (y-axis)
 The domain of the function is [0, +∞).
 The range of the function is ℝ.
 If 𝑎 > 1, the function is increasing.
 If 0 < 𝑎 < 1, the function is decreasing.
 We cannot take the log of a negative number as it is not a real number.
 Log (0) does not exist.

Properties of Logarithmic Functions:

1. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 1 = 0
2. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑎 = 1
3. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 (𝑀𝑁) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑀 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑁
4. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑀 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑁
5. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 (𝑀 ) = 𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑀

Special Logarithmic Functions:

 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥 is abbreviated as 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑥. It is called Common logarithm of 𝑥.

 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥 is abbreviated as 𝑙𝑛𝑥. It is called Natural logarithm of 𝑥.

Converting from Logarithmic to Exponential Function:

Given an equation in logarithm form 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑦. Convert it to an exponential

form by

 Identifying 𝑎, 𝑥, 𝑦.
 Rewrite 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑦 as 𝑎 = 𝑥.

e.g. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 8=3 can be written in exponential form as 2 = 8.

Converting from Exponential to Logarithmic Function:

To convert from exponential to logarithmic function, we follow the same steps in

reverse

𝑎 =𝑥
𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑎 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥

e.g. 3 = can be written in exponential form as 𝑙𝑜𝑔 ( ) = −3.

Example 1: Evaluate the following logarithms.

(a) 𝑙𝑜𝑔 49 (b) 𝑙𝑜𝑔 (c) 𝑙𝑜𝑔 25

Solution:

(a) 𝑙𝑜𝑔 49
Convert it into exponential form.
Here a=7 and x=49. So,
𝑎 = 𝑥 gives 7 = 49 = 7

Comparing the powers, we get 𝑦 = 2.

Hence, 𝑙𝑜𝑔 49 = 2.

(b) 𝑙𝑜𝑔
Convert it into exponential form.
Here a=27 and x=1/9. So,
𝑎 = 𝑥 gives
1
27 =
9
1
(3 ) = =3
3
3 =3

Comparing the powers, we get

3𝑦 = −2

−2
𝑦=
3
 Hence, 𝑙𝑜𝑔 = .

(c) 𝑙𝑜𝑔 25
Convert it into exponential form.
Here a=1/5 and x=25. So,
𝑎 = 𝑥 gives
= 25 = 5
5 =5

Comparing the powers, we get

−𝑦 = 2

𝑦 = −2

Hence, 𝑙𝑜𝑔 25 = −2.

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Graph of a Logarithmic Function:

 The graphs of 𝑦 = 𝑎 and 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥 are symmetric with respect to the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.
 Interchange the values of 𝑥 and 𝑦 to sketch the graph of the logarithmic function.

Example 2: Sketch the graph of the function𝑓(𝑥) = 5 and 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥 in the interval

[-2,2]. Also find the domain and range.

Solution:

1. x,y values for 𝒇(𝒙):

x -2 -1 0 1 2
𝑦=5 1/25 1/5 1 5 25

2. x,y values for 𝒇 𝟏 (𝒙):

For this, interchange the values in above table

𝒚 -2 -1 0 1 2
𝑥 1/25 1/5 1 5 25
For inverse functions, we take the same horizontal and vertical span. 𝑓(𝑥) = 5 ,
𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥
 3. Domain and Range:
𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑓 = ℝ = 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓
𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓 = (0, +∞) = 𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑓

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Example 3: Find the inverse of the function𝑓(𝑥) = 2 and sketch the graph of both functions
in the interval [-2,2]. Also find the domain and range.

Solution:

1. Inverse:
As, we know that the inverse of an exponential function is a logarithmic function. So,
change this function into logarithmic function.
𝑎 = 𝑥 gives log 𝑥 = 𝑦
so, 2 =𝑦
gives log 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 3
x = log 𝑦 + 3
Now, interchange x and y: y = log 𝑥 + 3

2. x,y values for 𝒇(𝒙):

x -1 0 1 2 3 4
𝑦=5 1/16 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2

3. x,y values for 𝒇 𝟏 (𝒙):

For this, interchange the values in above table

𝑥 1/16 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2

𝑦 -1 0 1 2 3 4
For inverse functions, we take the same horizontal and vertical span. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2 ,
𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥 + 3

4. Domain and Range:

𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑓 = ℝ = 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓
𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓 = (0, +∞) = 𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑓

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Finding Domain of a Logarithmic Function:

For a logarithmic function, identify the domain by

  Set up an inequality showing the argument greater than zero.
 Solve for x.
 Write the domain in interval notation.

Example 4: Find the domain of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = log (2 − 𝑥).

Solution:

1. Domain:
The logarithmic function is defined only when the input is positive, so the function is
defined when 2 − 𝑥 > 0.
Solving the inequality:
2−𝑥 >0
2>𝑥
or, 𝑥<2
The domain of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = log (2 − 𝑥) is (−∞, 2).

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Solving Exponential Equation:

To solve an exponential equation, we nedd to take the logarithim of both sides to

an appropriate base, commonly base 10 or base e.

Example 5: Solve 𝑒 = 2.

Solution: Tke log with base e i.e ln (natural log) on both sides:

𝑙𝑛𝑒 = 𝑙𝑛2

𝑥 = 0.6931

Solving Logarithmic Equation:

To solve an logarithmic equation, we need to rewrite it in exponential form.

Example 5: Solve log (𝑥 − 3) = 4.

Solution: Here 𝑎 = 2, 𝑦 = 4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 3. Put it into 𝑎 = 𝑥.

2 =𝑥−3

𝑥 =2 +3

𝑥 = 16 + 3 = 19
Change-of-Base Formula:

Logarithmic functions can be rewritten in terms of other bases by means of the

change-of-base formula.

log 𝑥
log 𝑥 =
log 𝑎

Example 7: Solve log 3 by using change-of-base formula.

Solution: Let another base 2. Then

log 𝑥
log 𝑥 =
log 𝑎

log 3
log 3 =
log 2

log 3 = =1.58

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Practice Problems:

1. Write in exponential form.

a) log 10 = b) log = −4 c) log 36 = −2
2. Write in logarithmic form.
a) = 64 b) 𝑒 = √𝑒 c) 𝑚 =𝑇
3. Evaluate:
a) log (−100) b) log c) log
4. Sketch the graph of the following functions.
a) y = log (𝑥 + 2) b) 𝑦 = 3 − log 𝑥 c) log / 𝑥
5. Solve 2 = 15.
6. Solve log (3𝑥 − 4) = 5
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