AP PreCalculus ~ Unit 4: Logarithmic Functions

Name:
S4.3 Logarithmic Properties Date:

Activity: We learned some patterns for combining exponents, let s see what happens when we combine
logarithms:

1. Complete the following table using your calculator. 2. Using the patterns you see in the
Round answers to four decimal places. table, complete the equation below.
log 12 1 0792 log 𝑥𝑥 + log 𝑦𝑦 =
log(xy)
.

log 3 + log 4 1 .
0792
log 9 9542
0 .
3. How could we find the value of
log 3 + log 3 log 30 if the “3” button is missing on
0 . 9542
log 18 our calculator?
1 . 2553
log 6 + log 3 1 2553
.
log 15 + log2
4. Complete the following table using your calculator. 5. Using the patterns you see in the
Round answers to four decimal places. table, complete the equation below.

log 5 0 6990
.
log 𝑥𝑥 − log 𝑦𝑦 =
log(y)
log 10 − log 2 0 6990 .

log 7 8451 6. How could we find the value of

0
log 30 if the “3” button is missing on
.

log 28 − log 4 0 8451

.
our calculator?
1
log -

O 3018

10960-1092
.

2
log 3 − log 6 -

0 . 3010

1
7. A student noticed that log gave the same result as − log 2. How is this possible?
2

log] =
gl-log2
=

0-10gz =
-log
8. Saul was practicing evaluating logarithms on his calculator on Halloween. After he had finished all
the calculations he was startled at the
log 5 + log 5 = 1.398 log 4 + log 4 + log 4 = 1.806 results. He was sure that a ghost has

↳ 2 log 5 = 1.398 ↳ 3 log 4 = 1.806

haunted his calculator and broken it.
What do you think? Can you make
sense of the results? Is his calculator
2
log 5 = 1.398 3
log 4 = 1.806 haunted?

↳ log 25 = 1.398 ↳ log 64 = 1.806

1
log 625 = 1.398 log 26 = 1.806

13984
2

109625"2 = 6 log 2 = 1.806

9. Write two more log statements that are also equal to 1.806 and one more log statement that
equals 1.398.

21094 + 1094 , 310g2 + 31092

log16 + 10g4
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AP PreCalculus ~ Unit 4: Logarithmic Functions

Properties of Logarithms

Ex.1. Use the properties of logarithms to expand the expression as a sum, difference, and/or constant
multiple of logarithms
a. b. c.
3
log 6 𝑧𝑧 −3 ln √𝑚𝑚 log 𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦 3

logX + log y3
In m "3
31096Z
-

Inm
=

logX + 3 logy

𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦
d. ln e. log 100𝑥𝑥 3
𝑧𝑧

In
xy-Inz 10g100 + logX3
=
InX + Iny-Inz log102 + 310gX
2 + 310gX

In X(X+2)2
√𝑥𝑥
f. ln g. ln �𝑥𝑥 2 (𝑥𝑥 + 2)
𝑦𝑦 2
*

Inx-lng In <x2(x+ 2)]

=
In(x(x+2)]
=
IX-2ny
= [Inx+ In(x+ 2)]
=
[21nx + in(x+2)]
= InX + jin(x+2)

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AP PreCalculus ~ Unit 4: Logarithmic Functions

Ex.2. Express each of the following as a single logarithm. Then, if possible, evaluate without a
calculator.
a. log 6 18 + log 6 2 b. log 2 10 − log 2 5 c. log 100 + log 10

d. ln 𝑥𝑥 + ln 𝑦𝑦 e. 2 ln 8 + 5 ln 𝑧𝑧 f. 1 + log 2 9

g. ln 𝑒𝑒 6 − 2 ln 𝑒𝑒 5 h. log 4 10 + 3 log 4 2 − log 4 5

i. 4[ln 𝑧𝑧 + ln(𝑧𝑧 + 5)] − 2 ln(𝑧𝑧 − 5) j. ln 4 + ln 5 − 2

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AP PreCalculus ~ Unit 4: Logarithmic Functions

Most calculators will evaluate common logarithms (base 10) and natural logarithm (base e), however,
sometimes we need to evaluate logarithms of other bases.

Change-of-Base Formula

Ex.3. Rewrite log 3 19 as a ratio of a common logarithm and a natural logarithm.

o #
Ex.4. Evaluate the following without a calculator.
a. log 8 16 b. log 27 81 c. log 1 64
8

gal ologs
Log
ga log
-

82
logs 8
= .

= I 2
-

I
- -

2
Ex.5. Given that log 𝑃𝑃 = 𝑥𝑥, log 𝑄𝑄 = 𝑦𝑦, and log 𝑅𝑅 = 𝑧𝑧. Express the following in terms of 𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, and 𝑧𝑧.
𝑃𝑃 3
log � �
𝑄𝑄𝑅𝑅 2

3
log(s)
=
3[logp-10g(OR2)]
=
S[logp-(loga 10gR2)] +

3/10gP-logo-logR2]
=
3 [logp -logO-2logR] Page 4 of 5

67
3X-3y
3(X y 2z)
-

=
-

=
-
AP PreCalculus ~ Unit 4: Logarithmic Functions

Ex.6. Given that log 4 𝑎𝑎 = 𝑏𝑏, express the following in terms of 𝑏𝑏

a. log16 𝑎𝑎 b. log 1 𝑎𝑎2
4

Ex.7. The parent function 𝑦𝑦 = log 𝑥𝑥 was stretched horizontally by a factor of 100 to create the graph
of 𝑓𝑓. Which of the following transformations on the parent function would produce the same graph as 𝑓𝑓?
A) A vertical shrink by a factor of 100
B) A horizontal shift 2 units to the right
C) A vertical shift 2 units down
D) A vertical shift 100 units up

Ex.8. The parent function 𝑦𝑦 = log 3 𝑥𝑥 was translated up 1 unit to produce the graph of 𝑓𝑓. Which of the
following functions would produce the same graph as 𝑓𝑓?
A) 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = log 3 (3𝑥𝑥)
B) ℎ(𝑥𝑥) = log 3 (𝑥𝑥 + 1)
1
C) 𝑤𝑤(𝑥𝑥) = log 3 � 𝑥𝑥�
3
D) 𝑗𝑗(𝑥𝑥) = 3 log 3 (𝑥𝑥)

HOMEWORK: page 223~3.3 Exercises. #[9, 15-53, 61, 67, 71-75] odd only
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