1

Logarithm
Logarithm

1.1 Definition : If a and N be two positive real numbers, a  1 and if x is a real number satisfying the

relation ax  N , then x is called the logarithm of N to the base a and it is written as x  loga N .

 ax  N  x  loga N

Conversely, loga N  x  N  ax

Illustration :

1. 23  8  3  log2 8

2. 52  .04   2  log 5 .04 

Conversely,

1. log 3 81  4  34  81

2
2
2. log 8 4   8 3  4
3

Note :

1. Logarithm of a negative number be a complex number.

2. The logarithm of same number with respect to different bases may be different.

Illustration : 
log 2 64  6  2 6  64 

log 4 64  3  4 3  64 

log 8 64  6  8 2  64 

log 64 64  1  641  64 
3. The logarithm of a number with base 10 is called Common Logarithm, whereas the logarithm of a

number with base e is called Napierian Logarithm. In calculus, the base is taken as e for logarithm.

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Logarithm

1.2 Some Results of Logarithm :

a) log a 1  0 f) loga MN  Nloga M

b) loga a 1 logb x
g) log a x 
logb a
c) aloga b b
1
h) logN M 
d) loga MNloga Mloga N logM N

M
e) log a    log a M  log a N
N

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Logarithm

1.3 Questions at a glance : A (Short Answer type questions)

1. The value of log2 5 8000 is a) 3 b) 4 c) 6 d) 8

1 1 1 1 1
2. If log x    , then the value of x is equal to a) b) 1 c) d)
3 3 3 9 27

3. If log2 3  a , then the value of log 8 27 is

a) a b) 2 a c) 3 a d) 4 a

4. If alog2 x  b log 4 x , then the relation between a and b is

a) a b b) a2  b c) b2  a d) b 2a

log x log y log z y2

5. If   , then the value of is
2 3 4 xz

a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4

6. The value of log12 log19 16  log16 19 is

a) 1 b) 0 c) 2 d) none of these

7. The value of log2 log2 log 4 256  2log 2 2 is

a) 2 b) 3 c) 5 d) 7

8. The value of 4log2 3  4log9 3 is

a) 5 b) 9 c) 10 c) 11

9. If loga ab  x, then logb ab is equal to

1 x x x
a) b) c) d)
x x 1 x 1 1x

10. If A = 2 log 2
2 , then A is a) 2 b) 3 c) 5 c) 7

11. The logarithm of 1728 to the base 2 3 is

a) 3 b) 6 c) 9 d) none of these
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Logarithm

12. The value of log 3 log 2 log 3

81 is

1
a) 3 b) 1 c) d) none of these.
3

1 1 1
13. The value of x for  is a) b) 3 c) 3 d) none of these
log 3 x 9 3

14. If log a x  0.3 , log a 3  0.4 , then the value of log 3 x is

4
a) 0.12 b) 0.7 c)0.75 d)
3

15. If log10 a  log10 b  log10 a  b , then b can be expressed as

a a a1
a) b) c) d) none of these
a1 a1 a

16. If log 2 log x 81  1 , then the value of x is

a) 9 b) 3 c) 3 d) none of these.

17. The value of log 3 2

324 is

a) 6 b) 4 c) 7 d) none of these

18. log 5 5 log 4 9 log 3 2 simplifies to

a) 2 b) 1 c) 5 d) none of these.

19. If log e 2 log x 625  log 10 16 log e 10, then the value of x is

1
a) 4 b) 5 c) d) none of these.
5

1.4 Questions at a glance : A (Long Answer type questions)

x y z
20. If ax  bc , by  ca and cz  ab , prove that   2
x 1 y 1 z1

1 1 1
21. If x  log a bc  , y  log b ca , z  log c ab then show that   1
x 1 y 1 z1

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Logarithm
log x log y log z
22. If   , then show that x x y y z z  1
y z z  x x  y

log x log y log z

23. If   , then show that x y  z yz  x zx  y  1
y z z  x x  y

log x log y log z

24. If   , then show that xyz  1
y z z  x x  y

1 1 1
25. Prove that   1
loga bc   1 logb ca  1 log c ab  1

ab  c  a b c  a  b c a  b  c 
26. If   , prove that baab  caac  bccb
log a log b log c

 1 1 1
 5  1
27. Prove that log 1  32  243 5   log 1  log 32  log 243
5
  5
 

log a x
28. Prove that  1  log a b
log ab x

29. If x  log 2a a , y  log 3a 2a , z  log 4a 3a , show that xyz  1  2yz

b
30. If a3  xb5x  ax  5b3x , prove taht x log  log a
a

31. Prove that yz log y  log z  zx log z  log x  xy log x  log y = 1

log x log y log z

32. If   , then show that x p
y q z r 1
ry  qz pz rx qx  py

33. If ax  by  cz and y2  xz, prove that logb a  logc b

34. Solve : 5log x  3log x  1  3log x  1  5log x  1

 1 
 x  1
35. Solve log 5  5  125   log 5 6  1 
  2x
 

1 1
36. Prove that the value of log 10 2 lies between and .
3 4

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Logarithm

1.5 Solution of the given questions

1. The value of log 2 5 8000 is

a) 3 b) 4 c) 6 d) 8

Solution : log 2 5 8000 = log 2 5 64  125  log 2 5 26 


 5 6 

= log2 5 2 5 6  6log2 5 2 5   6
Ans. c) 6

1 1
2. If log x    , then the value of x is equal to
3 3

1 1 1
a) b) 1 c) d)
3 9 27

1 1 1 1
Solution : log x    or, x 3 
3 3 3

3
1 1 1
or, x     Ans. d)
3 27 27

3. If log2 3  a , then the value of log8 27 is

a) a b) 2 a c)3 a d) 4 a

log 27 log 33 3log 3 log 3

Solution : log 8 27 =     log 2 3  a .
log 8 log 23 3log 2 log 2

Ans. a) a

4. If alog2 x  b log4 x , then the relation between a and b is

a) a b b) a2  b c) b2  a d) b 2a

log x log x
Solution : alog2 x  b log4 x or, a b
log 2 log 4

1 1
or, a b or, alog 4  blog 2
log 2 log 4
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Logarithm
or, alog 22  blog 2 or, 2alog 2  blog 2

2a  b.

Ans. d) b 2a

log x log y log z y2

5. If   , then the value of is
2 3 4 xz

a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4

log x log y log z

Solution : Let   =k
2 3 4

log x  2k, log y  3k and log z  4k

or, x  102k , y  103k and z  104k [ taking base as 10 ]

Now,
y2
=
103k  2
106k
1. Ans. a) 1
xz 102k  104k 106k

6. The value of log 12 log 19 16  log 16 19 is

a) 1 b) 0 c) 2 d) none of these

 log 16 log 19 
Solution : log 12 log 19 16  log 16 19 = log 12   
 log 19 log 16 

= log 12 1 = 0 Ans. b) 0

7. The value of log 2 log 2 log 4 256  2 log 2

2 is

a) 2 b) 3 c) 5 d) 7

Solution : log 2 log 2 log 4 256  2 log 2

2

= log 2 log 2 log 4 4 4  2 log 2

 2 2

= log 2 log 2 4 log 4 4  2  2 log 2

2

= log 2 log 2 4  4  1  log 2 log 2 2 2  4

= log 2 2 log 2 2 + 4 = 1 + 4 = 5 Ans. c) 5

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Logarithm
8. The value of 4log2 3  4log9 3 is

a) 5 b) 9 c) 10 c) 11

1 1
log9 9 2
log9 9
log2 3 log9 3 2log2 3 log2 32
Solution : 4 4 =2 4 2  42

 
1
log2 9
= 2  42  9  2  11  aloga N  N

Ans. c) 11

9. If loga ab  x, then logb ab is equal to

1 x x x
a) b) c) d)
x x 1 x 1 1x

Solution : loga ab  x or, loga a  loga b  x

or, 1 + loga b  x or, loga b  x - 1

Now, logb ab

1
= logb a  logb b = 1
log a b

1 1x 1 x x
= 1 = = Ans. c)
x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1

10. If A = 2 log 2
2 , then A is

a) 4 b) 3 c) 5 c) 7

Solution : A = 2 log 2
2 = 2log 2  2 2 = 2  2log 2  2  = 4
Ans. : a) 4

11. The logarithm of 1728 to the base 2 3 is

a) 3 b) 6 c) 9 d) none of these

Solution : log 2 3 1728 = log 2 3

64  27   log 2 3
2 3  6
 6 log 2 3
2 3   6
Ans. : b) 6

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Logarithm
12. The value of log3 log2 log 3 81 is

1
a) 3 b) 1 c) d) none of these.
3

Solution : log 3 log 2 log 3

81

= log 3 log2 log 3  3 8  log3 log2 8 log 3  3 

= log 3 log2 log 3  3 8  log3 log2 8  log3 log2 23
 log3 3log2 2 1 Ans. b) 1

1 1
13. The value of x for  is
log 3 x 9

1
a) b) 3 c) 3 d) none of these
3

1 1
Solution :  or, log3 x  9 or, x  39 Ans. d) none of these.
log 3 x 9

14. If log a x  0.3 , log a 3  0.4 , then the value of log 3 x is

4
a) 0.12 b) 0.7 c) 0.75 d)
3

Solution : log a x  0.3 , log a 3  0.4 , given

log x
log a x 0.3 log a 3
  or, 
log a 3 0.4 log 3 4
log a

log x 3
or,  or, log3 x  0.75 Ans. c) 0.75
log 3 4

15. If log10 a  log10 b  log10 a  b , then b can be expressed as

a a a1
a) b) c) d) none of these
a1 a1 a

Solution : log10 a  log10 b  log10 a  b

or, log10 ab  log10 a  b

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Logarithm
or, ab  a  b or, ab b  a

a a
or, ba  1  a  b Ans. a)
a1 a1

16. If log 2 log x 81  1 , then the value of x is

a) 9 b) 3 c) 3 d) none of these.

Solution : log2 log x 81  1 or , log2 log x 34  1

or, log2 4log x 3  1 or , log2 22 log x 3  1

or, 2log2 2 logx 3  1 or , 2logx 3  1

or, log x 32  1 or , log x 9  1

or, x  9 Ans. a) 9

17. The value of log 3 2

324 is

a) 6 b) 4 c) 7 d) none of these

Solution : log 3 2
324 = 4 log 3 2
3 24

Ans. : b) 4

18. log 5 5 log 4 9 log 3 2 simplifies to

a) 2 b) 1 c) 5 d) none of these.

2
log 9 log 2
Solution : log 5 5 log 4 9 log 3 2 =  log 5 5  1  log 32  log 2
log 4 log 3 log 2 log 3

2 log 3 log 2
  1 Ans. b) 1
2 log 2 log 3

19. If loge 2log x 625  log10 16loge 10, then the value of x is

1
a) 4 b) 5 c) d) none of these.
5

Solution : loge 2logx 625  log10 16loge 10

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Logarithm
log 2 log 625 log 16 log 10
or,   
log e log x log 10 log e

log 625 log 16

or,  or , log x 625  log2 16
log x log 2

or, log x 54  log2 24 or , 4log x 5  4log2 2

 logx 5  1 or , x  5 . Ans. b) 5

x y z
20. If ax  bc , by  ca and cz  ab , prove that   2
x 1 y1 z1

Solution :

ax  bc  x  loga bc 

b y  ca  y  logb ca and

cz  ab  z  logc ab

x y z
L.H.S. =  
x 1 y 1 z1

log a bc  logb ca log ca ab

=  
log a bc   1 logb ca  1 log c ab  1

log a bc  logb ca log ca ab

=  
log a bc   log a a logb ca  logb b log c ab  log c c

log a bc  logb ca log ca ab 

=  
log a bca logb cab  log c abc 

= loga bc   logabc a  logb ca logabc b  logcaablogabc c

= logabc bc  logabc ca  logabc ab

= logabcbc  ca ab

 
= log abc a2b2c2  log abc abc 2  2log abc abc   2 = R.H.S.

1 1 1
21. If x  log a bc  , y  log b ca , z  log c ab then show that   1
x 1 y 1 z 1

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Logarithm
1 1 1
Solution : L.H.S. =  
x 1 y 1 z1

1 1 1
=  
log a bc   1 logb ca  1 log c ab  1

1 1 1
=  
log a bc   log a a logb ca  logb b log c ab  log c c

1 1 1
=  
log a bca logb cab  log c abc 

= logabc a  logabc b  logabc c

= logabc abc  1 = R.H.S.

log x log y log z

22. If   , then show that x x y y z z  1
y z z  x x  y

log x log y log z

Solution : Let   k
y z z  x x  y

 log x  ky  z, log y  kz  x  and log z  kx  y 

or , xlog x  kxy  zx , ylog y  kyz  xy and zlog z  kzx  yz

Adding, x log x  ylog y  zlog z  kxy  zx  yz  xy  zx  yz

or, log x x  log y y  log zz  0

 
or, log x x y yzz  log 1

or, x x y y z z  1

log x log y log z

23. If   , then show that x y  z yz  x zx  y  1
y z z  x x  y

log x log y log z

Solution : Let   k
y z z  x x  y

 log x  ky  z, log y  kz  x  and log z  kx  y 

or, y  zlog x  ky  zy  z ……….(1)

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Logarithm
z  xlog y  kz  xz x ………..(2)
x  ylog z  kx  yx  y ……….(3)
From (1) + (2) + (3), we get

y  zlog x  z  xlog y  x  ylog z

 ky  zy  z  kz  x z  x   kx  y x  y 


or, log x y  z  log yz  x  log zx  y  k y2  z2  z2  x2  x2  y2 
 
or, log x y  z yz  x zx  y  0  log 1

`  x y  z yz  x zx  y  1

log x log y log z

24. If   , then show that xyz  1
y z z  x x  y

log x log y log z

Solution : Let   k
y z z  x x  y

 log x  ky  z, log y  kz  x  and log z  kx  y 

Adding, log x  log y  log z  ky  z  z  x  x  y 

or, logxyz  0  log1  xyz  1

1 1 1
25. Prove that   1
log a bc   1 logb ca  1 log c ab  1

Solution : Proceed same as given in question 21.

ab  c  a b c  a  b c a  b  c 
26. If   , prove that baab  caac  bccb
log a log b log c

ab  c  a b c  a  b c a  b  c  1
Solution : Let   
log a log b log c k

 log a  kab  c  a ………(1)

logb  kbc  a  b ………(2)

log c  kca  b  c………(3)

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Logarithm
From, (1) b  (2)  a we get

blog a  alogb  kabb  c  a  kabc  a  b

or, log ab  log ba  kabb  c  a  c  a  b

 
or, log abba  2kabc ……….(4)

Similarly, from (1)  c  (3)  a and (2)  c  (3)  b we get

 
log caac  2kabc ………(5) and

 
log bccb  2kabc ………(6)

 from (4), (5) and (6) we can write

   
log abba = log caac = log bccb   i.e. baab  caac  bccb

 1 1 1

27. Prove that log 15  32 5  243 5  
 
1
log 1  log 32  log 243
  5

 1   
L.H.S. = log 15  32 5  243 5   log 1  2 5 5  35 5 
1 1 1 1
Solution :
   

= log 1  2  3  log 6 
1 1
 5 log 6  log 6 5
5 5

=
1
5
5 1
5

log 1  2  3  log 15  2 5  35 

=
1
5

log 15  log 2 5  log 35 

=
1
log 1  log 32  log 243 = R.H.S.
5

log a x
28. Prove that  1  log a b
log ab x

log x
log a x log a log x log ab
Solution : L.H.S. =  
log ab x log x log x log a
log ab

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Logarithm
log ab
= = loga ab  loga a  loga b
log a

= 1 + loga b = R.H.S.

29. If x  log 2a a , y  log 3a 2a , z  log 4a 3a , show that xyz  1  2yz

Solution : L.H.S.  xyz  1  log2a a log 3a 2a log 4a 3a  1

log a log 2a log 3a

=   1
log 2a log 3a log 4a

log a log a  log 4a

= 1
log 4a log 4a

log 4a2 log 2a2 2log 2a

=  
log 4a log 4a log 4a

log 2a log 3a
=2   2log 3a 2alog 4a 3a
log 3a log 4a

= 2yz = R.H.S.

b
30. If a3  xb5x  ax  5b3x , prove taht x log  log a
a

Solution : a3  xb5x  ax  5b3x

b5x ax 5
or, 3x  3x  or , b5x 3x  ax 53x 
b a

or, b2x  a2x2 or , bx  ax1

x
b
or, bx  ax  a or,    a
a

x
b
or, log   log a
a

b
 x log  log a
a

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Logarithm

31. Prove that yz log y  log z  zx log z  log x  xy log x  log y = 1

Solution :

Let P = yz log y  logz  zx logz  log x  xy log x  log y


 log P = log yz log y  logz  zx logz  logx  xy logx  log y 
or, log P = logyz log ylogz  logzx logz  logx  logxy logx  logy

or, log P = log y  log zlogyz  log z  log x logzx 

+ log x  log ylogxy

or, log P = log y  log z log y  log z   log z  log xlog z  log x

+ log x  log ylog x  log y

or, log P = log y 2  log z2  log z2  log x 2  log x 2  log y 2

or, log P = 0 = log 1

 P = 1 i.e. yz log y  logz  zx logz  log x  xy log x  log y = 1

log x log y log z

32. If   , then show that x p y q z r  1
ry  qz pz rx qx  py

Solution :

log x log y log z

Let   k
ry  qz pz rx qx  py

log x  kry  qz , log y  kpz  rx  and log z  kqx  py 

i.e. plog x  kpry  pqz  ……..(1)

qlog y  kqpz  qrx  …….(2)

and rlog z  krqx  rpy  ………(3)

From (1) + (2) + (3) we get,

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Logarithm
plog x  qlog y  rlog z  kpry  pqz  qpz  qrx  rqx  rpy 

or, log xp  log yq  log zr  0

 
or, log xp yqzr  log 1

or, x p y q z r  1

33. If ax  by  cz and y2  xz, prove that logb a  logc b

y
y
Solution : Now, ax  by  a  b x   logb a (from definition).
x

z
z
Again, b  c  b  c
y z y
  log c b
y

y z
Also,  y2  xz (given)  
x y

i.e. logb a  logc b

34. Solve : 5log x  3log x  1  3log x  1  5log x  1

Solution : 5log x  3log x  1  3log x  1  5log x  1

or, 5log x  5logx  1  3logx  1  3logx  1

or, 5logx  5logx . 51  3logx . 3  3logx . 31

 
or, 5log x 1  5 1  3log x 3  31  
5 log x

3  3 1  
or,
3log x 1  5 1  
 1
5
log x 3  10
 
3 10 5 25
or,    3  
 3  1 6 3 6 9
1  5
 5

logx 2
 5  5
or,     or , log x  2
3 3

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Logarithm
or, x  102  100 taking base as 10

 1 
 x  1
35. Solve log 5  5  125   log 5 6  1 
  2x
 

 1 
  1
Solution : log 5  5 x  125   log 5 6  1 
  2x
 

 1 
  1
or, log 5  5 x  125   log 5 6  1 
  2x
 

 1x 
 5  125  1
or, log 5    1
 6  2x
 

1
1
5 x  125 1
or, 5 2x  by definition
6

1 1 1
1
or, 5 x  125  6  5 2x  6  5 5 x
2

2
 1  1
 
or,  5 2x   125  30  5
2 x

 

1
2
or, a  125  30 a , where 52x  a say.

or, a2  30 a  125  0 or , a  25a  5  0

or,  a  25 or a  5

1
1 1
Now, a  25  52x  52  2  x 
2x 4

1
1 1
and a  5  5 x  51 
2 1  x 
2x 2

1 1
 x ,
2 4

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Logarithm

1 1
36. Prove that the value of log 10 2 lies between and .
3 4

Solution : Now, 23  10 or , log 10 23  log10 10 or , 3log 10 2  1

1
 log10 2  ………(1)
3

Again, 24  10 or , log10 24 log10 10 or , 4 log10 2 1

1
 log 10 2  ………(2)
4

1 1
From (1) and (2) we can write  log10 2  .
4 3

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