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Precalculus
Chapter 3

Exponential and Logarithmic

Functions

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 Chapter Outline
3.1 Inverse Functions
3.2 Exponential Functions
3.3 Logarithmic Functions
3.4 Properties of Logarithms
3.5 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
and Applications
3.6 Modeling with Exponential and
Logarithmic Functions

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 Concepts

1. Convert Between Logarithmic and

Exponential Forms
2. Evaluate Logarithmic Expressions
3. Apply Basic Properties of Logarithms
4. Graph Logarithmic Functions
5. Use Logarithmic Functions in Applications

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 Concept 1
Convert Between Logarithmic
and Exponential Forms

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 Definition of a Logarithmic
Function
If x and b are positive real numbers such that b ≠ 1,
then y = logb x is called the logarithmic function
with base b, where
y = logb x is equivalent to by = x

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 Examples 1 – 4
Write each equation in exponential form.
1. log4 16 = 2
2. log5 0.2 = −1
3. log8 1 = 0
4. log23 1 = 0

Solution:
1. log4 16 = 2 3. log8 1 = 0
0
2
4 = 16 8 =1
2. log5 0.2 = −1 4. log23 1 = 0
5−1 = 0.2
230 = 1
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 Skill Practice 1
Write each equation in exponential form.
a. log3 9 = 2
 1 
b. log10   = −3
 1000 
c. log6 1 = 0

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 Examples 5 – 7
Write each equation in logarithmic form.
5. 24 = 16
13
6. 27 −2 = 3
1
7.   = 16
4
Solution: −2
4
1
1
5. 2 = 16 6. 27 = 3
3 7.   = 16
4
log2 16 = 4 1
log27 3 = log1 16 = −2
3 4

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 Skill Practice 2
Write each equation in logarithmic form.
a. 25 = 32
4
b. 10 = 10, 000
−2
1
c.   = 64
8

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 Concept 2
Evaluate Logarithmic
Expressions

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 Equivalence Property of Exponential
Expressions
If b, x, and y are real numbers, with b > 0, b ≠ 1,
then b x = by implies that x = y.

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 Examples 8 – 10 (1 of 2)
Evaluate each logarithmic expression.
8. log12 144
9. log64 8
 1 
10. log3  
 27 
Solution:
8. let log12 144 = x 9. let log64 8 = x
log12 144 log64 8
12x = 144 64x = 8
x =2 1
x =
 log12 144 = 2 2
1
 log64 8 =
2
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 Examples 8 – 10 (2 of 2)

 1 
10. let log3   =x
 27 
 1 
log3  
 27 
1
3x =
27
x = −3
 1 
 log3   = −3
 27 

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 Skill Practice 3
Evaluate each expression.
a. log5 125
b. log3 81
 1 
c. log4  
 64 

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 Definition of Common and Natural
Logarithmic Functions
Common logarithmic function:
The logarithmic function base 10.
y = log10 x written as y = log x

Natural logarithmic function:

The logarithmic function base e.
y = loge x written as y = ln x

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 Examples 11 – 14
Evaluate.
11. log 100
12. log 0.0001
13. ln e −3
14. ln e10

Solution:
11. log 100 = 2 13. ln e −3 = −3
Since 102 = 100 Since e −3 = e −3
12. log 0.0001 = −4 14. ln e10 = 10
Since 10−4 = 0.0001 Since e10 = e10
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 Skill Practice 4
Evaluate.
a. log 10,000,000
b. log 0.1
c. ln e5
d. ln e

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 Examples 15 – 18 (1 of 2)
Use your calculator to find the approximate value.
Round the answer to 4 decimal places. Check your
answer by using the exponential form.
Example: log 43 ≈ 1.6335

check: 101.6335  43.0031

15. log 200

16. log 0.074
17. ln 200
18. ln 1.005

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 Examples 15 – 18 (2 of 2)

Solution:
15. log 200  2.3010
check: 102.3010  199.986
16. log 0.074  −1.1308
check: 10−1.1308  0.0740
17. ln 200  5.2983
check: e5.2983  199.9965
18. ln 1.005  0.0050
check: e0.005  1.0050

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 Skill Practice 5

Approximate the logarithms. Round to 4 decimal

places.
a. log 229
b. log (3.76  1012 )
c. ln 0.0216
d. ln 87
e. ln 0.0032
f. ln 

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 Concept 3
Apply Basic Properties of
Logarithms

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 Basic Properties of Logarithms

Property:
1. logb 1 = 0 because b0 = 1
2. logb b = 1 because b1 = b
3. logb b x = x because b x = b x
logb x
4. b = x because logb x = logb x

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 Examples 19 – 27 (1 of 2)
Simplify.
19. log19 19
20. log 10
21. log e
22. log273 1
23. log1 8 1
24. log30 3010
25. ln e −12
26. 10log 14
27. 8log8 5
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 Examples 19 – 27 (2 of 2)
Solution:
19. log19 19 = 1 Property 2
20. log 10 = 1 Property 2
21. ln e = 1 Property 2
22. log273 1 = 0 Property 1
23. log1 1 = 0 Property 1
8
24. log30 3010 = 10 Property 3
25. ln e −12 = −12 Property 3
26. 10log14 = 14 Property 4

27. 8log8 5 = 5 Property 4

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 Skill Practice 6
Simplify.
a. log13 13
b. ln e
c. alog a
3

d. eln 6
e. log 1
f. log 1
g. log9 9 2
h. log 10e

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 Concept 4
Graph Logarithmic Functions

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 Example 28 (1 of 2)
Graph the function y = log3 x.
(To find the points on a logarithmic function, interchange the x-
and y-coordinates of the ordered pairs on the corresponding
exponential function.)

Solution:
Exponential Function Logarithmic Function
x y = 3x x y = log3 x
1 1
−3 −3
27 27
1 1
−2 −2
9 9
1 1
−1 −1
3 3

0 1 1 0

1 3 3 1
2 9 9 2

3 27 27 3
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 Example 28 (2 of 2)

y = log3 x

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 Skill Practice 7

Graph the functions.

a. y = log4 x
b. y = log1 x
2

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 Graphs of Exponential and
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential Functions Logarithmic Functions

Domain: (−∞, ∞) Domain: (0, ∞)

Range: (0, ∞) Range: (−∞, ∞)
Horizontal asymptote: y = 0 Vertical asymptote: x = 0
Passes through (0, 1) Passes through (1, 0)
If b > 1, the function is increasing. If b > 1, the function is increasing.
If 0 < b < 1, the function is If 0 < b < 1, the function is
decreasing. decreasing.
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 Using Transformations to Graph
Logarithmic Functions
f ( x ) = a log ( x − h ) + k
b

where:
If a < 0 reflect across the x-axis.
Shrink vertically if 0  a  1.
Stretch vertically if a  1.
(x−h):
If h > 0, shift to the right.
If h < 0, shift to the left.
k:
If k > 0, shift upward.
If k < 0, shift downward.
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 Example 29 (1 of 2)

Graph the function. Identify the vertical

asymptote and write the domain in interval
notation.
f ( x ) = log2 ( x + 3) − 2
Solution:
x y = log2 x
1
Parent function: y = log2 x 4
−2

1
−1
2

1 0

2 1

4 2
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 Example 29 (2 of 2)

Shifted left 3 units.

Shifted down 2 units.

The graph of f ( x ) = log2 ( x + 3) − 2 is shown in blue.

The vertical asymptote is x = −3.
The domain is (−3, ∞).
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 Skill Practice 8

Graph the function. Identify the vertical asymptote

and write the domain in interval notation.
g ( x ) = log3 ( x − 4 ) + 1

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 Example 30 (1 of 2)

Give the domain and range in interval notation.

Determine the vertical asymptote.
y = log2 ( x +3)

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 Example 30 (2 of 2)

Solution:

Domain: (−3, ∞)
Range: (−∞, ∞)
Vertical Asymptote: x = −3

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 Example 31 (1 of 2)

Give the domain and range in interval notation.

Determine the vertical asymptote.
y = − log2 x

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 Example 31 (2 of 2)

Solution:

Domain: (0, ∞)
Range: (−∞, ∞)
Vertical asymptote: x = 0 (y-axis)

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 Example 32 (1 of 2)

Give the domain and range in interval notation.

Determine the vertical asymptote.
(
log x 2 − 3x − 4 )

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 Example 32 (2 of 2)
Solution:
( )
log x 2 − 3x − 4 = log ( x − 4 ) ( x + 1) 
Boundary points: x = 4, x = −1

Domain: ( −, −1)  ( 4,  )

Range: (−∞, ∞)
Vertical Asymptote: x = 4, x = −1
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 Skill Practice 9

Write the domain in interval notation.

a. log4 (1 − 3x )
b. log (2 + x )
c. m ( x ) = ln (64 − x 2 )

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 Concept 5
Use Logarithmic Functions in
Applications

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 Example 33 (1 of 3)
The absolute magnitude, M, of a star is the apparent
magnitude, m, a star would have if it were placed 10
parsecs from earth. The lower the value of the
magnitude, the brighter the star. Our sun has an
apparent magnitude of −26.74. The brightest star in
our night sky is Sirius, the Dog Star, with an apparent
magnitude of −1.44. The sun appears so bright
because it is very close (astronomically speaking).
The formula
 d 
M = m − 5 log  
 10 
relates a star’s absolute magnitude, apparent
magnitude, and its distance, d, from earth in parsecs.
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 Example 33 (2 of 3)

If Sirius is 2.637 parsecs from earth and the

sun is 4.887  10-6 parsecs from earth, what is
the absolute magnitude of each star?

Solution:
Sirius:
m = −1.44
d = 2.637
 2.637 
M = −1.44 − 5 log  
 10 
 1.45
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 Example 33 (3 of 3)

Sun:
m = −26.74
d = 4.887  10−6
 4.887  10−6 
M = −26.74 − 5 log  
 10 
 4.81(much less bright than Sirius)

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 Skill Practice 10
The intensity of an earthquake is measured by a
seismograph – a device that measures amplitudes
of shock waves. I0 is a minimum reference intensity
of a “zero-level” earthquake against which the
intensities of other earthquakes may be compared.
The magnitude of M of an earthquake of intensity I
is given by  I 
M = log   .
 I0 
a. Determine the magnitude of an earthquake that
is 105.2 times I0.
b. Determine the magnitude of an earthquake that
4.2
is 10 times I0.
c. How many times more intense is a 5.2-magnitude
earthquake than a 4.2-magnitude earthquake?
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