Logarithmic Function

DEFINITION

For x > 0, b > 0, and b ≠ 1, the exponential

function with base b is denoted by

x
f (x ) = b
where
logb x = y if and only if b y = x
LOGARITHMIC AND EXPONENTIAL FORMS

The logarithmic and exponential forms are equivalent

equations:
Logarithmic form Exponential form
log 100, 000 = 5 105 = 100, 000
log3 9 = 2 32 = 9
1 -3 1
log2 = -3 2 =
8 8
log5 s = r 5r = s
EXAMPLE A Express in logarithmic expression
1
1) 196 = b
2

A. log 1 b = 196
2

B. log 1 196 = b
2
1
C log196b =
C.
2
EXAMPLE A Express in logarithmic expression

2
2) m = 10

A. logm 10 = 2

B. log m = 2
B

C. log 2 = m
EXAMPLE A Express in logarithmic expression

3.125
3) 2 = b

A
A. logb 2 = 3.125

B. logb 3.125 = 2

C. log2b = 3.125
EXAMPLE A Express in logarithmic expression

7
4) e = t
A. log t = e

B
B. ln t = 7

C. ln 7 =t
EXAMPLE A Express in logarithmic expression

x −4
5) 3 =9

A log3 9 = x − 4
A.

B. logx −4 3 = 9

C. log9 x − 4 = 3
EXAMPLE B Express in exponential expression

1) y = log4 10
10
A. 4 =y
y
B. 4 = 10
B
10
C. y =4
EXAMPLE B Express in exponential expression

2) 5 = logx + 1
a
x +1
A. a =5
x +1
B. 5 =a
5
C.
C (x + 1) = a
EXAMPLE B Express in exponential expression

3) log C = 8
8
A. C = 10
8
B 10 = C
B.
10
C. C = 8
EXAMPLE B Express in exponential expression

4) 2.75 = ln k
k
A. e = 2.75
2.75
B. k =e
2.75
C.
C e = k
EXAMPLE B Express in exponential expression

5) logm p = 3
3
A. m = p
A
p
B. 3 = m
m
C. p =3
Function Notation

f (x )= logb x
(b > 0, and b ≠ 1)
Domain & Range

domf : { x | x  0}

Contains all points to

the right of the y-axis
not including zero.
Domain & Range

ranf : { y | y  }

Contains all points

from negative to
positive infinity
(set of real numbers)
Intercepts

x -intercept : (1, 0)
y -intercept : none

(1, 0)
The graph intersects
with the x-axis at
point (1, 0)
Asymptotes

Vertical Asymptote:
x =0
Horizontal asymptote:
none (1, 0)

The graph is asymptotic

with respect to the y -axis
Points of Intersection

 1 
(b , 1) and  , − 1 
b 

If b > 1
Points of Intersection

 1 
(b , 1) and  , − 1 
b 

If 0 < b < 1
Behavior of Graphs

increasing
If b > 1
b>1
decreasing
If 0 < b < 1 0<b<1
Determining the Domain of Logarithmic Function

The domain of f (x )= logb x is the set of positive real

numbers denoted as
domf : { x | x  0}

It implies that if f (x ) = logb (x + c ) , then x +c > 0.

And so, if f (x ) = logb (x − 3) , then x − 3 > 0.
Consequently,
x−3>0
x > 3
Thus, the domain of f (x ) = logb (x − 3) is, domf : { x | x  3} .
EXAMPLE C Determine the domain of the given
logarithmic functions

1) f (x ) = log5(2x − 6)

Let 2x − 6  0
2x  6
2x 6

2 2 Therefore,
x 3 domf : { x | x  3}
EXAMPLE C Determine the domain of the given
logarithmic functions

2) h(x ) = log3(7 − x )
Let 7 − x  0
−x  −7
− x −7

−1 −1 Therefore,
x 7 domh : { x | x  7}
EXAMPLE C Determine the domain of the given
logarithmic functions

3) p(x ) = logb (| x − 2 |) In principle, |x − 2| > 0 for

all x ’s except 2.
Let x −20 And x − 2 > 0 or x − 2 < 0.
x 2 Note that if x = 2, p(x) is
undefined.
Let x −20
Therefore,
x 2 domp : { x |(x  2)  (x > 2)}
or simply
domp : { x | x  2}
EXAMPLE C Determine the domain of the given
logarithmic functions

2
4) g (x ) = log5(x − 25) Applying the rules in solving
quadratic inequalities,
2
Let x − 25 > 0 We let x 2 − 25 = 0 and
we get x =  5.

Testing x 2 − 25 > 0 on the intervals (−∞, −5), (−5, 5), and

(5, ∞), it holds true to (−∞, −5) and (5, ∞).
Therefore,
domg : { x | (x  −5)  (x > 5)}
Properties of Logarithms

logb 1 = 0 ln 1 = 0

logbb = 1 ln e = 1
x
logbb = x x
ln e = x
logb x
b = x, x 0 e ln x = x , x  0
Properties of Logarithms
logb 1 = 0
PROOF:
Let y = logb 1
by = 1 Express in exponential form

by = b0 Let b 0 = 1

y =0 Equate exponents
logb 1 = 0 By substitution, logb 1 = 0
Properties of Logarithms
logbb = 1
PROOF:
Let y = logb b
by = b Express in exponential form

by = b1 Let b 1 = b
y =1 Equate exponents
logb b = 1 By substitution, logbb = 1
Properties of Logarithms

The Log of a Product Equals the

Sum of the Logarithms

logbMN = logbM + logbN

ln MN = ln M + ln N
Properties of Logarithms
logbMN = logbM + logbN
PROOF:
Let u = logb M and v = logb N
b u = M and b v = N Express in exponential form
logb MN = logb bubv Substitute M and N w/ bu and bv
logb MN = logb bu +v Simplify bubv by product rule
logb MN = (u +v )logb b Logarithm of powers

logb MN = (u +v )(1) Logbb = 1 property

logb MN = logb M + logb N Substitute u and v

Properties of Logarithms

The Log of a Quotient Equals the

Difference of the Logarithms

M
logb = logbM − logbN
N
M
ln = ln M − ln N
N
Properties of Logarithms
M
logb = logbM − logbN
N
PROOF:
Let u = logb M and v = logb N
b u = M and b v = N Express in exponential form

M bu
logb = logb v Substitute M and N with bu and bv
N b
M bu
logb = logbb u −v Simplify v by quotient rule
N b
Properties of Logarithms
M
logb = logbM − logbN
N
PROOF:
M
logb = (u −v ) logbb Logarithm of powers
M
M
logb = (u −v )(1) Logbb = 1 property
M
M
logb = logb M − logb N Substitute u and v
M
Properties of Logarithms

The Log of a Power Equals the Product of

the Power and the Logarithms

a
logb M = a logbM
a
ln M = a ln M
Properties of Logarithms
a
logbM = a logbM
PROOF:
Let logb M a = y

b y =Ma Express in exponential form

1 1

( ) = (M )
by a

y
a a
Raise both sides to the power 1/a

b =M
a
Cancel a and 1/a, and then simplify
y
logbM = Express in logarithmic form
a
Properties of Logarithms
a
logbM = a logbM
PROOF:
 y 
a  logbM =  a Multiply both sides by a
 a
a logbM = y Cancel a and simplify

Since logbM a = y , then

logbM a = a logbM By substitution

Properties of Logarithms

The Change-of-base Formula

logaM
logbM =
loga b
Properties of Logarithms
log M
logbM =
log b
PROOF:
Let y = logb M

b y =M Change to exponential form

log b y = log M Take the logarithms of both sides

loga b y = logaM Assign other base than 10, say a

y loga b = loga M Apply the logarithm of powers

Properties of Logarithms
log M
logbM =
log b
PROOF:
y loga b = loga M
Divide both sides by loga b
loga b loga b
logaM
y = Cancel the loga b on the left
loga b side
logaM Substitute y with logb M
logbM =
loga b
EXAMPLE D Expand the given logarithmic expression

3
ab
1) log = log a + 3 log b − log c
c
x
2) logb 5
= logb x − logb 2 − 5logb y
2y
3
m 1
3) ln −1
= ln m − ln 2 + ln p
2p 3
EXAMPLE E Condense into single logarithm

xz
1) log6 x − 2log6 y + log6 z = log6 2
y
1
2) ln h + ln 4 + ln k + ln 2 + 5ln j = ln 8kj 5
h
2
log 3 5log y 3y 5
3) + − log x = log
2 2 x
END