Topic 4 – Logarithms

The logarithmic function is the inverse of the exponential function. There are a number
of rules known as the laws of logarithms. These allow expressions involving logarithms to
be rewritten in a variety of different ways. The laws apply to logarithms of any base but
the same base must be used throughout a calculation.

Rule 1: log 𝐴 + log 𝐵 = log 𝐴𝐵 e.g. log10 5 + log10 4 = log10(5 × 4) = log10 20

𝐴
Rule 2: log 𝐴 − log 𝐵 = log 𝐵 e.g. log10 40 − log10 5 = log10(40 ÷ 5) = log10 8

Rule 3: log 𝐴𝑛 = 𝑛 log 𝐴 e.g. log10 53 = 3 log10 5

Rule 4: log 𝑎 𝑏 = 𝑐 ↔ 𝑎𝑐 = 𝑏 e.g. log10 1000 = 3 ↔ 103 = 1000

Rule 5: log 𝑚 𝑚 = 1 e.g. log10 10 = 1

Rule 6: log 1 = 0

Rule 7: 𝑎log𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑥 e.g. 5log5 8 = 8

The number e is a mathematical

constant that is the base of
the natural logarithm: the unique
number whose natural logarithm is
equal to one. The number e, like the
number pi, is an irrational number,
which is approximately equal
to 2.71828.

Note that the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 is the

reflection of 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑛 𝑥 in the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.
This shows that they are the inverse of
one another

Type 1:

Without using a calculator work out the following: log10 1000

Important keywords: the base is the 10, and the argument is the 1000.

In such questions, we need to get the argument as a power of the base. So in this case,
we know that 1000 may be seen as 103 .

Hence log10 1000 may be seen as log10 103

Using rule 3 above, log10 103 may be seen as 3log10 10

Using rule 5 above, log10 10 = 1

Hence: 3log10 10 = 3 × 1 = 3

Mr Daniel Calleja Cremona – Pure Mathematics A-Level Page 1 of 8

Exercise A

1. Without using a calculator work out the following

1 Remember:
a) log 3 81 [4] b) log 4 16 [-2] c) log 5 125 [3] d) log 7 343 [3]
1 1 1
e) log 3 81 [-4] f) log 2 32 [5] g) log15 15 [1] h) log 5 5 [-1] 5
= 5−1
1 1
i) log 2 16 [4] j) log 2 64 [6] k) log 2 16 [-4] l) log 5 25 [-2]
1 𝟏
m) log 6 36 [2] n) log 5 5 [1] o) log 7 49 [-2] p) log 49 7 [𝟐]
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
q) log 25 5 [ ] r) log 8 64 [2] s) log16 4 [ ] t) log 8 2 [ ]
𝟐 𝟐 𝟑
𝟐
u) log10 0.1 [−𝟏] v) log125 25 [𝟑]

2. By using your calculator, evaluate the following to 2 decimal places

a) log 6 [0.78] b) ln 5 [1.61] c) log 2 3 [1.58] d) log100 20 [0.65]

3. Without using a calculator, simplify the logarithms below either as a logarithm or as

an integer. [Hint: you will have to use rules 1, 2 and 7 found on the first page]
a) log 2 3 + log 2 7 [𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟐 𝟐𝟏] b) log 7 15 − log 7 3 [𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟕 𝟓] c) 𝟖𝐥𝐨𝐠𝟖 𝟏𝟔 [16]
d) 4 log 9 3 [2] e) log 3 12 − log 3 2 [𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 𝟔] f) 𝒆𝒍𝒏 𝟖 [8]
g) log12 3 + 2 log12 2 [1] h) log 2 24 − log 2 3 [3] i) 𝟖𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟖 𝟏𝟔
−𝟔𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟔 𝟏𝟒
[2]
1 1
j) 2 log 4 2 + 3 log 4 2 − log 4 2 [2] k) 2 log 9 16 − 3 log 9 8 [𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟗 𝟐]

4. Use the laws of logs to rewrite as a single term

𝒙𝟐 𝒚 𝒙𝟔
a) 2 log 𝑎 𝑥 + log 𝑎 𝑦 − log 𝑎 𝑧 [𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂 𝒛
] b) 5 ln 𝑥 − 3 ln 2 + ln 4𝑥 [𝐥𝐧 𝟐 ]
𝒙𝟑
c) log 𝑦 + 4 log 𝑥 − (5 log 2𝑦 + log 3𝑥) [𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟗𝟔𝒚𝟒 ]

5. Express the following in terms of ln p,ln q and ln r :

𝑝𝑞2 𝟏
a) ln ( ) [𝐥𝐧 𝒑 + 𝟐𝐥𝐧 𝒒 − 𝒍𝒏 𝒓] b) ln 𝑝2 𝑞 𝑚 𝑟 3 [𝟐 𝐥𝐧 𝒑 + 𝒎 𝐥𝐧 𝒒 + 𝟑 𝐥𝐧 𝒓]
√𝑟 𝟐
𝑟5 𝟓 𝟏 𝟏 𝑟√𝑝3 𝟑
c) ln √𝑝𝑞 [𝟐 𝐥𝐧 𝒓 − 𝟐 𝐥𝐧 𝒑 − 𝟐 𝐥𝐧 𝒒] d) ln 𝑞
[𝐥𝐧 𝒓 + 𝟐 𝐥𝐧 𝒑 − 𝐥𝐧 𝒒]

Type 2: Having Log on one side

Note that there are 2 cases we must consider:

i) Finding the argument ii) Finding the base

i) When finding the argument and we have log on one side we must apply rule rule 4. In
doing so, we would be able to get rid of the log.

For example: Find the value of 𝑛 in the following: log12 𝑛 = 2

Using rule 4: 122 = 𝑛
Hence 144 = n

ii) When finding the base and we have log on one side we must apply rule rule 4. In
doing so, we would be able to get rid of the log.

For example: Find value of 𝑛 in the following: log 𝑛 25 = 2

Using rule 4: 𝑛2 = 25
Hence 𝑛 = ±√25
𝑛 = 5 or 𝑛 = −5
Answer: 𝒏 = 𝟓 (because we cannot have a negative number in a log function)
Mr Daniel Calleja Cremona – Pure Mathematics A-Level Page 2 of 8
Exercise B

1. Find the value of n, without using a calculator [Hint: whenever the argument is a
decimal, change it to a fraction in its lowest terms before proceeding further]
a) log 2 128 = 𝑛 [7] b) log 3 𝑛 = 2 [9] c) log 2 𝑛 = 3 [8]
d) log 𝑛 16 = 2 [4] e) log 3 27 = 𝑛 [3] f) log 𝑛 125 = 3 [5]
g) log 2 𝑛 = 6 [64] h) log 2 16 = 𝑛 [4] i) log 𝑛 81 = 4 [3]
𝟏 1
j) log 2 (0.5) = 𝑛 [-1] k) log 8 𝑛 = −2 [𝟔𝟒] l) log 𝑛 ( ⁄81) = −4 [3]
𝟏
m) log 𝑛 (0.125) = −1 [8] n) log10 (0.1) = 𝑛 [-1] o) log 3 𝑛 = −3 [ ]
𝟐𝟕

Type 3: When the unknown is in the power

Logs are very important when it comes to solving equations which has the unknown in
the power. For example, we know that
21 = 2, 22 = 4, 23 = 8, 24 = 16 … . . 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 2 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑢𝑠 11?

2𝑥 = 11
In this case, we would have to add log on both sides
log 2𝑥 = log 11
By using rule 3, we can now move the 𝑥 down, in front of log 2
𝑥 log 2 = log 11
log 11
By solving: 𝑥 = log 2
𝒙 = 𝟑. 𝟒𝟔 (𝒕𝒐 𝟐 𝒅. 𝒑. )

2. Find the value of 𝑥 (to 2dp) using logarithms

a) 5𝑥 = 10 [1.43] b) 3𝑥 = 25 [2.93] c) 4𝑥 = 30 [2.45]
d) 2 = 45 [1.83]
3𝑥
e) 52𝑥 = 32 [1.08] f) 10𝑥+1 = 6 [-0.22]
g) 33𝑥−2 = 8 [1.30] h) 2𝑥−1 = 3𝑥+1 [-4.42] i) 5𝑥−2 = 2𝑥+3 [5.78]
j) 3 2𝑥−1
= 5 [1.87]
𝑥
k) 61−𝑥 = 23𝑥+1 [0.28] l) 54𝑥−1 = 7𝑥+2 [1.22]

Type 4: The quadratic type

For example: 22𝑥 − 2𝑥 = 6

Note that we CANNOT add log on both sides the following way: log 22𝑥 − log 2𝑥 = log 6

We can only add log on both sides as follows: log(22𝑥 − 2𝑥 ) = log 6… which will not allow
us to move the powers downwards.

In these type of questions, we need to see 22𝑥 − 2𝑥 = 6 , firstly as (2𝑥 )2 − 2𝑥 = 6

then, we let 𝑦 = 2𝑥 , which means: 𝑦 2 − 𝑦 = 6

This is a quadratic equation which can be solved using the trinomial method.

𝑦2 − 𝑦 − 6 = 0
(𝑦 − 3)(𝑦 + 2) = 0

𝑦 = 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = −2

Hence: 2𝑥 = 3 and 2𝑥 = −2

We can now solve both equations separately, using logs

Mr Daniel Calleja Cremona – Pure Mathematics A-Level Page 3 of 8

 log 2𝑥 = log 3 and log 2𝑥 = log −2 (this case is not possible)

𝑥𝑙𝑜𝑔 2 = log 3
log 3
𝑥=
log 2
𝑥 = 1.58 (𝑡𝑜 2 𝑑. 𝑝. )

3. Solve each of the following equations, giving your answers to 2 d.p. where necessary

a) 22𝑥 − 5(2𝑥 ) + 4 = 0 [0 and 2] b) 32𝑥 − 30(3𝑥 ) + 81 = 0 [1 and 3]

c) 42𝑥 − 5(4𝑥 ) + 6 = 0 [0.79 and 0.5] d) 2(22𝑥 ) − 11(2𝑥 ) + 5 = 0 [-1 and 2.32]

e) 3(52𝑥 ) − 14(5𝑥 ) + 8 = 0 [-0.25 and 0.86] f) 2(32𝑥 ) − 5(3𝑥 ) = 4 [1.04]

g) 22𝑥+1 − 9(2𝑥 ) + 4 = 0 [-1 and 2] h) 4𝑥 − 5(2𝑥+1 ) + 16 = 0 [1 and 3]

Simultaneous equations

To solve any system of equations you need to combine the equations to get an
equation with only ONE unknown variable.

When we are given two equations including logs, we somehow have to get rid of the
logs from both equations, then we can either use the elimination method, where you
add/subtract the two equations to get rid of one of the variables. Or else, you may use
the substitution method, by making x (or y) subject of the formula from one equation,
and substituting it instead of x (or y) of the other equation.

For example:

Solve the pair of simultaneous equations: log(𝑦 − 𝑥) = 0 and 2 log 𝑦 = log(21 + 𝑥)

equation 1: log(𝑦 − 𝑥) = 0

In order to remove the log, we can use rule 4: i.e. 100 = 𝑦 − 𝑥, hence 1 = 𝑦 − 𝑥

equation 2: 2 log 𝑦 = log(21 + 𝑥)

Since I have log on both sides, it would be easy to remove it from both sides, but first we
must take the ‘2’ up as a power, i.e.: log 𝑦 2 = log(21 + 𝑥)^2

Now we can remove log from both sides: 𝑦 2 = 21 + 𝑥

Now we have two equations without logs: 1 = 𝑦 − 𝑥 (eqtn 1) and 𝑦 2 = 21 + 𝑥 (eqtn 2)

By making 𝑥 subject from equation 1: 𝑥 = 𝑦 − 1

Substituting this in eqtn 2: 𝑦 2 = 21 + 𝑦 − 1

Solving: 𝑦 2 − 𝑦 − 20 = 0

(𝑦 − 5)(𝑦 + 4) = 0 Hence 𝑦 = 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = −4

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦 = 5, 𝑥 = 5 − 1 = 4
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦 = −4, 𝑥 = −4 − 1 = −5

Mr Daniel Calleja Cremona – Pure Mathematics A-Level Page 4 of 8

Exercise C

1. Given that a and b are positive constants, solve the simultaneous equations 𝑎 = 3𝑏
and log 3 𝑎 + log 3 𝑏 = 2, leaving your answers in surd form. [𝒃 = √𝟑, 𝒂 = 𝟑√𝟑]

2. Solve the pair of simultaneous equations, leaving your answers in surd form:
𝟑+√𝟖𝟗 𝟏+√𝟖𝟗
log(𝑥 − 𝑦) = 0 and 2𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦 = log(21 + 𝑥) [𝒙 = 𝟐
,𝒚 = 𝟐
]

3. Solve the pair of simultaneous equations: log(𝑥) + log(𝑦) = 1 and

log(10𝑥) − log(𝑦) = 2 [𝒙 = 𝟏𝟎, 𝒚 = 𝟏]

4. Given that 𝑥 and 𝑦 are both positive, solve the simultaneous equations:
𝑥
log(𝑥𝑦) = 7 log ( )=1 [𝒙 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎, 𝒚 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎]
𝑦

𝟏
5. Given that log(𝑝 − 𝑞 + 1) = 0 and log(𝑝𝑞) + 1 = 0 find p and q [both are ]
√𝟏𝟎

6. Solve the pair of simultaneous equations:

log(𝑥 + 𝑦) = 0 and 2 log 𝑥 = log(𝑦 − 1) [𝒙 = −𝟏, 𝒚 = 𝟐 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒙 = 𝟎, 𝒚 = 𝟏]

Exercise D: Miscellaneous Exercise. Use the laws of indices to answer the following

1. Give the value of log 𝑎 (𝑎2 √𝑎) [2.5]

1
2. Give the value of log 2 (8) [-3]
𝟏
3. Find the value of 𝑥 such that log 3 𝑥 = −2 [𝟗]
4. Solve 7𝑥 = 9, giving your answer to 3sf. [1.13]
5. Find the values of 𝑥 such that 2log 3 𝑥 − log 3 (𝑥 − 2) = 2 [𝒙 = 𝟑, 𝒙 = 𝟔]

𝐥𝐧 𝟏𝟎−𝟑
6. Solve the equation 𝑒 2𝑥+3 = 10 [ 𝟐
]

7. What is the value of 𝑥 such that ln(8𝑥 − 9) = 20.

𝒆𝟐𝟎 +𝟗
Leave your answer in exponent form [ 𝟖
]

8. Solve the equation 72𝑥 – 4(7𝑥 ) + 3 = 0, giving your answers to 2 decimal places
where appropriate. [𝒙 = 𝟎 and 𝒙 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟔]
9. Given that 2 log 2(𝑥 + 15) − log 2 𝑥 = 6,
a) show that 𝑥 2 − 34𝑥 + 225 = 0
b) Hence or otherwise, solve the equation. [𝒙 = 𝟐𝟓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒙 = 𝟗]

11. Find, giving your answer to 3 s.f. where appropriate, the value of 𝑥 for which
2 log 3(𝑥 − 2) = 1 [𝟑. 𝟕𝟑]
𝟑
12. Solve for 𝑥: log 2 (11 − 6𝑥) = 2 log 2 (𝑥 − 1) + 3 [𝒙 = 𝟐]

Mr Daniel Calleja Cremona – Pure Mathematics A-Level Page 5 of 8

13. Solve each of the following equations:
𝟏
a) 2 log 9 √𝑥 − log 9 (6𝑥 − 1) = 0 [𝒙 = 𝟓]

b) log 𝑥 + log(𝑥 − 1) = log(3𝑥 + 12) [𝒙 = 𝟔]

c) ln 10 − ln(7 − 𝑥) = 𝑙𝑛𝑥 [𝒙 = 𝟐 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒙 = 𝟓]

14. The diagram shows the curves of 𝑦 = log 2 𝑥 and 𝑦 = log 2(𝑥 − 3)

a) The curve 𝑦 = log 2 𝑥 passes through the

point (𝑎, 3). State the value of a. [8]

b) The curve 𝑦 = log 2 (𝑥 − 3) passes through

the point (b, 1.8). Find the value of b, giving
your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

[6.48]

15. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 .

a) Show that log 3 𝑦 = 1 + 2 log 3 𝑥

𝟏
b) Hence or otherwise, solve the equation 1 + 2 log 3 𝑥 = log 3 (28𝑥 − 9) [𝒙 = or 𝒙 = 𝟗]
𝟑

16. Given that a and b are positive constants, solve the simultaneous equation leaving
your answer in surd form: 𝑎 = 3𝑏 and log 3 𝑎 + log 3 𝑏 = 2 [a = 𝟑√𝟑, b=√𝟑]

17. Solve the following equations:

a) 2 log 3 𝑥 − log 3 7𝑥 = 1 [𝒙 = 𝟐𝟏]

b) log 𝑥 = 1 − log(𝑥 − 3) [𝒙 = 𝟓]

c) log 2 (𝑥 2 − 6𝑥) = 3 + log 2 (1 − 𝑥) [𝒙 = −𝟒]

log2 32+log2 16 𝟏
18. Find the values of x such that: = log 2 𝑥 [𝒙 = 𝟖 or 𝒙 = ]
log2 𝑥 𝟖

𝟒
19. Given than 0 < 𝑥 < 4 and log 5 (4 − 𝑥) − 2 log 5 𝑥 = 1 [𝒙 = 𝟓]

20. Solve 52𝑥 − 12(5𝑥 ) + 35 = 0, to 2 d.p. where necessary. [𝒙 = 𝟏 or 𝒙 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟏]

Mr Daniel Calleja Cremona – Pure Mathematics A-Level Page 6 of 8

Change of Base Formula

𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒄 𝒂
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒂 =
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒄 𝒃

Note that the value of ‘c’ can be any positive value (it can also be a or b)

To prove this: 𝑳𝑯𝑺: let log 𝑏 𝑎 = 𝑥

Hence: 𝑏𝑥 = 𝑎

log 𝑐 on both sides: log 𝑐 𝑏 𝑥 = log 𝑐 𝑎

𝑥 log 𝑐 𝑏 = log 𝑐 𝑎
log𝑐 𝑎
𝑥= = RHS
log𝑐 𝑏

𝟏
Also note that, if c=a 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒂 =
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒄 𝒃

Worked Example 1

Find 𝑥 if: 6log 2 𝑥 − log 𝑥 2 = 1

Since we have logs with different bases, we must use the change of base formula
6 log⎕ 𝑥 log⎕ 2
Hence: − =1
log⎕ 2 log⎕ 𝑥

Notice that I have left the base ‘empty’ for now so that I can decide what number to
place there. In this case, it would be best to set the base as 2, because we know that
log 2 2 = 1 , which will make this equation solvable.
6 log2 𝑥 log2 2
Hence: − =1
log2 2 log2 𝑥

1
6 log 2 𝑥 − log =1
2𝑥

1
Let 𝑦 = log 2 𝑥 6𝑦 − 𝑦 = 1

6𝑦 2 − 1 = 𝑦

6𝑦 2 − 𝑦 − 1 = 0

(3𝑦 + 1)(2𝑦 − 1) = 0
1 1
𝑦 = − and 𝑦 =
3 2

1 1
log 2 𝑥 = − 3 and log 2 𝑥 = 2
1
𝑥 = 2−3 or 𝑥 = 21/2

3 1
𝑥 = √2 or 𝑥 = √2

Mr Daniel Calleja Cremona – Pure Mathematics A-Level Page 7 of 8

Worked Example 2

log 3 𝑥 = log 9 (5𝑥 − 6)

log3 𝑥 log3 5𝑥−6

Change of base formula: =
log3 3 log3 9

log 3 5𝑥 − 6
log 3 𝑥 =
2

2 log 3 𝑥 = log 3 5𝑥 − 6

log 3 𝑥 2 = log 3 5𝑥 − 6

antilog on both sides: 𝑥 2 = 5𝑥 − 6

𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6 = 0

(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 3) = 0

𝑥 = 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 3

Exercise E Questions involving change of base

1. Express 3log 2 3 + 6log 4 5 in the form log 2 𝑎, finding the value of 𝑎. [𝟑𝟑𝟕𝟓]
2. Express 3log 4 5 + 9log 64 3 in the form log 4 𝑎, finding the value of 𝑎. [𝟑𝟑𝟕𝟓]
3. Express 3log 3 2 + 9log 27 4 in the form log 3 𝑎, finding the value of 𝑎. [𝟓𝟏𝟐]
4. Express 3log 2 3 + 6log 4 5 in the form log 2 𝑎, finding the value of 𝑎. [𝟑𝟑𝟕𝟓]
5. Express 3log 6 3 + 9log 216 4 in the form log 6 𝑎, finding the value of 𝑎. [𝟏𝟕𝟐𝟖]
6. Solve, giving your answer
𝟏
a) log 4 𝑥 + 3log 𝑥 4 = 4 [𝟔𝟒 𝒐𝒓 𝟒] b) log 5 𝑥 − 6log 𝑥 5 = 1 [𝟏𝟐𝟓 𝒐𝒓 𝟐𝟓]
c) log 3 𝑥 + 4log 𝑥 3 = 4 [𝟗] d) log 4 𝑥 − log 64 𝑥 = 3 [𝟓𝟏𝟐]
𝟏 𝟏
e) 2log 5 𝑥 + 3 = 2 log 𝑥 5 [√𝟓 𝒐𝒓 𝟐𝟓
] f) log 3 (2 − 3𝑥) = log 9 (6𝑥 2 − 19𝑥 + 2) [− 𝟑 , −𝟐]

7. solve simultaneously:

a) 6log 3 𝑥 + 2 log 3 𝑦 = 7 and 4 log 9 𝑥 + 4 log 3 𝑦 = 9 [𝒙 = √𝟑, 𝒚 = 𝟗]

b) log 2 𝑥 + 2log 4 𝑦 = 4 and 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 10 [𝒙 = 𝟐, 𝒚 = 𝟖 𝒐𝒓 𝒙 = 𝟖, 𝒚 = 𝟐]

c) log 𝑦 𝑥 = 2 and 5𝑦 = 𝑥 + 8 log 𝑥 𝑦 [𝒙 = 𝟏𝟔, 𝒚 = 𝟒]

note that log1 1 gives a math error because log 𝑎 𝑎 = 1 but at the same time log 𝑎 1 = 0

d) Solve the simultaneous equations: log(𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1) = 1, log 2 𝑥 = log 2 20 − 2log 4 𝑦

[𝒙 = 𝟒 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚 = 𝟓, 𝒚 = 𝟓 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒙 = 𝟒]

Mr Daniel Calleja Cremona – Pure Mathematics A-Level Page 8 of 8