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Basic Logarithms

An exponential function is any function that can be written in the form f(x)=bx. If you have exponential function y=2 x, its inverse would be x=2 y. Logarithms can be changed into exponential form, and vice versa, if needed.

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88 views

Basic Logarithms

An exponential function is any function that can be written in the form f(x)=bx. If you have exponential function y=2 x, its inverse would be x=2 y. Logarithms can be changed into exponential form, and vice versa, if needed.

Uploaded by

samthegirl9
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Samantha R.

Selman February 7, 2012

Basic Logarithms
A Summary

Before we explain logarithms, let us first review the subject of exponential functions. As you may recollect from beginners Calculus an exponential function is any function that can be written in the form f(x)=bx. In the previous example b is a positive real number other than one and is referred to as the base. If you are graphing the function, f(x) is equivalent to the y-coordinate. If you have exponential function y=2 x, its inverse would be x=2 y. The inverse of an exponential function is called a logarithmic function. The expression y=logbx is read y is the logarithm to the base b of x and is equal to x=b y. We essentially raise y to b in order to get x. Lets look at a few examples. 16=24 is the exponential function; log2 16=4 is the logarithmic function. 0.1=10-1 is the exponential function; log10 0.1=-1 is the logarithmic function. a=bc is the exponential function; logb a=c is the logarithmic function. Logarithms can be changed into exponential form, and vice-versa, if needed. For example, if you wanted to graph the logarithmic function log 2 x=y you would find the exponential form (x=2 y), create a table of values (shown below) and graph the values. x y -2 -1 1 0 2 1 4 2

You will often have to simplify logarithmic functions. Say you are given the function log 3 x=2; to find x you could put the logarithm in terms of exponents. This would give you 3 2=x and since three squared is nine, x would equal nine. Other times you will need to simplify logarithmic functions containing two or more logarithms. Take log 3(log6 6). You would first simplify the innermost problem then work outwards. The solution to this problem is shown below: log3(log6 6) = log3(1) 3x=1 x = 0 I would now like to list three important properties of logarithms. (1) The logarithm of a product is the sum of the logarithms. (2) The logarithm of a quotient is the difference of the logarithms. (3) Finally, the logarithm of a number raised to a power is the product of the power and the logarithm of the number. In mathematical form, here are the three properties: (1*) logb(xy) = logb x + logb y (2*) logb (x/y) = logb x logb y (3*) logb xr = r logb x

Please note that in the above examples x, y, and b are positive real numbers. The variable b is not equal to one and r is any real number. Before ending this summary, there is one more topic we must cover. The number e is the base of a special type of logarithm called the natural logarithm. Its value is approximately 2.718282. Natural logarithms may confuse the beginner at first; instead of using the abbreviation log, natural logarithms use the abbreviation ln. Plus, in addition to the properties shown on the previous page, natural logarithms have the following three properties: (1) ln e = 1 (2) ln ek = k (3) ln 1 = 0

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