4B Lesson note (Ch.

7 Logarithmic Functions) Name: ( )

7.1 Common Logarithms (Base is )

A. Introduction
105  log  
100  log  
10 2  log  

 
log10 10 n  log 10 n   

(i) log 1000 =

(ii) log 100 =

(iii) log 10 =

(iv) log 1 =

(v) log 0.1 =

(vi) log 15 ≈

log 0 

log(-3) 

Remark:

 log( )= Output
(i) Input >1
(ii) Input = 1

(iii) 0< Input <1

Ch.7 P.1
B. Properties of common logarithms:

For any p, q > 0,

1) log( p  q) 

 p
2) log  
q
3) log( p n ) 

For example,

1) log(100  10)   

 100 
2) log   
 10 

3) log( 7 2 )  

 log p ≠ log × p
 log( p  q )  log p  log q
 log( p  q )  log p  log q
 log( p  q )  log p  log q
 p  log p
 log  
 q  log q
log p p
 
log q q

Ch.7 P.2
E.g. 1 Find the values of the following expressions without
1)
using a calculator.
2)

 50  3) log( x n ) 
(a ) log 6  log 
 3

(b) log 160  2 log 4

log 16
(c)
log 8

log 15  log 30
(d )
log 4

Ch.7 P.3
E.g. 2 Simplify each of the following expressions, where x, y > 0 and x ≠ 1.

 x 
(a) log x  log 
 100 

log x 5  log x
(b)
log 3 x

Method 1: [ ] Method 2: [ ]

log x 2 y  log xy
(c)
log x

Ch.7 P.4
E.g. 3 Given that log 2 = a and log 7 = b. Express each of the following in terms of a and/or b.

(a) log 98

(b) log 28

(c) log1.75

(d) log 20

*(e) log 35

Ch.7 P.5
C. Logarithmic equations (Unknown is )

Note 1: If log y = n,
then .

E.g. 4 Solve (a) log( 3 x  1)  2 * (b) log( 2 x)  log( x  4)  1

Note 2: If log x = log y,

then .

E.g. 5 Solve (a) log( 2 x  1)  log 7 (b) log 5  log( x  3)  log(3 x  19 )

Ch.7 P.6
E.g. 6 In each of the following, express b in terms of a.

(a) log a  log b  1 (b) log 1000 b  3 log a

Supp Ex 1: In each of the following, express q in terms of p.

(a) log 4q  log p  3 (b) 3 log p  log q

D. Solve exponential equations by Logarithms Skill : Take on sides

(Unknown is )

E.g. 7 Solve the following exponential equations. (Correct to 3 sig. fig.)

(a) 3 x  12 (b) 2  3 x2  8

Ch.7 P.7
 (c) 5 x1  5 x  3

x 1
Solve 3  2 . (Correct to 3 sig. fig.)
2x
E.g. 8

Ch.7 P.8
7.2 Applications of Common Logarithms

A. Sound intensity level

Its formula is defined as:

β : sound intensity level of a sound (in dB)
I  I : sound intensity (in W/m2),
  10 log 
I
 0 I0 : the lowest sound intensity that can be heard by human (I0 = 10–12 W/m2)

E.g. 1 Given that the sound intensity produced by a new model vacuum
cleaner is 10–5 W/m2, find its sound intensity level.

E.g. 2 Given that the sound intensity level produced by a crying baby
is 46 dB. Find its sound intensity.
(Give your answer in scientific notation & correct to 3 sig. fig.)

Remind:
If log y = n,
then .

Ch.7 P.9
B. Richter Scale (黎克特制)

Its formula is defined as:

M : magnitude of an earthquake  no unit

2 E : energy released in the earthquake (in J),

M  log E  K
3 K : a constant

E.g. 3 The energy released in an earthquake was 1000 000 J. If K = – 3.2, find the magnitude of the
earthquake on the Richter scale.

E.g. 4 The magnitude of an earthquake was measured as 4.1 on the Richter scale. If K = – 3.2, find the
energy (in J) released in the earthquake.
(Give your answer in scientific notation & correct to 3 sig. fig.)

Ch.7 P.10
E.g. 5 The energy (E) released in an earthquake on the Richter scale is given by log E = 1.5M + K,
where M is the magnitude of the earthquake and K is a constant.
The magnitudes of the earthquakes in Fukushima in years 2011
and 2021 were measured 9 and 7.3 respectively on the Richter
scale. Find the ratio of the energy released in the earthquake
in year 2011 to that in year 2021. (Correct to 3 sig. fig.)

Ch.7 P.11
C. Other daily applications

E.g. 6 The original price of a computer is $6000. Its price depreciates at a constant rate of 20% per year.

(a) Find the price of the computer after 3 years, correct to the nearest integer.

(b) At least how many years will the price become less than $1500?

E.g. 7 Peter deposits $10 000 in a bank at 5% p.a. compounded half-yearly.

(a) Find the amount after 3 years, correct to the nearest integer.

(b) Find the minimum number of years for the amount to exceed $28 000.

Ch.7 P.12
D. Logarithmic Transformation

Take log

Take log

E.g. 8 The figure shows the graph of log y against x. The graph passes through (0, 1) and (2, 2).
It is given that y = abx, where a and b are positive constants.
(a) Express log y in terms of a, b and x.
(b) Find the values of a and b. (Correct to 3 sig. fig.)

Ch.7 P.13
*E.g. 9 The figure shows the graph of log y against log x. The graph passes through (0, 1) and (3, 0.5).
It is given that log y = n log x + log k, where k and n are constants and k > 0.
(a) Find the values of k and n.
(b) Express y in terms of x.
(c) Find the value of y when x = 1 000 000.

Remind:
If log x = log y,
then .

Ch.7 P.14
7.3 Logarithms to an Arbitrary Base

A. Introduction

Common logarithm with base 10 : log (10 2 )  2

Logarithm with base 3 :

Logarithm with base 4 :

Definition: For any a > 0 and a ≠ 1,

 
log a a n 

E.g. 1 Find the values of the following expressions without using a calculator.

 1 
(a) log 2 32 (b) log 5   (c) log 6 3 36 (d) log 3 1
 25 

Remark: With using a calculator,

log2 32 :

Ch.7 P.15
B. Properties of Logarithms to an Arbitrary Base:
Let a be arbitrary base such that a > 0 and a ≠ 1.
For any p, q > 0,

1) log a ( p  q) 

 p
2) log a   
q

3) log a ( p n ) 

* 4) log a p   Change base’s formula

For example,

4) log 4 27  

E.g. 2 Find the values of the following expressions without using a calculator.

(a ) log 3 63  log 3 7

(b) log 8 16  5 log 8 2

(c) log 25 5

Use change base’s formula

Ch.7 P.16
E.g. 3 Simplify each of the following expressions, where x > 0 and x ≠ 1.
x
(a) log 5 (4 x 3 )  log 5 ( )  4 log 5 x
100

log 2 x
(b)
log 8 x

Use change base’s formula

C. Logarithmic equations (Unknown is inside log(?) )

Note 3: If loga y = n,

then .

For example,

log7 y = 2  y= =

log3 y = 4  y= =

log2 y = –1  y= =

Ch.7 P.17
E.g. 3 Solve the following logarithmic equations.

(a) log 3 (2 x  3)  2

(b) log 2 x  log 2 (3 x  4)  1

Note 4: If loga x = loga y,

then .

E.g. 4 Solve log9 (4x) = log3 6.

Use change base’s formula

Ch.7 P.18
7.4 Graphs of Logarithmic functions & their features

Activity: Fill in the table and plot the graphs of (i) y  log10 x (ii) y  log 2 x (iii) y  log 1 x .
2

x 0.3 0.6 1 2 3 4 Increase / decrease?

(i) y  log10 x

(ii) y  log 2 x

(iii) y  log 1 x
2

(Correct to 1 decimal place if necessary.)

O x
1 2 3 4

-1

-2

Consider the three graphs above, answer the following questions.

Yes/No

1. Do the graphs cut the y-axis?

2. Do the graphs always lie on the RHS of y-axis?

3. Do the graphs cut the x-axis at the same point?

If yes, write down the coordinates of the point.

Ch.7 P.19
A. Features of logarithmic functions

Note 5:

Case 1 (base > 1) Case 2 (0 < base < 1) Combine two cases

y y y

O x O O x
x

Axis of symmetry is .

is the reflectional image of .

E.g. 1 Given the graph of y = log3 x. Solve the following equations by adding suitable arrows on the
graph. (Give your answers correct to the nearest 0.1)

(a) log3 x = 1.2

(b) log3 x – 0.5 = 0

Ch.7 P.20
B. Relationships between exponential & logarithmic functions

Graphs of exponential functions Graphs of logarithmic functions

Case 1 (a > 1) Case 2 ( 0 < a < 1) Case 1 (a > 1) Case 2 ( 0 < a < 1)

In both cases: In both cases:

Graphs lie and passes through . Graphs lie and passes through .

…………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………
Case 1 & Case 2 Case 1 & Case 2

Combine two cases: Combine two cases:

x
1 y  log a x and y  log 1 x are reflectional symmetry about .
y  a x and y    are reflectional symmetry about .
a a

Relationships between exponential & logarithmic functions:

Case 1 (base > 1) Case 2 ( 0 < base < 1)

y  a x and y  log a x are reflection al symmetry about .



Ch.7 P.21
C. Compare graphs of exponential & logarithmic functions (DSE type 5)

Note 6:
Compare bases of exponential functions Compare bases of logarithmic functions
y= y= y=

y
y

y
x

x=1

draw a vertical line draw a horizontal line

E.g. 2 The figure shows the graphs of y = loga x and y = logb x. y

y = loga x
a or b is larger? Explain your answer. y = logb x

O x

1) Draw
2)

Supp Ex 2:
The figure shows the graphs of y = logc x and y = logd x. y
c or d is larger? Explain your answer.

O x

y = logc x

y = logd x

Ch.7 P.22
*E.g. 3 (Reference DSE MC 2018 Q32)
The figure shows the graphs of y = loga x and y = logb x
on the same rectangular coordinate system, where a and
b are positive constants. A vertical line cuts the graph of
y = loga x, the graph of y = logb x and the x-axis at the
points A, B and C respectively.
AB b
Prove that  log a  .
BC a

Length of a vertical line segment

=

Ch.7 P.23
*E.g. 4 (Reference DSE MC 2014 Q32)
The figure shows the graphs of y = bx and y = cx
on the same rectangular coordinate system, where b and
c are positive constants. A horizontal line cuts the y-axis,
the graph of y = bx and the graph of y = cx at the points
A, B and C respectively.

AB
Prove that  log b c.
AC

x-coordinate of B: Remind:
Take on sides

x-coordinate of C:

Length of a horizontal line segment

=

Ch.7 P.24
D. More about linear transformation (DSE types 6 & 7)

E.g. 5 (Reference DSE MC 2013 Q32)

The figure above shows the graph of y  ab x , where a and b are constants. Which of the following
graphs may represent the relation between x and log4 y?

log

log

Ch.7 P.25
E.g. 6 (Reference DSE MC 2012 Q32, 2016 Q32 & 2018 Q33)
The graph in the figure shows linear relation between x and log9 y.

If y  mn x , find the value of n .

Given
Take on sides

Remind:
If loga y = n,
then .

Ch.7 P.26
E.g. 7 (Reference DSE MC 2015 Q32)
The graph in the figure shows the linear relation between
log2 x and log2 y. Which of the following must be true?

Find equation of a straight line:

{m is slope & (x1, y1) is a point on line}

y  y1  m( x  x1 )

Remark:
The question may not give the graph, we need to draw it. For example,

“ It is given that log3 y is a linear function of log3 x. Draw graph:

The intercepts on the vertical axis and on the
horizontal axis of the graph of the linear function
are 2 and –5 respectively.”
O

Ch.7 P.27
E.g. 8 (Reference DSE CQ 2014 Q15)

The graph in the figure shows the linear relation between log3 x and log9 y. The slope and the intercept on

the horizontal axis of the graph are − and 4 respectively. Express the relation between x and y in the

form y  Ax k , where A and k are constants.

Find equation of a straight line:

{m is slope & (x1, y1) is a point on line}

y  y1  m( x  x1 )

Change base’s formula:

log a p 

Ch.7 P.28