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Log NOTES Explanation Day 1

This document introduces logarithms by explaining that they were originally developed to simplify complex arithmetic calculations by transforming multiplication into addition. It provides the definition of a logarithm and uses examples to show how to write exponential equations in logarithmic form and vice versa. It emphasizes that understanding the relationship between logarithmic and exponential expressions is key to working with logarithms. The document also covers evaluating logarithmic expressions and the property of equality for logarithmic functions.

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dpool2002
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9K views43 pages

Log NOTES Explanation Day 1

This document introduces logarithms by explaining that they were originally developed to simplify complex arithmetic calculations by transforming multiplication into addition. It provides the definition of a logarithm and uses examples to show how to write exponential equations in logarithmic form and vice versa. It emphasizes that understanding the relationship between logarithmic and exponential expressions is key to working with logarithms. The document also covers evaluating logarithmic expressions and the property of equality for logarithmic functions.

Uploaded by

dpool2002
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction To

Logarithms

Logarithms were originally


developed to simplify complex
arithmetic calculations.
They were designed to transform
multiplicative processes
into additive ones.

If at first this seems like no big deal,


then try multiplying
2,234,459,912 and 3,456,234,459.

Without a calculator !
Clearly, it is a lot easier to add
these two numbers.

Today of course we have calculators


and scientific notation to deal with such
large numbers.
So at first glance, it would seem that
logarithms have become obsolete.

Indeed, they would be obsolete except for one


very important property of logarithms.
It is called
the power property and we
will learn about it in another lesson.
For now we need only to observe that
it is an extremely important part
of solving exponential equations.

Our first job is to


try to make
some sense of
logarithms.

Our first question


then must be:

What is a logarithm ?

Of course logarithms have


a precise mathematical
definition just like all terms in
mathematics. So lets
start with that.

Definition of
Logarithm
Suppose b>0 and b1,
there is a number p
such that:

logb n p if and only if b n


p

Now a
mathematician
understands exactly
what that means.
But, many a
student is left
scratching their
head.

The first, and perhaps


the most important step,
in understanding
logarithms is to realize
that they always relate
back to exponential
equations.

You must be able to


convert an exponential
equation into logarithmic
form and vice versa.
So lets get a lot of practice with
this !

Example 1:

Write 2 8 in logarithmic form.


3

Solution:

log2 8 3

We read this as: the


log base 2 of 8 is equal
to 3.

Example
1a:

Write 4 16 in logarithmic form.


2

Solution:

log4 16 2
Read as: the log
base 4 of 16 is
equal to 2.

Example 1b:
Write 2

Solution:

1
in logarithmic form.
8

1
log2 3
8

1
Read as: "the log base 2 of is equal to -3".
8

Okay, so now its time


for you to try some on
your own.
1. Write 7 49 in logarithmic form.
2

Solution: log 7 49 2

2. Write 5 1 in logarithmic form.


0

Solution:

log5 1 0

3. Write 10

Solution:

in logarithmic form.
100

1
log10
2
100

1
2

4. Finally, write 16 4
in logarithmic form.

Solution:

1
log16 4
2

It is also very important to


be able to start with a
logarithmic expression and
change this into
exponential form.
This is simply the reverse
of
what we just did.

Example 1:

Write log3 81 4 in exp onential form


Solution:

3 81
4

Example 2:
1
Write log2 3 in exp onential form.
8

Solution:

Okay, now you try these


next three.
1. Write log10 100 2 in exp onential form.
1
2. Write log5
3 in exp onential form.
125

1
3. Write log27 3 in exp onential form.
3

1. Write log10 100 2 in exp onential form.

Solution:

10 100
2

1
2. Write log5
3 in exp onential form.
125

Solution:

1
5
125
3

1
3. Write log27 3 in exp onential form.
3

Solution:

1
3

27 3

We now know that a


logarithm is perhaps best
understood
as being
closely related to an
exponential equation.
In fact, whenever we get
stuck
in the problems that follow
we will return to
this one simple insight.

When working with logarithms,


if ever you get stuck, try
rewriting the problem in
exponential form.
Conversely, when working
with exponential expressions,
if ever you get stuck, try
rewriting the problem
in logarithmic form.

Lets see if this


simple rule
can help us solve
some
of the following
problems.

Example 1
Solve for x: log 6 x 2

Solution:
Lets rewrite the
problem in
exponential
form.
2
6 x
Were finished !

Example 2
1
Solve for y: log 5
y
25

Solution:

Rewrite the problem


in exponential form.
1
5
25
y

5 5
y

y 2

Since
5 2
25

Example 3
Evaluate log3 27.

Solution:
Try setting this up like this:

log3 27 y
3 27
y

3 3
y

y3

Now rewrite in exponential


form.

These next two


problems tend to be
some of the trickiest
to evaluate.
Actually, they are
merely identities and
the use of our simple
rule
will show this.

Example 4

Evaluate: log7 7

Solution:
log7 7 yFirst, we write the problem with a variable.
2

7 7
y

y2

Now take it out of the logarithmic


form
and write it in exponential form.

Example 5

Evaluate: 4

log 4 16

Solution:
4

log 4 16

yFirst, we write the problem with a variable.

log4 y log4 16

y 16

Now take it out of the exponential


form
3
Justwrite
like 2it
converts to log
and
in8logarithmic
form.
2 8 3

Ask your
teacher about
the last two
examples.
They may show
you a nice
shortcut.

Finally, we want to take a


look at the Property of
Equality for Logarithmic
Functions.
Suppose b 0 and b 1.
Then logb x1 logb x 2 if and only if x1 x 2
Basically, with logarithmic functions,
if the bases match on both sides of the
equal sign , then simply set the
arguments equal.

Example 1

Solve: log3 (4x 10) log3 (x 1)

Solution:
Since the bases are both 3 we
simply set the arguments equal.

4x 10 x 1
3x 10 1
3x 9
x 3

Example 2

Solve: log8 (x 14) log8 (5x)


2

Solution:
Since the bases are both 8 we simply set the
arguments equal.
2

x 14 5x
2
x 5x 14 0
(x 7)(x 2) 0

Factor

(x 7) 0 or (x 2) 0
continued on the next
x 7 or x 2
page

Example 2
continued

Solve: log8 (x 14) log8 (5x)


2

Solution:

x 7 or x 2

It appears that we have 2 solutions


here.
If we take a closer look at the
definition of a logarithm however, we
will see that not only must we use
positive bases, but also we see that
the arguments must be positive as
well. Therefore -2 is not a solution.
Lets end this lesson by taking a

Our final concern then is to


determine why logarithms
like the one below are
undefined.

log 2 (8)
Can anyone give
us an
explanation ?

log 2 (8) undefined

WHY?

One easy explanation is to simply


rewrite this logarithm in exponential
form.
Well then see why a negative value
is not permitted.

log 2 (8) y

First, we write the problem with a variable.

2 8
y

Now take it out of the logarithmic


form
and write it in exponential form.

What power of 2 would gives us -8 ?


2 8 and 2
3

Hence expressions of this type are


undefined.

That concludes our introduction


to logarithms. In the lessons to
follow we will learn some important
properties of logarithms.
One of these properties will give
us a very important tool
which
we need to solve exponential
equations. Until then lets
practice with the basic themes
of this lesson.

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