Exponential, Logarithmic, and

Trigonometric functions
Exponential and Logarithmic
Equations
Learning Objectives
 1 State and use the rules of logarithms

 2 Solve exponential equations using

logarithms and interpret the real-world
meaning of the results

 3 Solve logarithmic equations using

exponentiation
Logarithms
Logarithmic Functions
The symbol log is short for logarithm, and the two
are used interchangeably.

The equation y = logb(x), which we read “y equals

log base b of x,” means “y is the exponent we place
on b to get x.”

We can also think of it as answering the question

“What exponent on b is necessary to get x ?” That
is, y is the number that makes the equation by = x true.
Logarithmic Functions

A logarithmic function is the inverse of an exponential function. So if x is

the independent variable and y is the dependent variable for the
logarithmic function, then y is the independent variable and x is the
dependent variable for the corresponding exponential function.
Logarithmic Functions
In other words:

 Logarithmic Functions

Example: Write the following into

logarithmic form:
a) 33 = 27 a) 33 = 27 log327=3
b) 45 = 256 b) 45 = 256 log4256=5
Answer:
c) 27 = 128
d) (1/3)x=27 c) 27 = 128 log2128=7
d) (1/3)x=27 log1/327=x
 Example: Write the following into exponential form:

a) log264=6
b) log255=1/2
c) log81=0
d) log1/39=-2

Answer:
a) log264=6 26 = 64

b) log255=1/2 251/2 = 5

c) log81=0 80 = 1

d) log1/39=-2 (1/3)-2 = 9
 Example:

 a. Find the value of y given that

 b. Estimate the value of y given that

 Solution:

answers the question: “What exponent do we place on 3 to get 81?” That is, what
value of y makes the equation 3y = 81 true? Since 34 = 81, y = 4.
 Symbolically, we write log3(81) = 4 and say the “log base 3 of 81
is 4.”
 Solution, b cont’d

Answers the question: “What exponent do we place on 4 to get 50?” That

is, what value of y makes the equation 4y = 50 true? The answer to this
question is not a whole number.

 Since 42 = 16, 43 = 64, we know y is a number between 2 and 3.

 Example: Find the value of x for each example:

a) log1/327 = x b) log5x = 3
(1/3)x = 27 53 = x
(1/3)x = (1/3)-3 x = 125
x = -3
c) logx(1/9) = 2 d) log3x = 0
x2 = (1/9) 30 = x
x = 1/3 x=1
Rules of Logarithms
 Rules of Logarithms

When equations involving logarithms become more complex, we use

established rules of logarithms to manipulate or simplify the equations.

 There are two keys to understanding these rules;

1.) Logarithms are exponents. Thus, the rules of logarithms come

from the properties of exponents.

 2.) Any number may be written as an exponential of any base.

Rules of Logarithms

• Next, you will find the inverse of an exponential algebraically

• Write the process in your notes

base
y=a x

Interchange x  y
x = ay
x = ay
• We write these functions as: exponent
x = ay y = logax

y = logax
exponent base
Rules of Logarithms
 Example:

Problems
Common and Natural Logarithms
Common and Natural Logarithms
Although any positive number other than 1 may be
used as a base for a logarithm, there are two bases
that are used so frequently that they have special
names. A base-10 logarithm, log10(x), is called the
common log.

When writing the common log, it is customary to omit

the “10” and simply write log(x). Thus, y = log(x)
means “What exponent on 10 gives us x?” The answer
is “y is the exponent on 10 that gives us x (x = 10y).”
Common and Natural Logarithms
A base-e logarithm, loge(x), is called the natural log
(so named because e  2.71828 is called the natural
number).

When writing the natural log we write ln(x) instead of

loge(x). Thus, y = ln(x) asks “What exponent on e gives
us x?” and the answer is “y is the exponent on e that
gives us x (x = ey).”
Common and Natural Logarithms
Example:

a.

b.
Example

c.

d.
 Example: Changing the Base of a Logarithm

Using the rules of logarithms, solve the logarithmic equation y = log3(17).



Solution:
We know from the definition of a logarithm y = log (17) means 3y = 17. We also
3
know 2 < y < 3 since 32 = 9, 33 = 27, and 9 < 17 < 27. To determine the exact
value for y we apply the change of base formula.
 Example – Solution cont’d

This tells us that log3(17)  2.579, so 32.579  17. The

same formula can be used with natural logs, yielding
the same result.
Solving Exponential and
Logarithmic Equations
Example– Solving a Logarithmic Equation

Solve the equation

 for x.

Solution:

Example

 Find the value of x in each exponential equation.

Examples: Finding Inverse Functions
 Steps to Find the Inverse of an Exponential
Function

Step 1: Change to

Step 2: Interchange and in the equation.

Step 3: Isolate the exponential expression on one side (left

or right) of the equation.
 Steps to Find the Inverse of an Exponential
Function

Step 4: Eliminate the base b of the exponential expression

by taking the logarithms of both sides of the equation.
 To make the simplification much easier, take the logarithm

of both sides using the base of the exponential expression

itself.
 Using the log rule:

Step 5:Solve the expression for to get the inverse. Finally

replace with the notion to write the final asnwer
 Find the Inverse of an Exponential Function
Example 1
Fine the inverse of the following exponential function.

Solution:

Switch variables and in the equation

Take the logarithms of both sides

 Steps to Find Inverse of a Logarithmic Function

Step 1: Change to

Step 2: Interchange and in the equation.

Step 3: Isolate the log expression on one side (left or right)

of the equation.
 Steps to Find Inverse of a Logarithmic Function

Step 4: Convert or transform the log equation into its

equivalent exponential equation.

Step 5:Solve the exponential equation for to get the inverse.

Finally replace with the notion to write the final answer
 Find the Inverse of a Logarithmic Function
Example 1
Fine the inverse of the following exponential function.

Solution:

Switch variables and in the equation

Rewrite the log equation into an exponential equation

 Steps to Find Inverse of a Natural Logarithmic
Function

Step 1: Change to

Step 2: Interchange and in the equation.

Step 3: Isolate the natural log expression on one side (left or

right) of the equation.
 Steps to Find Inverse of a Natural Logarithmic
Function

Step 4: Convert or transform the natural log equation into e

exponent equation.

Step 5:Solve the equation for to get the inverse. Finally

replace with the notion to write the final answer
Examples: Finding Inverse
Functions
Exercise Problems
Practice Problems
Natural logarithm and
Exponential
Laws of Exponents
a x+y
= ax a y

ax/ ay = a x –y

(ax)y = axy

(ab)x = axbx
Vocabulary

natural logarithm: a logarithm with base e

natural base: the number e, which is found using

natural base exponential function: an

exponential function with base e
natural logarithmic function: the inverse of the
natural base exponential function
 Writing Equivalent Expressions
Example

Write an equivalent logarithmic equation.

e  23
x
log e 23  x
ln 23  x
Example
Write an equivalent logarithmic equation.

ex  6 ln 6  x
 Writing Equivalent Expressions
Example

Write an equivalent exponential equation.

ln x  1.2528
e 1.2528
x
Example
Write an equivalent exponential equation.
ln x  2.25
e 2.25
x
Inverse Properties

e ln x
x ln e  x
x
 Writing Equivalent Expressions
Example Example

ln 21 ln  x  3
Evaluate e Evaluate e
21 x3

Exampl
Example
e
Evaluate x 2 1 7
ln e Evaluate ln e
x 1
2
7
Solving Equations
Example

Solve e x  10
ln e x  ln10
x  ln10
x  2.3026
Solving Equations
Ex
Solve 3e2 x  4  10
3e2 x  6
e2 x  2
ln e2 x  ln 2
2 x  ln 2
2 x  0.6931
x  0.3466
Solving Equations
Ex
Solve 2e2 x  5  15
2e2 x  10
e2 x  5
ln e2 x  ln 5
2 x  ln 5
2 x  1.6094
x  0.8047
Solving Equations
Ex
Solve ln 3 x  0.5
eln 3 x  e0.5
3x  e0.5
3x  1.6487
x  0.5496
Solving Equations
Ex
Solve ln 2 x  0.7
eln 2 x  e0.7
2x  e0.7
2 x  2.0138
x  1.0069
Solving Equations
Ex
Solve ln  2 x  3  2.5
eln 2 x 3  e2.5
2 x  3  e2.5
2 x  3  12.1825
2 x  15.1825
x  7.5912
Solving Equations
Ex
Solve ln  x  3  3
e    e3
ln x 3

x  3  e3
x  3  20.0855
x  23.0855
 Laws of Logarithms
Log with a base of e
loga(xy) = logax + logay logex = lnx

loga(x/y) = logax – logay

lnx = y
ey = x
logaxr = rlogax
ln(ex) = x

elnx = x

ln e = 1