Logarithmic Functions

Domain, Range,
Graph, Asymptotes
Logarithmic Functions
Definition: If x = a y, a > 0, a  1, then,
y = loga x
defines the logarithmic function
for x > 0 and y  
*read as “y is equal to the
logarithm of x to the base a”

 y = loga x is the inverse of the exponential

function y=ax
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Logarithmic Functions
Logarithms and exponents allows us to express the same
relationship in two different ways as follows:

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Logarithmic Functions
The “argument” of log should always be positive.

Thus, the domain of y = loga(x) is {x/x > 0};

the domain of y = loga(2x+3) is {x/x>-3/2} and
the domain of y = loga(2-x) is {x/x<2}

Also, loga 0 is undefined

and loga(-5) is undefined for any base a
( log of any negative number is undefined )

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 Logarithmic Functions
Examples: Find the domain, range, vertical asymptote, equivalent
exponential form and sketch the graph:

1. y = log2 x
D = {x/x > 0}
R=
v.a. : x = 0
y = log2 x is the inverse of y= 2x
Exponential form: x = 2y
(Assign value to y and solve for x)
x 1/4 1/2 1 2 4

y -2 -1 0 1 2

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 Logarithmic Functions
Examples: Find the domain, range, vertical asymptote, equivalent
exponential form and sketch the graph:

2. y = log1/2 x
D = {x/x > 0}
R=
v.a. : x = 0
y = log1/2 x is the inverse of y= (1/2)x
Exponential form: x = (1/2)y
(Assign value to y and solve for x)
x 4 2 1 1/2 1/4

y -2 -1 0 1 2

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Logarithmic Functions
Plots of y = loga x

y = f(x) = log2 x y = f(x) = log½ x

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 Logarithmic Functions
Properties of y = loga x, a > 0, a  1

1. D = {x / x > 0}
2. R = {y / y ε }
3. The vertical asymptote is x = 0 (the y-axis)
4. The graph passes through the point (1, 0) and there is
no y-intercept
5. The function is one-to-one
6. For a > 1, if x1< x2 , then y1 < y2
(function is increasing)
7. For 0 < a < 1, if x1< x2 , then y1 > y2
(function is decreasing)
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Relationship between Logarithmic and
Exponential Functions

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 Logarithmic Functions
Examples: Find the domain, range, vertical asymptote, equivalent
exponential form and sketch the graph:

3. y = log2 (-x)
D = {x/x < 0}
R=
v.a. : x = 0
Exponential form: - x = 2y
or x = - 2y
(Assign value to y and solve for x)
x -1/4 -1/2 -1 -2 -4

y -2 -1 0 1 2

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 Logarithmic Functions
Examples: Find the domain, range, vertical asymptote, equivalent
exponential form and sketch the graph:

4. y = - log2 x
D = {x/x > 0}
R=
v.a. : x = 0
Exponential form: -y = log2 x
so x = 2 -y
(Assign value to y and solve for x)
x 4 2 1 1/2 1/4

y -2 -1 0 1 2

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Logarithmic Functions
Consider

Compared to the graph of f is shifted

h units to the right if h is positive

h units to the left if h is negative
k units upward if k is positive
k units downward if k is negative

The domain and asymptote will change correspondingly.

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 Logarithmic Functions
Examples: Find the domain, range, vertical asymptote, equivalent
exponential form and sketch the graph:

5. y = log3 (x+2)
6. y = log3 (x-2) – 3
7. y = log1/3 (x-1) + 2
8. y = - log3 (4-x)
9. y = - log1/3 x -1

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 Logarithmic Functions
Examples: Find the domain, range, vertical asymptote, equivalent
exponential form and sketch the graph:

5. y = log3 (x+2)

D = {x/x > -2}

R=
v.a. : x = -2
Exponential form: x + 2 = 3 y
so x = -2 + 3 y
(Assign value to y and solve for x)
x -17/9 -5/3 -1 1 7

y -2 -1 0 1 2
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 Logarithmic Functions
Examples: Find the domain, range, vertical asymptote, equivalent
exponential form and sketch the graph:

6. y = log3 (x-2) – 3

D = {x/x > 2}
R=
v.a. : x = 2
Exponential form: y+3 = log3 (x-2)
x - 2 = 3 y+3
so x = 2 + 3 y+3
(Assign value to y and solve for x)
x 19/9 7/3 3 5 11

y -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
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 Logarithmic Functions
Examples: Find the domain, range, vertical asymptote, equivalent
exponential form and sketch the graph:

7. y = log1/3 (x-1) + 2

D = {x/x > 1}
R=
v.a. : x = 1
Exponential form: y-2 = log1/3 (x-1)
x - 1 = (1/3) y-2
so x = 1+ (1/3) y-2
(Assign value to y and solve for x)
x 10 4 2 4/3 10/
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y 0 1 2 3 4
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 Logarithmic Functions
Examples: Find the domain, range, vertical asymptote, equivalent
exponential form and sketch the graph:

8. y = - log3 (4-x)

D = {x/x < 4}
R=
v.a. : x = 4
Exponential form: - y = log3 (4-x)
4 - x = 3 -y
so x = 4 - 3 -y
(Assign value to y and solve for x)
x -5 1 3 11/ 35/
3 9
y -2 -1 0 1 2
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 Logarithmic Functions
Examples: Find the domain, range, vertical asymptote, equivalent
exponential form and sketch the graph:

9. y = - log1/3 x -1

D = {x/x >0}
R=
v.a. : x = 0
Exponential form: y+1 = - log1/3 x
-(y+1) = log1/3 x
so x = (1/3) –(y+1)
(Assign value to y and solve for x)
x 1/9 1/3 1 3 9
y -3 -2 -1 0 1

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 Logarithmic Functions
Some Known Types of Logarithms

1. Common Logarithm
 Logarithm with base 10
 Also known as decadic logarithm, decimal logarithm or Briggsian*
logarithm
 Written as log10 x = log x
(Meaning, if no base is indicated, it is assumed to be base 10)

Examples: log 1 = log 0.1 =

log 10 = log 0.01 =
log 100 = log 0.001 =
log 1000 =

*
Henry Briggs (1561-1630)

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 Logarithmic Functions
Some Known Types of Logarithms
1. Common Logarithm
 Logarithm with base 10
 Also known as decadic logarithm, decimal logarithm or Briggsian*
logarithm
 Written as log10 x = log x
(If no base is indicated, it is assumed to be base 10)

Examples: log 1 = 0 log 0.1 = -1

log 10 = 1 log 0.01 = -2
log 100 = 2 log 0.001 = -3
log 1000 = 3

*
Henry Briggs (1561-1630)
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 Logarithmic Functions
Some Known Types of Logarithms
2. Natural Logarithm

 Logarithm with base e (e ≈ 2.718 281 828 459)

 Also known as Naperian logarithm
 Written as log e x = ln x

* Named after John Napier (1550-1617)

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 The Natural Logarithmic Function

y = f(x) = lnx

D = {x/x > 0}
R=
v.a. : x = 0
Exponential form: x = e y
(Assign value to y and solve for x)

x 1/ 1/e 1 e
y -2 -1 0 1 2

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