Week 7 Lecture 1
Week 7 Lecture 1
4 Functions
■ Common Logarithms
■ Natural Logarithms
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Logarithmic Functions
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Logarithmic Functions
Every exponential function f (x) = ax, with a > 0 and a 1,
is a one-to-one function by the Horizontal Line Test (see
Figure 1 for the case a > 1) and therefore has an inverse
function.
f (x) = ax is one-to-one.
Figure 1
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Logarithmic Functions
The inverse function f –1 is called the logarithmic function
with base a and is denoted by loga. We know that f –1 is
defined by
f –1(x) = y f (y) = x
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Logarithmic Functions
When we use the definition of logarithms to switch back
and forth between the logarithmic form loga x = y and the
exponential form ay = x, it is helpful to notice that, in both
forms, the base is the same.
loga x = y ay = x
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Example 1 – Logarithmic and Exponential Forms
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Logarithmic Functions
It is important to understand that loga x is an exponent.
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Logarithmic Functions
When we apply the Inverse Function Property to f (x) = ax
and f –1(x) = loga x, we get
loga (ax) = x x
x>0
We list these and other properties of logarithms discussed
in this section.
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Example 3 – Applying Properties of Logarithms
Property 3 Property 4
log5 58 = 8
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Graphs of Logarithmic Functions
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Graphs of Logarithmic Functions
We know that if a one-to-one function f has domain A and
range B, then its inverse function f –1 has domain B and
range A.
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Graphs of Logarithmic Functions
Figure 2 shows the case a > 1.
Figure 2
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Graphs of Logarithmic Functions
The fact that y = ax (for a > 1) is a very rapidly increasing
function for x > 0 implies that y = loga x is a very slowly
increasing function for x > 1.
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Example 4 – Graphing a Logarithmic Function by Plotting Points
Solution:
To make a table of values, we choose the x-values to be
powers of 2 so that we can easily find their logarithms. We
plot these points and connect them with a smooth curve as
in Figure 3.
Figure 3 17
Graphs of Logarithmic Functions
Figure 4 shows the graphs of the family of logarithmic
functions with bases 2, 3, 5, and 10.
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Graphs of Logarithmic Functions
These graphs are drawn by reflecting the graphs of y = 2x,
y = 3x, y = 5x, and y = 10x in the line y = x.
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Example 5 – Reflecting Graphs of Logarithmic Functions
Solution:
(a) We start with the graph of
f (x) = log2 x and reflect in the
x-axis to get the graph of
g(x) = –log2 x in Figure 5(a). Figure 5(a)
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Example 5 – Solution cont’d
(b) We start with the graph of f (x) = log2 x and reflect in the
y-axis to get the graph of h(x) = log2(–x) in Figure 5(b).
Figure 5(b)
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Example 5 – Solution cont’d
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Common Logarithms
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Common Logarithms
We now study logarithms with base 10.
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Example 7 – Evaluating Common Logarithms
Solution:
We make a table of values, using a calculator to evaluate
the function at those values of x that are not powers of 10.
We plot those points and connect them by a smooth curve
as in Figure 8.
Figure 8 26
Common Logarithms
Scientists model human response to stimuli (such as
sound, light, or pressure) using logarithmic functions.
Solution:
We find the decibel level B by using the fact that I = 100I0.
Definition of B
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Example 8 – Solution cont’d
I = 100I0
= 10 2 = 20 Definition of log
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Natural Logarithms
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Natural Logarithms
Of all possible bases a for logarithms, it turns out that the
most convenient choice for the purposes of calculus is the
number e,
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Natural Logarithms
Both functions are graphed in Figure 9.
Figure 9
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Natural Logarithms
If we substitute a = e and write “ln” for “loge” in the
properties of logarithms mentioned earlier, we obtain the
following properties of natural logarithms.
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Example 10 – Finding the Domain of a Logarithmic Function
Solution:
As with any logarithmic function, ln x is defined when x > 0.
Thus the domain of f is
{x | 4 – x2 > 0} = {x | x2 < 4}
= {x | |x| < 2}
= {x | –2 < x < 2}
= (–2, 2)
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