Exponents
Let a and b be real numbers and m and n be integers. Then the following properties of
exponents hold, provided that all of the expressions appearing in a particular equation are
dened.
1. am an = am+n 2. (am )n = amn 3. (ab)m = am bm
m a m m 1
= am n , a 6= 0 5. , b 6= 0 6. 6= 0
a a m
4. n
= m
a = m
, a
pn p pn
a b b a
m
8. a0 = 1, a 6= 0
1 m
7. an = a 9. a n = n m =
a a
Logarithms
Denition: y = loga x if and only if x = ay , where a > 0.
In other words, logarithms are exponents.
Remarks:
log x always refers to log base 10, i.e., log x = log10 x.
ln x is called the natural logarithm and is used to represent loge x, where the irrational
number e 2:71828. Therefore, ln x = y if and only if ey = x.
Most calculators can directly compute logs base 10 and the natural log. For any other
ln a log10 a
base it is necessary to use the change of base formula: logb a = or .
ln b log10 b
Properties of Logarithms (Recall that logs are only dened for positive values of x.)