Logarithms

I.

Logarithms
a. Definition: A logarithm is the exponent required to produce a
given number.
b. The General Form is: y log a x . It can be rewritten as a y x .
1.
Ex) log 2 8 3
In exponential form: 23 8
c. log a x is only defined if a and x are both positive, and a 1 .
d. The Common Logarithm has a base of 10. In general usage, the
subscript 10 is omitted when dealing with common logs.
1.
Ex) log10 1
In exponential form: 101 10
e. A Natural Logarithm is a logarithm where the base is the number
e (where e 2.72828 ). log e x is replaced with ln x . Natural
logarithms play an important role in theoretical mathematics and
the natural sciences.

II.

Properties of Logs:
Identity

Example

Log of a Product:

log 2 24 log 2 6 log 2 4

log xy log x log y

Log of a Quotient:

log

x
log x log y
y

log 2

10
log 2 10 log 2 3
3

Log with Exponent:

log 2 83 3 log 2 8
1
1
log 4 32 log32 4 log 32
4

log x a a log x
1
1
log a x log x a log x
a
Identities:

log a a 1
log a 1 0
ln e 1
ln 1 0

log 3 3 1

log 2 1 0

Negative Exponents:

log a

1
log a x
x

log 3

1
log 3 9
9

Change in base (from base a to base 10):

log a x

log 2 5

log x ln x

log a ln a

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log 5 ln 5

log 2 ln 2

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III.

Solving Equations Using Logarithms

1. 4 x 7
Take the log of both sides. You can use the
ln 4 x ln 7
common logarithm or natural log, but in
practice the natural log (or ln) is used more.
Use the exponent property to rewrite, then
divide to solve for x .

x ln 4 ln 7

ln 7
or log 4 7
ln 4

ln610 ln 11

2. 6 10 x 11x
x

Take the log of both sides.

ln 6 ln 10 x ln 11x
ln 6 x ln 10 x ln 11

Use exponent property.

ln 6 x ln 11 x ln10

Get x terms on one side.

ln 6 xln 11 ln 10

Factor out the x terms.

ln 6
ln 11 ln 10

Divide and solve for x .

3. 4e x 7
ex

7
4

Divide by 4 to get e x by itself.

ln e x ln

7
4

Take the log of both sides.

x ln e ln

7
4

Use exponent rule.

x(1) ln
x ln

7
4

Use identity that ln e 1 .

7
or x ln 7 ln 4
4

Simplify.

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Practice Problems:
Write in exponential form:
1. log 3 27 =3
2. log 2 32 =5
3. log17 1 =0

Write it logarithmic form:

4. 6 2 36
5. 103 1000

6. 9

Solve for x:
7. log x 49 2

8. log 5 125 x

9. log 8 x 2

10. e x 11

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11.

1 x
e 20
4

12. 5 x 26

13. log 16 x

1
2

14. log 7 x 1

15. log 3

1
x
9

Use the properties of logs to write in expanded form:

16. log 8 xz

u3
17. log 7 4
v

xy 2
18. log 5 4
z

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19. ln x 2 yz

20. log 7

x3
y

Solve the following equations using logarithms:

21. 5 x 6

22. e x 3

23. 2 x1 6

24. 32 x1 4

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Answers to Logarithms:
1.

33 27

13.

x4

2.

25 32

14.

3.

17 0 1

15.

x 2

4.

log 6 36 2

16.

log 8 x log 8 z

5.

log1000 3

17.

3 log 7 u 4 log 7 v

6.

log 9 3

18.

log 5 x 2 log 5 y 4 log 5 z

7.

x7

19.

2 ln x ln y ln z

8.

x3

20.

3
1
log 7 x log 7 y
2
2

9.

x 64

21.

10.

x ln 11

22.

x ln 3

11.

x ln 80

23.

12.

ln 26
ln 5

24.

1 ln 4
x
1
2 ln 3

1
2

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1
7

ln 6
or log 5 6
ln 5

ln 6
1
ln 2

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