Mathematics 2014

Unit 1 Indices and logarithms

(指數) (對數)

Learning Objectives

The students should be able to:

 Use the laws of indices to solve simple problems.

 Use the properties of logarithms to solve simple problems.

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Indices (exponents)
In dealing with expressions (表達式, 算式) containing exponents along with addition or
subtraction or multiplication or division, we work with the exponents first. Let us consider
the following examples.

Example 1 (a) 32  23  9 – 8 = 1
(b) 24  53  16  125 = 141
(c) 3 x 104  3 x 10000 = 30000

Example 2 Write each of the following in another way by using exponents.

(a) (ab)(ab)(ab)
(b)  a  a  a  a
(c) 4  a  b  4  b  a  a  a  b
Solution:
(a) (ab)(ab)(ab)=(ab)3 = a3b3
(b) –a.a.a.a = –a4
(c) 4.a.b.4.b.a.a.a.b = 42a4b3

Example 3 Evaluate each of the following :

(a)  34 (b) (3) 4 (c) 2(1  1)3
Solution:
(a) –34= –1(3)4 = –1.3.3.3.3 = –81
(b) (–3)4= (–3)(–3)(–3)(–3) = 81
(c) 2(1.1)3 = 2 x 1.13 =2 x 1.331 = 2.662

1. Multiplication of Exponential Numbers

Consider
23.24 = (2.2.2)(2.2.2.2) a2.a3 = (a.a)(a.a.a)
= 2.2.2.2.2.2.2 = 27 = a.a.a.a.a = a5

In general (在一般情況下), a m  a n  amn

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2. Division of Exponential Numbers

Consider
4 7 4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 a5 a.a.a.a.a
 
43 4 .4 .4 a 3 a.a.a
= 44 = a2

In general ,
am
 amn
an

Example 4 Simplify the following :

319
a) 11  31911  38
3
X9
b) 3
 X 9 3  X 6
X
a10 b 8
c) 3 5
 a103b 85  a 7 b 3
a b

an
Consider n
 ann
a
= a 0 ……………..(1)
On the other hand (另一方面)
an
 1............................(2)
an
Comparing (1) & (2): a0  1

where a is any real number and a  0

For example,
20 = 1, (-3)0 = 1 and 100 = 1
am
Recall  a m  n ……………(  )
an

222
23 1 34 3333 1
Consider   Consider   2
2 4 2222 2 3 333333 3
6

If we use the division rule (  ) If we use the division rule (  )

23 34
4
 2 34  2 1 6
 3 4  6  3 2
2 3
1 1
 2 1   3 2  2
2 3

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a0
In general a  n  a 0 n 
an

a n

1
(ab)  a b
n n n a
n
an
   n
a  m n
 am n
an b b

Example 5 Simplify the following :

2
(a) a b
2 3
(b)
 x3  3
  y
 y
  2

 
Solution :
x3 2 3 2
(a) (a2 b)3 = a6 b3 (b) ( ) ( y ) = x6 y4
y

Example 6 Carry out each of the following operations. Write down your answers using
positive exponents and simplify where possible.

(a) 7 1 (b) 2-4

(c) 5(5-3) 25
(d)
23
Solutions:
1 1 1
(a) 7 1  (b) 2 4 = 4
or
7 2 16

(c) 5(5-3) =51  5-3

2 5
=51+(-3)=5-2 (d) 3
 2  5  3  2 8
2
1 1 1 1
= 52 or = or
25 8 256
2

3. Radicals 根式

If x 2  y , then x is a square root of y .

For example 7 2  49
∴ 7 = 2 49 or 7= 49

Similarly, 81 = 9 (∵ 92=81 )

If x3  y , then x is a cube root of y ( x 是 y 的其中之一個立方根)

For example, 43 = 64 (∵ 3
64  4 )

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In general, if x n  y , where n is a positive integer, then x is an nth root of y .

For example, 24=16
∴ 4 16  2

Example7 Find the values of the following :

6
(a) 64
5
(b) 100000
4
(c) 81

Solution : (a) 6
64  2 (∵ 26=64)
(b) 5
100000  10 (∵ 105=100000)
(c) 4
81  3 (∵ 34=81)

Consider 144=9  16
and 144  12
9  16  3  4 =12
∴ 144  9 16
9  16  3  4

a a
In general ab  a b 
b b

Note that ab  a  b

e.g. 25 = 16  9
but 16  9  4  3  7
25  5
∴ 16  9  16  9

n
a a
In general n  n
n
ab  n a n
b
b b

Example 8 Find the values of the following functions :

x
(a) f(x) = when x = 25
64
(b) f(x) = x1/3 when x = 0.027
25 25 5
Solution : (a) f(25) =  =
64 64 8
3
27 27 3
(b) f(0.027) = 3 3 = or 0.3
1000 1000 10

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4. Fractional Indices
n
 1 1
Consider  a n   a n n
 
 
=a1 = a

1
∴ an na

Similarly , a m / n = ( n a )m = n
am

Example 9 Evaluate the following:

3 2 1
(a) 814 (b) 1000 3  9 2
(c)  
 25 
Solutions:

3 2 1
(a) 81 4 4
= ( 81 ) 3
(b) 1000 3 3
= ( 1000 ) 2  9 2 9 9 3
(c)   = = =
= (3)3 = 27 = (10)2 = 100  25  25 25 5

Example 10 In the compound interest formula A = P (1+r)n , if A = 54874.32 ,

P = 25000, n = 6, find the value of r .
Solution: A = P ( 1+r)n
54874.32 = ( 25000)( 1 + r )6
 1  r 6
54874.32
25000
54874.32
1  r  6
25000

1 + r = 1.14
r = 1.14 – 1
= 0.14 = 14%

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5. Definition of Logarithms 對數的定義

If a number X  aY , where a is positive and a  1 , the index Y is called the
logarithm of the number X to the base a . In symbols, Y  log a X .
N.B. log a X is defined only for positive values of X .
( X 為正數的情況下, log a X 纔有定義.)

For example, 23 = 8
 log 2 8 = 3
34 = 81
 log3 81 = 4

When the base a is not stated in log a X , it is usually assumed 假設 that a  10 .

This is called the common logarithm.

For example, log 1000 = log10 1000 = 3

log 0.01 = –2
 1 
( 10–2 =  2  = 0.01)
 10 

6. Properties of logarithms 對數的特性:

1. log a a  1

2. log a 1  0

3. log a MN  log a M  log a N

M
4. log a  log a M  log a N
N

5. log a X n  n log a X

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Example 11 Find the values of the following:

1
(a) log7 11  log7  
 11 
(b) log6 – log60
(c) log5125
Solution:

(a) log711 + log7  

1
 11 
 1
log7 11   = log71= 0
 11 
(b) log 6 – log 60
6 1
=log = log = log10 1  1
60 10
(c) log5125
= log553
= 3 log55 = 3

Example 12 In the compound interest formula A = P ( 1 + r )n , if A = 20000, P = 10000,

r = 12%, find n correct to 2 decimal places.

Solutions: A = P ( 1 + r )n
20000 = 10000 ( 1 + 12% )n
20000
 (1  0.12) n
10000
2 = ( 1.12 )n
Taking the logarithm of both sides, log2 = log(1.12)n
log2 = n log 1.12
log 2
n 
log1.12
n = 6.116
= 6.12 (2 decimal places)

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Tutorial 1 Indices and logarithms

Q1. Carry out each of the following operation. Write down your answers using positive
exponents 指數 and simplify 化簡 where possible.

7 3 35  2 2
(a) (b)
7 5 38
2
46  34 2
(c) (d)  
45  33 5

Q2. Evaluate the following (without using calculator) :

1 1 3
(a) 49 2 (b) 83 (c) 256 4

Q3. In the compound interest formula A = P ( 1 + r )n ,

(a) if P = 100,000 , r = 8 %, n = 5, find the value of A,
(b) if A = 21,003.42 , P = 10,000 , n = 5 , find the value of r ,
(c) if A = 80957.13, P = 35000, r = 15%, find the value of n.

Q4. The loudness 響度, measured in decibels 分貝, is defined 下定義 by the formula
 I 
b  10 log  ,
 I0 
where I is the intensity 強度 of the sound and Io is the minimum 最少的 intensity
detectable. How many times is the intensity of b1 = 105 dB (in a factory 工廠) greater
than the intensity of b2 = 80 dB (on a busy street 繁忙的街道)?

Answer
4 25
1. (a) 49 (b) (c) 12 (d)
27 4
2. (a) 1/7 (b) ½ (c) 64
3. (a) 146,932 (b) 16% (c) 6
I1
4.  316
I2

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