Logarithms
Definition: The logarithm of a number to a given base is the exponent to
which this base must be raised to yield the given number.
logb N = x is equivalent to bx = N.
For example, the equality 53 = 125 may be written log5 125 = 3.
For computational purposes we usually use 10 as the base; if we write
log n, the base 10 is understood. Logarithms to base 10 are called
common logarithms.
The function inverse to the function y = bx, b > 0, b 1 is y = logb x.
This function is defined only for positive values of x.
The laws of logarithms are derived from the laws of exponents. They are
listed below.
1. logb 1= 0, b > 0, b 1.
2. logb b = 1, b > 0, b 1.
3. logb x + logb y = logb (xy), x > 0, y > 0, b > 0, b 1.
4. logb x logb y = logb ( ), x > 0, y > 0, b > 0, b 1
5. logb xk = k logb x, x > 0, b > 0, b 1
Although common logarithms are generally used for computation,
logarithms to base e are used in more advanced work, particularly in
calculus. The constant e = 2.7183 is an irrational number and is
significant in the study of organic growth and decay. The function y = ex
is usually called the exponential function.
Illustrative Problems
Example Find the value of log4 64.
Solution log4 64 = 3, since 43 = 64.
Example Which of the following values of x that satisfy log 64 = 2?
A2 B4 C6 D8 E 10
Solution (D)
log 64 = 2, 2 = 64, x = 8
Example Which of the following values of x that satisfy log 3 27 = ?
A2 B3 C4 D5 E6
Solution (B)
log 3 27 = , 3 = 27, x = 3
Example If log 63.8 = 1.8048, what is log 6.38?
Solution
63.8
log 6.38 = log = log 63.8 log 10
10
= 1.8048 1
= 0.8048.
Example If log 2 = a and log 3 = b, express log 12 in terms of a and b.
Solution
log 12 = log (3 22 ) = log 3 + log 22 = log 3 + 2log 2 = b + 2a.
Example In the formula A = P (1 + r)n, express n in terms of A, P, and r.
Solution
(1 + r) n = log(1 + ) = log
n log (1 + r) = log A log p
log log
n=
log (1 + )
Example If log t2 = 0.8762, log (100t) = ?
Solution
log t2 = 0.8762 2 log t = 0.8762 log t = 0.4381
log (100t) = log 100 + log t = 2 + 0.4381 = 2.4381.
Example If log tan x = 0, find the least positive value of x.
Solution If log tan x = 0, then tan x = 1. Therefore, x = .
4
Example If loga 2 = x and loga 5 = y, express loga 40 in terms of x and y.
Solution
loga 40 = loga (23 5) = loga 23 + loga 5 = 3loga 2 + loga 5 = 3x + y.
Example Find log3 33.
3 2
(A) 3 (B) 1 (C) (D) (E) none of these
2 3
Solution (C)
3
3
log3 33 = log 3 3 = . 2
2
Example If log x = 1.5877 and log y = 2.8476, what is the numerical
value of log( 3)?
Solution
log ( 3) = log + log 3
1
= log x + log
3
1
= 1.5877 + (2.8476) = 2.5369.
3
Example The expression logb x = 1 + c is equivalent to
(A) b1 + c = x
(B) x1 + c = b
(C) b + bc = x
(D) x = (1 + c)b
(E) b1 x = c
Solution The correct answer is (A).
log = 1 + c b1 + c = x.
Example The expression log (2xy) is equivalent to
(A) 2(log x + log y)
(B) 2(log x) (log y)
(C) 2log x + log y
(D) log 2 + log x + log y
(E) log x + 2log y
Solution The correct answer is (D).
log (2xy) = log 2 + log x + log y
Example The diagram below represents the graph of which equation?
(A) y = 2x (B) y = 102 (C) y = log 2 (D) y = log x (E) y = 10 log x
Solution The correct answer is (C).
y = log 2
Example log3 92 is between what pair of consecutive integers?
Solution
log3 81 < log3 92 < log3 243 4 < log3 92 < log3 5
x is between 4 and 5
Example If P = K 10 xt, x equals
Solution (D)
P = K 10 xt 10 xt = log (10 ) = log ( )
log log
= log log =
Example If logr 6 = S and logr 3 = T, log ( ) is equal to
2
1
(A) log 2
2
(B) 1 S + T
(C) 1 S T
(D) logr 2 1
(E) 1 + S + T
Solution (B)
6
log ( ) = log log 2 = 1 log
2 3
= 1 (log 6 log 3)
= 1 ( )
= 1 + .
