Solving Exponential Equations using Logarithms

Example 1: Solve for 𝑥, giving your answer correct to 2

decimal places.
a) 2𝑥 = 7
log 2𝑥 = log 7 Get the logarithm of both sides.
𝑥log 2 = log 7 Apply the correct logarithm law.
log 7
𝑥= Solve ALWAYS REMEMBER! Either the left or
log 2
right side of the equation should only
𝒙 = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟏 contain the number with the missing
exponent!
 Solving Exponential Equations using Logarithms
Example 1: Solve for 𝑥, giving your answer correct to 2
decimal places.
b) 53𝑥−1 = 90
1 log 90
log 53𝑥−1 = log 90 𝑥= +1
3 log 5
3𝑥 − 1 log 5 = log 90
𝒙 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟕
log 90
3𝑥 − 1 =
log 5
log 90
3𝑥 = +1
log 5
 Solving Exponential Equations using Logarithms
Example 2: Solve for 𝑥, giving your answer correct to 3
decimal places.
a) 5 18 6𝑥
= 26 b) 9𝑥+1 + 3 = 81
9𝑥+1 = 78
log(5) 186𝑥 = log 26
log 9𝑥+1 = log 78
log 5 + log 186𝑥 = log 26 𝑥 + 1 log 9 = log 78
𝑥 log 9 + log 9 = log 78
6𝑥 log 18 = log 26 − log 5
𝑥 log 9 = log 78 − log 9
log 26−log 5
𝑥= log 78 − log 9
6 log 18
𝑥=
log 9
𝒙 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟗𝟓
𝒙 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟖𝟑
 Solving Exponential Equations using Logarithms
Example 2: Solve for 𝑥, giving your answer correct to 3
decimal places.
c) 16𝑥−7 + 5 = 24 Try the following in
16𝑥−7 = 19 your notebook!
log 16𝑥−7 = log 19 1) 3𝑥 = 17
𝑥 − 7 log 16 = log 19 2) 6𝑥 = 51
log 19
𝑥−7= 3) 2(8𝑥 ) = 10
log 16
log 19 4) 20−6𝑥 + 6 = 55
𝑥= +7
log 16
𝒙 = 𝟖. 𝟎𝟔𝟐
 Solving Exponential Equations using Logarithms
Example 3: A farmer monitoring a plaque notices that the area
affected by the insects is given by 𝐴 = 1000 × 20.7𝑛 hectares, where n is
the number of weeks after the initial observation. How long will it take
for the affected area to reach 5000 hectares.
𝐴 = 5000 0.7𝑛log 2 = log 5
𝐴 = 1000 × 20.7𝑛 log 5
𝑛=
5000 = 1000 × 20.7𝑛 0.7 log 2
20.7𝑛 = 5 𝒏 = 𝟑. 𝟑𝟐
log 20.7𝑛 = log 5 ∴ it will take about 3 weeks and 2 days
for the affected area to reach 5000
hectares
 Solving Exponential Equations using Logarithms
Example 4: The weight of radioactive uranium remaining after t
years is given by the formula 𝑊 𝑡 = 50 × 2−0.0002𝑡 grams, 𝑡 ≥ 0.
a) Find the initial weight of the uranium
𝑡=0
𝑊 𝑡 = 50 × 2−0.0002𝑡
𝑊 0 = 50 × 2−0.0002(0)
𝑾 𝟎 = 𝟓𝟎 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬
 Solving Exponential Equations using Logarithms
Example 4: The weight of radioactive uranium remaining after t
years is given by the formula 𝑊 𝑡 = 50 × 2−0.0002𝑡 grams, 𝑡 ≥ 0.
b) Find the time required for the weight to fall 8 grams.
𝑊 𝑡 =8 log 8 − log 50
𝑊 𝑡 = 50 × 2−0.0002𝑡 =𝑡
−0.0002 log 2
8 = 50 × 2−0.0002𝑡
13219 = 𝑡
log 8 = log(50 × 2−0.0002𝑡 )
∴ it will take about 13200
log 8 = log 50 + log 2−0.0002𝑡 years for the weight to fall
log 8 − log 50 = −0.0002 𝑡 log 2 8 grams.
 The Change of Base Rule
A logarithm in base b can be written with a different base c using the
change of base rule.
log 𝑐 𝑎
log 𝑏 𝑎 = For 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 > 0 and 𝑏 , 𝑐 ≠ 1
log 𝑐 𝑏
We can use this rule to write logarithms in base 10. This is useful in
helping us evaluate them on our calculator.
Example 1: Evaluate log2 9 by changing to base 10
log 9
log 2 9 = = 𝟑. 𝟏𝟕
log 2
 The Change of Base Rule
Example 2: Solve for x.
log 2 𝑥 = log 8 15 Write the right hand side to a smaller base

log 2 15 log 𝑐 𝑎
log 2 𝑥 = log 𝑏 𝑎 =
log 2 8 log 𝑐 𝑏
log 2 15
log 2 𝑥 =
3
3 log 2 𝑥 = log 2 15
log 2 𝑥 3 = log 2 15
𝑥 3 = 15
𝟑
𝒙= 𝟏𝟓
 The Change of Base Rule
Example 3: Solve for x.
log 3 𝑥 + log 9 𝑥 = log 3 5 log 3 𝑥 2 = log 3 25
log 3 𝑥 𝑥 2 = 25
log 3 𝑥+ = log 3 5
log 3 9 𝒙=𝟓
log 3 𝑥
log 3 𝑥+ = log 3 5
2
2log 3 𝑥 + log 3 𝑥 = 2log 3 5

log 3 𝑥 + log 3 𝑥 = log 3 52

 The Change of Base Rule
Example 4: Solve for x.
log 3 𝑥 = 4 log 𝑥 3 𝑥 = 32 𝑥 = 3−2
log 3 𝑥 = log 𝑥 34 𝟏
𝒙=𝟗 𝒙=
log 3 3 4 𝟗
log 3 𝑥 =
log 3 𝑥
(log 3 𝑥) log 3 𝑥 = 4
2
log 3 𝑥 =4
log 3 𝑥 = ±2
 The Change of Base Rule

Example 5: Write log9 26 in the form 𝑎 log 3 𝑏 where 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℚ.

log 3 26 log 3 26 𝟏
log 9 26 = = = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 𝟐𝟔
log 3 9 2 𝟐

Example 6: Write log2 11 in the form 𝑎 log 4 𝑏 where 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℚ.

log 4 11 log 4 11
log 2 11 = = = 𝟐 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟒 𝟏𝟏
log 4 2 1
2
 The Change of Base Rule
Example 7: Solve for x.
log 4 𝑥3 + log 2 𝑥 = 8 log 2 𝑥 3 + log 2 𝑥 = 16 log 2 2
1 log 2 𝑥 4 = log 2 216
log 4 𝑥 3 + log 2 𝑥 2 =8
log 2 𝑥 4 = log 2 216
log 2 𝑥 3 1
+ log 2 𝑥 2 = 8 log 2 2 𝑥 4 = 216
log 2 4
4 4
log 2 𝑥 3
1 𝑥4 = 216
+ log 2 𝑥 = 8 log 2 2
2 2 𝒙 = 𝟏𝟔
log 2 𝑥 3 + log 2 𝑥 = 16 log 2 2
ASGMT NO 4: Show your full working on your line paper.
Submission April 10, 2019

Page 146 – no. 2 (C, E, F) Page 148 – no. 4 (B, C ,D)

– no. 5 (A, B, C)
– no. 7

QUIZ NO. 3 on April 16, 2019. Review the ff:

1.Solving Logarithmic Equations
2.Solving Exponential Equations using Logarithms
3.Change of base rule
*Scientific calculator will be used during the quiz.