Logarithmic Functions

05
Instructor: [Link]

Contents
1 The Logarithm Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.1 Definitions and Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2 Common Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3 Study of the Function x 7→ ln x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.3.1 Tables of Variations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.3.2 The Infinite Branches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.3.3 Concavity of the Curve of x 7→ ln(x) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.3.4 Graphical Representation of x 7→ ln(x) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2 Derivative of the Function x 7→ ln x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3 Logarithm Function of Base a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.1 Definition and Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2 Study of the Function loga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4 Decimal Logarithm Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

1
1 The Logarithm Function
Activity

1
Show that the function f : x 7→ admits a primitive on ]0, +∞[.
x
1 Study the variations of the function ln on ]0, +∞[.
( )2
2 Deduce that ∀(x, y) ∈ R∗+ : ln(x) > ln(y) ⇔ x > y.

3 Study the sign of the function ln on ]0, +∞[.

1.1 Definitions and Properties

Definition
1
The natural logarithm function is the primitive of the function x 7→ on ]0, +∞[ that equals 0 at x = 1, and it is
x
denoted by ” ln ” or ” log ”.

Notice

The domain of definition of the function x 7→ ln(u(x)) is D = {x ∈ R | u(x) > 0}.

Exercise

Determine the domain of the function f in the following cases:

• f (x) = ln(3x + 9) • f (x) = ln(x2 − 2x)

( )
x+1
• f (x) = ln • f (x) = ln (|2x − 1|)
x−2

Proprety

1 The function ln is continuous and strictly increasing on ]0, +∞[.

( )2
2 ∀(x, y) ∈ R∗+ : ln(x) > ln(y) ⇔ x > y.
( )2
3 ∀(x, y) ∈ R∗+ : ln(x) = ln(y) ⇔ x = y.

Exercise

Solve in R the following equations and inequalities:

1 ln(x − 1) = ln(2 − x) 3 ln(2x − 1) ≥ ln(x)

2 ln(x2 − 2x) = 0 4 ln(x2 − 3x + 3) < 0

Proprety

1 ln(x) > 0 ⇔ x > 1.

2 ln(x) < 0 ⇔ 0 < x < 1.

2
Exercise

Determine the domain of the function f in the following cases:

1 f (x) = ln(ln x)
√
2 f (x) = (x − 2) ln(x)

Proprety

Let a and b be two strictly positive real numbers and r ∈ Q∗ , we have:

( )
• ln(ab) = ln(a) + ln(b) 1
• ln = − ln(a)
a
(a)
• ln(ar ) = r ln(a) • ln = ln(a) − ln(b)
b

Example
(√ ) 1 1 3
• ln 8 = ln(8) = ln(23 ) = ln(2).
2 2 2
( ) ( )
3 4
• ln + ln = ln(3) − ln(4) + ln(4) − ln(3) = 0.
4 3

Application
(√ ) (√ √ ) (√ √ )
1 Simplify the following expressions: A = ln(9) + ln 3
3 − ln(81) and B = ln 2+ 2 + ln 2− 2 .

2 Solve in R the following equation: (E) : ln(x2 − 1) + 2 ln(2) = ln(4x − 1).

Exercise
(√ ) ( )
a
R∗+ . Simplify the following number: A = ln(ab ) − ln √ −
2 3
1 Let a and b be two numbers in a 2 b5 + ln
(√ ) b
4
ln a 2 b6 .

2 Solve in R the following equation: ln(x − 1) + ln(x − 3) = ln(3).

Proprety

The equation ln(x) = 1 admits a unique solution on ]0, +∞[ which is denoted by e (e ≈ 2.71).
For all r ∈ Q, we have: ln(er ) = r.

Example

Solve the equation 4 ln(x) = 3.

3 ( 3) 3
Let x ∈]0; +∞[. We have: 4 ln(x) = 3 ⇔ ln(x) = ⇔ ln(x) = ln e 4 ⇔ x = e 4 .
3
4 { 3}
Since e 4 ∈]0; +∞[, the set of solutions of this equation is S = e 4 .

3
 Application

1 Solve in R the equation x2 − 4x + 3 = 0.

2 Deduce the solutions of the equation: ln(x)2 − 4 ln(x) + 3 = 0.

Exercise

Solve in R the following:

• ln2 (x) − ln(x) = 0 • ln2 (x) + ln(x) − 6 ≥ 0

{ {
ln(x2 ) + ln(y 5 ) = 16 x−y =2
• •
ln(x3 ) + ln(y 3 ) = 6 ln(x) + ln(y) = ln(3)

1.2 Common Limits

Proprety

• lim ln x = +∞ ln x
x→+∞ • lim =0 (n ∈ N∗ )
x→+∞ xn
• lim ln x = −∞
x→0+ ln(x + 1)
• lim =1
x→0 x
ln(x)
• lim =1
x→1 x − 1 • lim+ x ln x = 0
x→0
ln x
• lim =0 • lim xn ln x = 0 (n ∈ N∗ )
x→+∞ x x→0+

Example

Calculate lim ln x − x.
x→+∞

Application

Calculate the following limits:

(x)
ln x + 4 ln(x2 + 1) ln
1 lim 4 lim 3
x→+∞ x2 x→+∞ x3 7 lim
x→3 x−3
ln x ln(x2 + 1)
2 lim √ 5 lim 8 lim ln(2 − x)
x→+∞ x x→+∞ x x→2−
( )
√ x ( )
3 lim ln x − x 6 lim+ ln 9 lim 2(ln x)2 − ln x + 1
x→+∞ x→0 x+1 x→+∞

4
 Exercise

Calculate the following limits:

( )
1 lim (2x − ln x) (ln x)3 x2 + x + 1
x→+∞ 5 lim 9 lim ln
x→+∞ x2 x→−∞ 3 + 2x2
( ) ( )
2 lim x2 − 5 ln x 1 ln x − 1
x→+∞ 6 lim + ln x 10 lim
x→0+ x x→e x−e
3 lim x4 (ln x)3 ln x 2(ln x)2 − ln x
x→0+ 7 lim 11 lim
x→+∞ x + ln x x→+∞ 1 + ln x
(ln x)2 ln(2x + 3) ln(1 + 2x2 − x)
4 lim 8 lim 12 lim
x→+∞ x x→+∞ x2 + 1 x→0 2x

1.3 Study of the Function x 7→ ln x

1.3.1 Tables of Variations

1.3.2 The Infinite Branches

Proprety

We have lim+ ln x = −∞, so the y-axis is a vertical asymptote of (Cln ).

x→0
ln x
We have lim ln x = +∞ and lim = 0, so the curve (Cln ) has a parabolic branch in the direction of the x-axis.
x→+∞ x→+∞ x

1.3.3 Concavity of the Curve of x 7→ ln(x)

Proprety

′′ −1
For all x > 0, we have (ln(x)) = < 0, so the curve (Cln ) is concave down.
x2

5
1.3.4 Graphical Representation of x 7→ ln(x)

2 Derivative of the Function x 7→ ln x

Proprety

If u is a differentiable and strictly positive function on an interval I, then the function f : x 7→ ln(u(x)) is differentiable
u′ (x)
on I and we have: (∀x ∈ I) : f ′ (x) = .
u(x)
If u is a differentiable function and does not equal to zero on the interval I, then the function f : x 7→ ln (|u(x)|) is
u′ (x)
differentiable on I and we have: (∀x ∈ I) : f ′ (x) = .
u(x)

Example
√
Consider the function defined
√ on ]0, +∞[ by f (x) = ln ( x).
Since the function x 7→ x is differentiable and strictly positive on ]0, +∞[, the function f is differentiable on ]0, +∞[.
x′ 1
And we have: ∀x ∈]0, +∞[: f ′ (x) = = .
2x 2x

Exercise

1 Show that f : x 7→ ln(x2 − x + 1) is differentiable on R and then determine its derivative.

2 Determine f ′ in the following cases:

(√ )
a. f (x) = ln x2 + 4
b. f (x) = ln(ln x)
x
c. f (x) =
ln(2x − 1)

Proprety

Let u be a differentiable function that does not equal to zero on an interval I.

u′ (x)
The primitives of the function x 7→ on I are the functions x 7→ ln |u(x)| + c, with c ∈ R.
u(x)

6
 Example
] [
x 1 3
Let us determine the primitives of the function f : x 7→ 2 − on the interval I = − , +∞ .
x + 4 4x + 3 4
( 2 )′
1 x +4 1 (4x + 3)′
We have: f (x) = × − × .
2 x2 + 4 4 4x + 3
1 ( ) 1
Therefore, the primitives of the function f on I are: x 7→ ln x2 + 4 − ln (4x + 3) + c, c ∈ R.
2 4

Application

Determine the set of primitives of f in the following cases:

x−1
1 f (x) =
x2 − 2x + 1
1
2 f (x) =
x ln(x)
x
3 f (x) =
x+1
4 f (x) = tan x

3 Logarithm Function of Base a

3.1 Definition and Properties

Definition

Let a be a strictly positive real number different from 1. The logarithm function of base a is the function, denoted
ln(x)
by loga (x), defined on ]0, +∞[ by: loga (x) = .
ln(a)

Notice

• loge (x) = ln(x) • loga (1) = 0

• loga (a) = 1 • loga (ar ) = r (r ∈ Q)

Proprety

For all strictly positive real numbers x and y, and for all r ∈ Q, we have:
( )
1 loga (xy) = loga (x) + loga (y) 1
3 loga = − loga (x)
x
( )
x
2 loga (xr ) = r loga (x) 4 loga = loga (x) − loga (y)
y

Example
( )
1
We have: log (2 ) = 4 log (2) = −4 log
1
4 1 1 = −4.
2 2 22

7
 Application
( )
1
Simplify the following number: A = log2 (8) − log3 (27) + log5 .
125

3.2 Study of the Function loga

Proprety

Let a ∈ R∗+ \ {1}.

1 If a > 1, then the function loga is strictly increasing on ]0, +∞[.

2 If 0 < a < 1, then the function loga is strictly decreasing on ]0, +∞[.

Proprety

For all strictly positive real numbers x and y, we have:

• If a > 1, then loga (x) > loga (y) ⇔ x > y.

• If 0 < a < 1, then loga (x) > loga (y) ⇔ x < y.

Exercise

Solve in R the following inequalities:

1 log 21 (2 − x) ≤ log 21 (x + 4)

2 log3 (2 − x) ≤ log3 (x + 4)

4 Decimal Logarithm Function

Definition

The decimal logarithm function is the logarithm function of base 10. It is denoted by log and we have:
ln x
(∀x ∈]0, +∞[) : log x = .
ln 10

Notices

• log(1) = 0
• log(10) = 1

• log(10r ) = r (r ∈ Q)

Example

log(0.001) = log(10−3 ) = −3.

8
Application
( )
1
Simplify the following number: A = log(1000) − log(0.0001) + log .
10000

Proprety

• (∀x > 0)(∀r ∈ Q) : log(x) = r ⇔ x = 10r .

• log(x) > r ⇔ x > 10r .

• log(x) ≤ r ⇔ 0 < x ≤ 10r .

Application

Solve in R the equation: (E) : log(x + 11) + log(x − 4) = 2.

Exercise
{
x4 ln x − 1, x > 0,
Let f be the numerical function defined on [0; +∞[ by: f (x) = and (C) its representative curve in
f (0) = 0.
( )
an orthonormal coordinate system O;⃗i, ⃗j .

1 Calculate lim f (x) and then determine the infinite branch of (C) near +∞.
x→+∞

2 a. Show that f is right-continuous at 0.

b. Study the differentiability of f to the right at 0 and interpret the result geometrically.

3 a. Show that f ′ (x) = 2x3 (ln x − 1)(2 ln x − 1) for all x in the interval ]0; +∞[.
b. Draw the table of variations of f .
4 a. Knowing that f ′′ (x) = 2x2 (6 ln x − 5) ln x for all x in the interval ]0; +∞[, study the sign of f ′′ (x) on ]0; +∞[.
b. Deduce that the curve (C) has two inflection points, whose abscissas will be determined.
( ) √
5 a. Construct (C) in the coordinate system O;⃗i, ⃗j (take: e ≈ 1.6 and e2 ≈ 7.2).
b. Using the curve (C), determine the number of solutions of the equation x2 (ln x − 1) = −1.

6 a. Consider the function g defined on R by g(x) = f (|x|).

Show that the function g is even.
( )
b. Construct (Cg ), the representative curve of g, in the same coordinate system O;⃗i, ⃗j .