1 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Chapter 3
Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Chapter Outlines

• Properties of Exponents

• Exponential Functions

• Logarithmic Function

• Algebraic Properties of Logarithms

• Solving Logarithmic Equations

• Solving Exponential Equations

• Self-Evaluation.

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

2 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

1- Introduction to Exponents

Exponents are used to write repeated products. If n is any positive integer and a is any
real number, then the symbol 𝑎𝑛 is defined as follows:

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎 × 𝑎 × 𝑎 × 𝑎 … … … … … … … … . 𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠

4 3 3
1 5
3 , 2 , 𝑥 , ( ) , … ….
4

In the above expressions, the upper number is the exponent, and the lower number is
called the base.

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

3 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

1.1 Properties of Exponents:

Here is a summary of all the properties of exponents. All the statements given below are
true for any integers m and n, and any real numbers a and b. Also, assume that the
denominators are not zero.

Example: Simplify

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

4 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Example: Simplify

Example: Simplify

Note:

(𝑎) − 34 (𝑏) (−3)4

Sol:

(𝑎) − 34 = −(3 × 3 × 3 × 3) = −81 (b) (−3)4 = (−3) × (−3) × (−3) ×

(−3) = 81

Exercises:

Simplify the following:

𝑥 3 ×𝑥 5
1)
𝑥6
𝑥5
2) 𝑥 −3 ×
𝑥 −2
𝑡 −6
3)
𝑡 3 ×𝑡 4

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

5 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

2- Exponential Functions
Just browsing? Take your time. To the dollar, researchers know the average amount the
typical consumer spends per minute at the shopping mall. And the longer you stay, the
more you spend. So, if you say you’re just browsing, that’s just fine with the mall
merchants. Browsing is time and, as shown in the following Figure, time is money.

The data in the following Figure can be modeled by the function

f(x) = 42.2(1.56)x

where f(x) is the average amount spent, in dollars, at a shopping mall after x hours. Can
you see how this function is different from a polynomial function? The variable x is in
the exponent. Functions whose equations contain a variable in the exponent are called
exponential functions. Many real-life situations, including population growth, growth of
epidemics, radioactive decay, and other changes that involve rapid increase or decrease,
can be described using exponential functions.

Source: International Council of Shopping Centers Research, 2006

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

6 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

2.1 Definition:

But

Note

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

7 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Up to this point, we have been concerned with polynomial functions like 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3
which have a constant exponent and variable base. We now want to consider functions
like 3𝑥 which have a variable exponent and constant base. What makes such functions
important is their wide variety of applications: compound interest, radioactive decay,
learning curves, etc. The exponential function arises whenever a quantity grows or
decays at a rate proportional to its current value.

Four exponential functions have been graphed in the following Figure. Compare the
black and green graphs, where b > 1, to those in blue and red, where b < 1.
When b >1, the value of y increases as the value of x increases. When b < 1, the value
of y decreases as the value of x increases.

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

8 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

2.2 Graphing an Exponential function

Example

Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 .

Solution

We begin by setting up a table of coordinates.

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

9 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Example
𝟏
Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = ( 𝟐 )𝒙 .
Solution

We begin by setting up a table of coordinates.

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

10 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

3- Logarithmic Function
The idea of logarithms is to reverse the operation of exponentiation, that is raising a
number to a power. For example, the third power (or cube) of 2 is 8, because 8 is the
product of three factors of 2:
23 = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8
It follows that the logarithm of 8 concerning base 2 is 3, so log 2 8 = 3
It means, it by finding the logarithm of a number with respect to some base, we are
finding the exponent of that base to make that number.
3.1 Definition of the logarithmic function

The Equation
𝒚 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂 𝒙 if and only if 𝒙 = 𝒂𝒚
Example

Solution

Exercise
DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI
11 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Logarithmic Expression Meaning Exponent

log 2 16 2 to what power is 16?
log 3 9 3 to what power is 9?
log 5 25 5 to what power is 25?

LOGS = EXPONENTS

Example

Solution

Exercises: Write each of the following in the exponential form

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI
12 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

𝑎) 2 = log 7 49 𝑏) log 3 27 = 3

Exercises: Write each of the following in the logarithmic form

𝑎) 25 = 32 𝑏) 102 = 100

3.2 Common Logarithm: (log)

Although a logarithm may be defined with any base, the logs most often used are the
logarithm to the base 10 which is called the common logarithm. Our calculators allow us
to use logarithms to base 10. These are called common logarithms ("log" on a calculator).
We normally do not write 10 when we write logarithms to base 10.

log 𝑥 means log10 𝑥

log 100 = 2 is the same as log10 100 = 2

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

13 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

3.3 Algebraic Properties of Logarithms

The following identities hold for any positive 𝑎 ≠ 1 and any positive numbers x, y,
and r.

Rule name Rule Example

Logarithm of 1 log 𝑎 1 = 0 log 2 1 = 0

Same base log 𝑎 𝑎 = 1 𝑎log𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑥 log 4 4 = 1 3log3 100 = 100

Power rule log 𝑎 (𝑥 𝑟 ) = 𝑟 log 𝑎 𝑥 log 2 (35 ) = 5 log 2 3

log 2 (16) = log 2 (2 × 8)

Product rule log 𝑎 (𝑥𝑦) = log 𝑎 𝑥 + log 𝑎 𝑦
= log 2 2 + log 2 8

𝑥 5
log 𝑎 ( ) = log 𝑎 𝑥 − log 𝑎 𝑦 log 2 ( ) = log 2 (5)
Quotient rule 𝑦 7
− log 2 (7)

Example

Solution

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

14 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Example

Solution

Example

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

15 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Exercises

Evaluate each of the following:

a) log 2 2𝑥 b) log 𝑎 𝑎3 c) 4log4 𝑥 d) log 2 (25 )

e) log 103.5 f) 2log2 5 g) 10log 100 h) log 10

Exercises

Evaluate each of the following:(without using the calculator)

a) log 6 36 − log10 1 b) 2 log 10 − log 2 8

c) log 7 74 − log 106 − 6log6 5 + 10log 100

1
d) log 5 ( ) − log10 1
25

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

16 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

3.4 Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

As usual, we want to solve equations involving our new functions. To do this, we will
need to use the properties of exponents and logarithms.

If 𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑦 then 𝑥=𝑦

It means that if you have the same base on both sides, then the exponents will also be
equal.

e.g. 24 = 2 𝑥  𝑥 = 4

3𝑥−2 = 35  𝑥 − 2 = 5

Example

Find x if 22𝑥−8 = 16

Solution

The left side has a power of 2, so we write the right side also as a power of 2.

16 = 24  22𝑥−8 = 24  2𝑥 − 8 = 4

2𝑥 = 12  𝑥=6

Exercise

Solve the following equations:

27𝑥+3 = 9𝑥−1

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

17 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Example
Solve 5x + 1 = 625

To "release" x + 1 from the exponent, take the inverse function -- the logarithm with
base 5 -- of both sides.

log 5 5𝑥+1 = log 5 625

(x + 1) log 5 5 = 4

𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 log 5 5 = 1, log 5 625 = 4

𝑥 + 1 = 4,

𝑥=3

Example

Solve each of the following

a) 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟒 (𝒙 + 𝟑) = 𝟐 . b) 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟐 (𝒙 + 𝟐𝟎) = 𝟑

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

18 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

b)

Exercises: Solve each equation.

a) log 3 (4𝑥 − 7) = 2 , 𝑏) 3𝑥+1 = 81

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI

19 | C h a p t e r 3 - Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

SELF EVALUATION
1) Simplify:

a) (𝟒𝒙𝟑 𝒚𝟓 )𝟐

b) 𝒙𝟓 (𝟐𝒙)𝟒

c) (𝒑𝟐 )−𝟑

𝒔 𝟐 𝒕𝟑 𝒔𝒓𝟑
d) ×
𝒓 𝒕

(𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟔 )𝟐
e)
𝟖𝒙𝟒 𝒚𝟕

2) Write each of the following in the logarithmic form

1
𝑎) 93 = 729 𝑏) 8−2 = 𝑐) 𝑎5 = 𝑚
64

3) Write each of the following in the exponential form

𝑎) log 3 7 = 𝑦, 𝑏) log 𝑎 4 = −3 𝑐) 2 = log 5 𝑥

4) Evaluate

𝑎) 2 log 100 − log 105 𝑏) log 2 4 − log 3 27 𝑐) log 5 100

5) Solve each of the following equations

𝑎)2𝑥 = 8 𝑏) log 2 𝑥 = −3 𝑐) 41−2𝑥 = 2

DR. OSAMA EL-GENDY MS. HADEEL ALKHATTABI