Lesson 6.

3
Logarithms and
Logarithmic Functions
©Big Ideas Learning, LLC
Warm-Up

Solve the equation.

8x = 1

4x =

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Learning Target:
Understand logarithms and graph logarithmic functions.

Success Criteria:
• I can explain the meaning of a logarithm with base b.
• I can evaluate logarithmic expressions.
• I can graph logarithmic functions.

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Explore It! Understanding Logarithmic Functions
Work with a partner.

log2 8 = 3 log3 27 = ______

a. Look for a pattern and complete each statement.

log5 25 = 2 log2 32 = ______

log10 1000 = 3 log4 64 = ______
log7 49 = ______ log2 = ______

b. Use your results in part (a) to describe the relationship among the values of b, x, and y

logb y = x
in the equation shown.

c. Use your results above to complete the table of values.

x 1000
log10 x −2 −1 0 1 2 3

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

 Explore It! Understanding Logarithmic Functions

Work with a partner.

d. Plot the points (x, log10 x) from part (c). Draw a smooth curve through
the points. Make several observations about the graph.

RELATE
CONCEPTS
How can you use the
graph of an exponential
function to sketch the
graph of a logarithmic
function?

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

 Logarithms
You know that 22 = 4 and 23 = 8. However, for what value of x
does 2x = 6? Mathematicians define this x-value using a logarithm
and write x = log2 6. The definition of a logarithm can be
Vocabulary
logarithm of y with base b,
p. 328 generalized
common logarithm, p. 329 as follows.
natural logarithm, p. 329

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

KEY
IDEA

Definition of Logarithm with Base b

Let b and y be positive real numbers with b ≠ 1. The logarithm of y with base b
is denoted by logb y and is defined as

logb y = x if and only if bx = y.

equations logb y = x and bx = y are equivalent. The first is in logarithmic form,

The expression logb y is read as “log base b of y.” This definition tells you that the

and the second is in exponential form.

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Example 1 Rewriting Logarithmic Equations

Rewrite each equation in exponential form.

a. log2 16 4 b. log4 1 0 c. log12 12 1 d. log1/4 4 1

SOLUTION
Logarithmic Form Exponential Form

a. log2 16 4 24 16

b. log4 1 0 40 1

c. log12 12 1 121 12

4
d. log1/4 4 1

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Example 2 Rewriting Exponential Equations

Rewrite each equation in logarithmic form.

a. 5 25
2
b. 10 0.1
1 c. 8 2/3
4 d. 63

SOLUTION

Exponential Form Logarithmic Form

a. 52 25
log5 25 2
b. 101 0.1
log10 0.1 1

c. 82/3 4 log8 4

d. 63 log6 3

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Rewrite the equation in exponential form.

1. log3 81 = 4 2. log7 7 = 1

3. log14 1 = 0 4. log1/2 32 = −5

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Rewrite the equation in logarithmic form.

5. 72 = 49 6. 500 = 1

7. 4−1 =
8. 2561/8 = 2

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

you should learn to recognize. Let b be a positive real number such that b ≠
Parts (b) and (c) of Example 1 illustrate two special logarithm values that

1.
Logarithm of 1 Logarithm of b with Base b
logb 1 = 0 because b0 = 1. logb b = 1 because b1 = b.

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Example 3 Evaluating Logarithmic Expressions

Evaluate each logarithm.

a. log4 64 b. log5 0.2 c. log1/5 125 d. log36 6

SOLUTION
To help you find the value of logb y, ask yourself what power of b gives you y.

a. What power of 4 gives you 64? 43 64, so log4 64 3.

b. What power of 5 gives you 51 0.2, so log5 0.2 1.

0.2?
c. What power of gives you 125? 3
125, so log1/5 125 3.

361/2 6, so log36 6 .
d. What power of 36 gives you 6?

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

A common logarithm is a logarithm with base 10. It is denoted by log10 or
simply by log. A natural logarithm is a logarithm with base e. It can be
denoted by loge but is usually denoted by ln.
Common Logarithm Natural Logarithm
log10 x = log x loge x = ln x

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

 Example 4 Evaluating Common and Natural Logarithms

Evaluate (a) log 8 and (b) ln 0.3 using technology. Round your answer to
three decimal places.

SOLUTION
Check
Rewrite each logarithm
in exponential form and
a. log 8 0.903
evaluate.
b. ln 0.3 1.204

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Evaluate the logarithm. If necessary, use technology and round your answer to three
decimal places.

9. log2 32 10. log27 3

11. log 12 12. ln 0.75

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

13. Which is different? Find “both” answers.

What power of 4 gives you 16? What is log base 4 of 16?

Evaluate 42. Evaluate log4 16.

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Using Inverse Properties
By the definition of logarithm, it follows that the logarithmic function g(x) = logb x is
the inverse of the exponential function f(x) = bx. This means that
g(f(x)) = logb bx = x and f(g(x)) = blogb x = x.

In other words, exponential functions and logarithmic functions “undo” each other.

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Example 5 Using Inverse Properties

Simplify (a) 10log 4 and (b) log5 25x.

SOLUTION

a. 10log 4 = 4 blogb x = x

b. log5 25x = log5(52)x Express 25 as a power with base 5.

= log5 52x Power of a Power Property

= 2x logb bx = x

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

 Example 6 Finding Inverse Functions
Find the inverse of each function.
a. f(x) 6x b. f(x) ln(x 3)
SOLUTION
a. From the definition of logarithm, the inverse of f(x) 6x is f -1(x) log6 x.
b. Set y equal to f(x). Switch the roles of x and y and solve for y.
y ln(x 3) Set y equal to f(x).
x ln(y 3) Switch x and y.
STUDY TIP ex y 3 Write in exponential form.
ln x, x = loge(y + 3).
From the definition of ex 3 y Subtract 3 from each side.
The inverse of f is f -1(x) ex 3.
In exponential form,

ex = y + 3.
this is written as
Check a. f(f -1(x)) 6log6 x x ✓
f -1(f(x)) log6 6x x ✓
b. f(f -1(x)) ln(ex 3 3) ln ex x ✓
f -1(f(x)) e ln(x + 3) 3 x 3 3 x ✓
©Big Ideas Learning, LLC
Simplify the expression.

14. 8log8 x 15. log7 7−3x

16. log2 64x 17. eln 20

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

18. Find the inverse of (a) f(x) = 4x and (b) f(x) = ln(x − 5).

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Graphing Logarithmic Functions
You can use the inverse relationship between exponential and logarithmic functions to
graph logarithmic functions.

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

KEY
IDEA

Graphing Logarithmic Functions

The graph of f(x) = logb x is shown below for b > 1 and for 0 < b < 1. Because f(x) = logb x
and g(x) = bx are inverse functions, you can graph f by reversing coordinates of points on
the graph of g. The graph of f is the reflection of the graph of g in the line y = x.

Graph of f(x) = logb x for b > 1 Graph of f(x) = logb x for 0 < b < 1

Note that the y-axis is a vertical asymptote of the graph of f(x) = logb x. The domain of
f(x) = logb x is (0, ∞), and the range is (−∞, ∞).

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Example 7 Graphing a Logarithmic Function
Graph f(x) log3 x. Determine when the function is positive, negative,
increasing, or decreasing. Then describe the end behavior of the function.
SOLUTION
f-1(x) 3x
Step 1 Make a table of values for x 2 1 0 1
f. From the definition of
logarithm, the inverse of f(x) 1 3
f(x) log3 x is f(x) 3x.

f(x) log3 x Step 2 Make a table of values for f. x 1 3

Reverse the coordinates of
f(x) 2 1 0 1
the points represented by
the table in Step 1.

Step 3 Plot the points from each table.

Connect each set of points with a
smooth curve.

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

Example 7 Graphing a Logarithmic Function
Graph f(x) log3 x. Determine when the function is positive, negative,
increasing, or decreasing. Then describe the end behavior of the function.
SOLUTION
Positive and Negative: The x-intercept is 1. The
f-1(x) 3x
function is negative when 0 x1 and positive when x
1.

f(x) log3 x Increasing and Decreasing: The graph has an asymptote of

y 0. The function increases over its entire domain, x 0.

End Behavior: From the graph, you can see that y as x 0

and y as x .

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

19. Graph (a) y = log2 x and (b) y = log1/2 x. Determine when each function is positive,
negative, increasing, or decreasing. Then describe the end behavior of each function.

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC

 In-Class
Mini-Assessment
Practice

1. Rewrite 274/3 = 81 in logarithmic form.

2. Evaluate log8 2.

3. Simplify log3 27x.

4. Find the inverse of f(x) = ln(x − 2).

5. Graph f(x) = log1/6 x. Determine when the function is positive,
negative, increasing, or decreasing. Then describe the end behavior of
the function.

©Big Ideas Learning, LLC