Logarithms and Their

Properties
Lesson 4.1
Recall the Exponential Function
General form
Given the exponent
what is the resulting y-value?

Now we look at the inverse of this function
Now we will ask, given the result, what exponent
is needed to achieve it?
( )
x
f x a b =
A New Function
Consider the exponential function y = 10
x

Based on that function, declare a new
function
x = log
10
y

You should be able to see that these are
inverse functions
In general
The log of a number
is an exponent
log
x
b
a b a x = =
The Log Function
Try These
log
3
9 = ? log
2
32 = ? log 0.01 = ?
Note: if no base
specified, default is
base of 10
2
3
3 9
log 9 2 so
=
=
5
2
2 32
log 32 5 so
=
=
2
10 0.01
log0.01 2 so

=
=
Properties of Logarithms
Note box on page 154 of text
Most used properties

log( ) log log
log log log
log log
n
a b a b
a
a b
b
a n a
=
| |
=

|
\ .

+
Natural Logarithms
We have used base of 10 for logs
Another commonly used base for logs is e
e is an irrational number (as is )
e has other interesting properties
Later to be discovered in calculus
Use ln button on your calculator
t
Properties of the Natural Logarithm
Recall that y = ln x x = e
y

Note that
ln 1 = 0 and ln e = 1
ln (e
x
) = x (for all x)
e
ln x
= x (for x > 0)
As with other
based logarithms

ln( ) ln ln
ln ln ln
ln ln
n
a b a b
a
a b
b
a n a
= +
| |
=
|
\ .
=
Use Properties for Solving
Exponential Equations
Given

Take log of
both sides
Use exponent
property
Solve for what
was the exponent
1.04 3
t
=
( )
log 1.04 log3
t
=
log(1.04) log3 t =
log3
log1.04
t =
Note this is not the same as
log 1.04 log 3
Misconceptions
log (a+b) NOT the same as log a + log b
log (a-b) NOT the same as log a log b
log (a * b) NOT same as (log a)(log b)
log (a/b) NOT same as (log a)/(log b)
log (1/a) NOT same as 1/(log a)
Assignment
Lesson 4.1
Page 157
Exercises 1 51 odd