Digital Lesson

Logarithmic Functions

For x 0 and 0 a 1,
y = loga x if and only if x = a y.
The function given by f (x) = loga x is called the
logarithmic function with base a.
Every logarithmic equation has an equivalent exponential form:
y = loga x is equivalent to x = a y

A logarithm is an exponent!
A logarithmic function is the inverse function of an exponential
function.
Exponential function: y = ax
Logarithmic function: y = logax is equivalent to x = ay
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Examples: Write the equivalent exponential equation

and solve for y.
Logarithmic
Equation

Equivalent
Exponential
Equation

y = log216
1
y = log2( )
2
y = log416

16 = 2y
1
= 2y
2
16 = 4y

y = log51

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1=5y

Solution

16 = 24 y = 4
1
= 2-1 y = 1
2
16 = 42 y = 2

1 = 50 y = 0

The base 10 logarithm function f (x) = log10 x is called the

common logarithm function.
The LOG key on a calculator is used to obtain common
logarithms.
Examples: Calculate the values using a calculator.
Function Value

Keystrokes

Display

log10 100
2
log10( )
5
log10 5
log10 4

LOG 100 ENTER

LOG ( 2 5 ) ENTER

0.3979400

LOG 5 ENTER
LOG 4 ENTER

0.6989700
ERROR

no power of 10 gives a negative number

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Properties of Logarithms
1. loga 1 = 0 since a0 = 1.
2. loga a = 1 since a1 = a.
3. loga ax = x and alogax = x
inverse property
4. If loga x = loga y, then x = y. one-to-one property
Examples: Solve for x: log6 6 = x
log6 6 = 1 property 2 x = 1
Simplify: log3 35
log3 35 = 5 property 3
Simplify: 7log79
7log79 = 9 property 3
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Graph f (x) = log2 x

Since the logarithm function is the inverse of the exponential
function of the same base, its graph is the reflection of the
exponential function in the line y = x.
x
y
y
=
2
y=x
x
2x

1
4

1
2

2
3

horizontal
asymptote y = 0

4
8

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y = log2 x

x-intercept
x
(1, 0)
vertical asymptote
x=0

Example: Graph the common logarithm function f(x) = log10 x.

x
f(x) = log10 x

1
100
2

1
10
1

10

0.301

0.602

by calculator

f(x) = log10 x
x
5

(0, 1) x-intercept
x=0
vertical
asymptote

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The graphs of logarithmic functions are similar for different

values of a.
f(x) = loga x (a 1)
Graph of f (x) = loga x (a 1)
1. domain (0, )
2. range (,)
3. x-intercept (1, 0)
4. vertical asymptote
x 0 as x 0 f ( x)
5. increasing
6. continuous
7. one-to-one
8. reflection of y = a x in y = x

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y-axis
vertical
asymptote

y = ax

y=x
y = log2 x

domain
x
x-intercept
(1, 0)
range

y
The function defined by
f(x) = loge x = ln x
(x 0, e 2.718281)
is called the natural
logarithm function.

y = ln x
x
5

y = ln x is equivalent to e y = x
Use a calculator to evaluate: ln 3, ln 2, ln 100
Function Value
Keystrokes
ln 3
LN 3 ENTER
ln 2
LN 2 ENTER
ln 100
LN 100 ENTER
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Display
1.0986122
ERROR
4.6051701
9

Properties of Natural Logarithms

1. ln 1 = 0 since e0 = 1.
2. ln e = 1 since e1 = e.
3. ln ex = x and eln x = x
inverse property
4. If ln x = ln y, then x = y. one-to-one property

Examples: Simplify each expression.

1
ln 2 ln e 2 2
e

inverse property

e ln 20 20

inverse property

3 ln e 3(1) 3

property 2

ln 1 0 0

property 1

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10

Example: The formula R 112 e 8223 (t in years) is used to estimate

10
the age of organic material. The ratio of carbon 14 to carbon 12
in a piece of charcoal found at an archaeological dig is R 115 .
10
How old is it?
t
1 8223
1
e
15
original equation
12
10
10
t
1
8223
e

multiply both sides by 1012

1000
t
1
8223
ln e
ln
take the natural log of both sides
1000
t
1
ln
inverse property
8223
1000
1

t 8223 ln
8223 6.907 56796
1000
To the nearest thousand years the charcoal is 57,000 years old.
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11