Properties of Logarithms

A Logarithm is an Exponent: It is the exponent we put on some base to get x. x >0

General
Common Logarithm Natural Logarithm
Logarithm
Base 10 Base e
Base b
log x = y ln x = y log b x = y
10 y = x ey = x by = x
log 1 = 0 ln 1 = 0 log b1 = 0

log 10 = 1 ln e = 1 log bb = 1

log 10x = x for all x ln ex = x for all x log bbx = x for all x

10log x = x x>0 eln x = x x>0 blog x = x x>0

Product Property Product Property Product Property

log AB = log A + log B ln AB = ln A + ln B log bAB = log bA + log bB
and and and
log A + log B= log AB ln A + ln B = ln AB log bA + log bB= log bAB
Quotient Property Quotient Property Quotient Property
A A A
log = log A log B ln = ln A ln B log b = log bA log bB
B B B
and and and
A A A
log A log B= log ln A ln B= ln log bA log bB= log b
B B B
Power Property Power Property Power Property
log Bt = t log B ln Bt = t ln B log bBt = t log bB
and and and
t log B= log Bt t ln B= ln Bt t log bB= log bBt

Some misconceptions:
1) log (a + b) = log a + log b NOT TRUE log (a + b) log a + log b
log (a b) log a log b But what does log (a + b) or log (a b) mean?

The LOG IS AN EXPONENT. Therefore, log (a + b) must be the exponent we put on 10 to get (a + b).
i.e. y = log (a + b) means 10y = a + b. Similarly, y = log(ab) means 10y = a b

a log a 1 1
2) log (ab) (log a)(log b) and log and log
b log b a log a

3) log abt t log ab Use product property: log abt = log a + log bt
but log(ab)t does = t log(ab)
Examples: Use properties. Be careful of negative signs. Theres several ways to do these problems, just
be careful using the correct properties.

x7 y3
1. Expand log i.e. Break up or pull apart this expression
16 x 5 z 6

x7 y3
log 5 6
= log( x 7 y 3 ) (log16 x 5 z 6 ) by division (quotient) property
16 x z

= log( x 7 ) + log( y 3 ) [log(16) + log( x 5 ) + log( z 6 )] by multiplication (product) property

Notice the parenthesis after the minus sign.
3 3
= 7 log x + log y log 16 5 log x 6 log z by the power property. Notice log y 3 = log y 2
2

3
= 2 log x + log y log16 6 log z combine the log x terms.
2

2. Write as a single log. Simplify when possible. In this case we are Putting Together the expression to
get one log
1
9 log x log y 5 log z + 2 Use power property first
3
1
= log x 9 log y 3
log z 5 + log100 Notice that log100 = 2 Now we have all log terms.
Use quotient and product properties to combine.
I factored out the negative in the Second and third terms first.
1
= log x 9 (log y 3
+ log z 5 ) + log 100

1
= log x 9 log( y 3
* z 5 ) + log100

x9
= log 1
+ log 100
5
y 3
*z

100 x 9
= log 1
y 3 z5