Solving with Logarithms

y = 2x

x=
How do we solve this

y 2

exponential
equation

for the variable y?

LOGARITHMS
exponential logarithmic

b Y
x

log b (Y ) x
b>0 Y>0

exponential

logarithmic

b Y
x

log b (Y ) x
log 3 (9) 2 log 5 (125 ) 3

3 9
2

53 125
2
3 1 8

log 2 1 8 3
log 3 (81) 4 1 log 36 (6) 2

81
1 2

36 6

Solve for x
logx(32) = 5 x5 = 32

x5 = 25
x = 2

Solve for x
log2(x+5) = 4 24 = x + 5

16 = x + 5 11 = x

Solve for x
log3(1/27) = x 3x = 1/27

3x = 3-3
X = -3

Solving when there is a log on each side.

Solve for x
Log 7(2x+1) = log 7(3x-5)
(2x+1) = (3x-5) 6= x
Property of Equality for Logarithms

Solve for x
Log 8(x2-14) = log 8(5x)
X2-14 = 5x

X2-5x -14 = 0
(x-7)(x+2)= 0 X=7 and x=-2
Cant take the log of a negative #

Now you try. Solve for x log5(2x-3) = log5(x+2)

2x-3 = x+2 x=5