Logarithm

Introduction
We are familiar with a simple exponential identitya x
= b. Here, 'a' is called the base, 'x' the exponent and 'b' the
result.
Now, just as we can say J4 =2, which is basically
another way of saying 2* 2= 4, we can say
l oga b = x
I t is another way of sayinga x = b
Thus alog or logarithm is an equivalent way of ex-
pressing an exponential identity and the following two ex-
pressions are completely equivalent
a x = b o l oga b = x
loga b is generally expressed aslog of b to the base a.
Generally, the base is taken as 10 in which case the subscript
for the base is not written.
Hence log b means l og10 b . Thus, i f no base is given
assume that the base is 10.
Rule 1
I f l oga b = x then, a = b
Illustrative Examples
Ex. 1: I f log3 a = 4. Find the value of a.
Soln: l og3a = 4=>34 =a :. a = 81
Ex.2: I f l og3[l og4(l og2 x)] = 0, find the value of x.
Soln : log3 [log4 (log2 x)] = log31 (As, log31 = 0)
or, log4(log2 x) = \
or, 41 = log2 x or, log2 x = 4 or, 24 = x :, x = 16
Exercise
1. I f log x = 2, find the value of.x.
a) 4 b) 10
c)100 d) Can't be determined
2. I f log8 64 = x, find the value of*.
a) 4 b)l c)2 d)3
3. What is the value of l o g / ~^~] ?
a) 4 b)2 c)-2 d)~4
4. I f log6(O.OOOl) =-4, findb.
a) 10 b) io
c) 102 d) Can't be determined
5. I f ' 8 2N / 2^^^j find the value of x.
16 16
a) j b)4 c)-4 d)
6. I f \oghV2= , find the value of b.
a) 16 b)32 c)64 d)4
7. Find the value of x, i f log, [log5 (log3 J C)] = 0 .
a) 81 b)243 c) 128 d)256
8. I f logf l V3 find the value of a.
6
a) 9 b)27 c)18 d)3
Answers
1. c
2. c; Hint: x = log8 64 or, 64 = 8X or, 82=g*
.-. x=2.
3. d; Hint: log3( j =x
or, = 3V or, -^= 3* 0^3^**^ .-. x -4
81 34
698 PRACTICE BOOK ON QUICKER MATHS
7. The logarithm of 144 to the base 2^3 's
a) 2 b)4 c)6 d)8
8. I f log 8 =0.9031 an log 9 =0.9542 then find the value of
log 6.
a) 0.3010 b) 0.4771 c) 0.7781 d) Noneof these
Answers
l.a; Hint: s5'x =2r "5 or, ss~* Jjfi'^
or, (5-x) log 5 =- (5- x) log 2
or. (5-x)l og5 +(5-x)l og2 =0
or, (5-x){log5 +l og2}=0
(5- x)|l og^+l og2} =0
or,
or, (5-x){l ogl 0-l og2 +log2} =0
or, 5- x =0 x =5
2. a; Hint: 21og4 x =1 +l og4(x-1)
l og4 x2 =l og4 4 +l og4 (x- l )
or, x2 =4( x- l ) or, x 2 _ 4 ^ + 4 = 0
or, (x- 2)2 =0
.-. x = 2
3. a; Hint: (lOOO)* =3
or, xl og,03 =log3
log 3 0.477 n i c n
or, 3x =log3 .-. j r =- | - =- y - =0.159
4. d; Hint: log10(0.000l)=l og10(l 0"4)=-41og,010 =-4
5. a; Hint:
log5 5{log5 25 +log5125} =log5 5{log5(25x125)}
= log5 52 =21og55 =2
6. b; Hint:
[logl 0(5logl 0100)P =[l ogl 0 5log, 1 02 f =[logl o(l0)p =(l )2 =I
7. b; Hint: 144
=2x 2x 2x 2x X X X
Now, l og2 V 3 14 4 =^ , ^ ( 2 / 3 ) * =41og2 V T 2V3 =4x1 = 4
8. c; Hint: log8 =log(2)3 =3 log 2
0 9031
.-. 3 log2 =0.9031 .-. log2 = =0.3010
Now, log 9=log(3)2 =2 log 3
.-. 2 log 3 =0.9542 .-. log 3 =0.4771
NO W , log6 = log(2x3)= log2 + log3 = 0 3010 + 0.477U 0.7781
Rule 5
log (xy) = log (x) + log (y)
Illustrative Examples
Ex.1: I f logwm = b- l og|0 n , find the valueof m.
Soln: We have, l og10 in = b- l og10 n
=> l ogl 0/n +l og1 0 =6
=> l og, 0 ( ) = 6
10"
10 =mn m -
Ex. 2: I f log8 =0.9031 and log9 =0.9542 then find the value
of log6.
Soln : I og8 =log(2)3 =3 log2
.-. 3 log2 =0.9031
0.9031
.-. log2=- =0.3010
Now,log9=|0g(3)2 =21og3
.-. 2 log3 =0.9542
.-. log.3 =0.4771
Now, log6 =log(2 x 3) =log2 +log3 =0.3010 +0.4771
=0.7781
Note: 1. log (x) +log (y) ^log (x +y)
2. log(xy) * log(x) x log(y)
Exercise
1. I f log 2 =x, log 3 =y and log 7 =r , then the value of
log(4xV63") is .
[Assistants' Grade Exam, 1998|
a) ~2x + -y + -z
c) 2x + -y--z
-, 2 1
b) 2x + -y + -z
- 2 1
d)2x--y + -z
j 3 3 3
I f log(0.57) =1.756, then the value of
log57 +log(0.57)3+logV0J 7 is .
[SSC Graduate Level (PT) Exam, 1999]
a)0.902 b) 1.902 c) T . 1 4 6 d) 2.146
I f log90 =1.9542 then log3 equalsto .
|SSC Graduate Level (PT) Exam, 2000|
a) 0.9771 b) 0.6514 c) 0.4771 d)0.3181
Logarithm
699
4. Find the value of log25-21og|0 3 +log,0 18
a)0
b)l c)2
d)
5. Find the value of log.v +log
a)0 b)l c)-l
d)
6. The equation loga x + loga (l +x) =0 can be written as
a) x- +x-l =0
c) x" +x-e =0
7. Find the value of log 8 +log
b) x2 +x + \ 0
d) x2 +x + e = 0
1
a)0 b)l c)2 d) log(64)
8. Find the value of log
KbcJ
( L2\
+log
\J
+log
yabJ
a)0
Answers
b)l
c)abc d) a 2 b2 c 2
1. b; Hint: ^ x fe)= log 22 x (3 x 3 x 7^
= log22 +log(3x3x7)i
= 21og2 +i l og( 32x7)
= 21og2 +l [l og32+l og7]
= 21og2 +j l og3 +ylog7
= 2x + y + z
3 3
.a;Hint: log
57x100
100 )
3Iog(0.57)+|log(0.57)
=log(0.57)+logl02 +31og(0.57)+~log(0.57)
=[ l + 3+ i j l og( 0.57)+2 [ v l o g l o2 = 2 ]
=(4.5 x T .756)+2 =4.5 x (-1 +0.756)+2 =0.902
3. c; Hint: Iog90 =1.9542
or, log(32x 10)=1.9542
or, 2log3 +log 10 =1.9542
0 954?
or, log3 =- ^y ^=0.4771
4. b; Hint: ~log10 25 - 2 logl 0 3 +log,0 18
= I og,0( 25)"2-logl 0( 3)2+log,0I 8
=l og,05-l og,09 +log|018
f 5x18^1
=log, log,0 10 =1
V * J
1
5. a;Hint: l ogx+l og-= log;t+logl - log.r
vJt
=log,v- log.v+0 =0
6. a; Hint: logf l x +logf l (l +.v) =0
or, log,, x(x +1) =log 1 (Since log 1 =0)
or, x(.r +l )=l or, x 2 + x - \ = o
7 a: Hint: - l''g| | ] = l o ^f x 7
logl=0
8. a; Hint: Given expression ='S
Rule 6
r* ->, 2 2 A
abc
2i.2 2
ytl b C j
= logl=0
log =log(x) - log( y)
Illustrative Example
Ex.: I f log|0(/w)=6 + log|0(/7),findthevalueofm.
Soln: We have, log,0 m = b+ log10 n
=>log,0 w-l og,0 n = b
log
///
= b
" =10*
.-. = /7 1 0"
. , t ni 1 log/?/
Note: log | *
.J I02/7
700 P R A C T I C E B OOK ON Q U I C KE R MATHS
Exercise
I . I f log102 =0. 301, then the value of logl 0(50) is
a) 0.699 b) 1.301 c) 1.699 d) 2.301
[SI Delhi Police Exam, 1997)
2. I f log,0 2 =0.3010 and log,0 7 =0. 8451, then the value
of log|0 2.8 is .
a) 0.4471 b) 1.4471 c) 2.4471 d) 14.471
[SSC Graduate Level PT Exam, 1999]
3. I f log2 =0.3010 , then log5 equals to
a) 0.3010
b) 0.6990
c) 0.7525
d) Given log 2, it is not possible to calculate log 5
| SSC Graduate Level PT Exam, 2000|
75 5 32
4. The simplified formof l og -2l og-+l og j s
16 9 343
a) log 2 b) 2 log 2 c) log3 d) log5
| SSC Graduate Level PT Exam, 2000|
9 27 3
5. The value of log - - log +log - j s .
o 32 4
a)0
Answers
b)l
1. c; Hint: l ogI 0 50 =log
c)2
50x2
d)3
10
= log!00-log2
= l og1 0 2-l og2
=2-0. 301 =1.699
28
2. a; Hint: logt02. 8 =log10 =log28-log 10
log(7 x 4)- log 10 =log 7 +2 log 2 - log 10
=0.8451 +2x0. 3010-1
=0.8451 +0. 6020-1 =0. 4471
3. b; Hint: log5 =l ogy =l ogl 0-l og2
=1-0. 3010 =0.6990
, 7 5 * i 5 . 32
4. a;Hint: log - 21og- +l og-
ic 9 343
. 25x3 , 25 , 16x2
=log l og +log
6 4x4 s 81 81x3
=log(25 x3)- log(4 x4)- log(25) +log81
+log(l6x2)-log(81x3)
=log25 +log3 - log 16 - log25 +log81 +log 16
H l og2-l og81-l og3
=log2
5. a; Hint: Given expression
'9 27 3l , (9 3 32
=log x x
1 8 4 27
log - + x
8 32 4
=logl =0
Rule 7
l 0 g f l X =
Proof: Let
log/,*
log* a
log/,
or, l ogA x=vl ogA a
or, \oghx = \ogh(ay)
or, l ogW =l oga(ay ) =y =
log/, a
Illustrative Examples
Ex. I : I f log|0 m =Z>log]0 n, find the valueof m.
logio m
Soln: We have,
logio "
= b
=>log,, m = b
:. m = n
Ex. 2: I f log2 =0.3010 and log3 =0. 4771, then what value of
x satisfies
the equation y + i =135 (approximately)?
Soln : We have, 3
x+3
135
or, 3xx33 =135
, 3 - 1 ^ =5
27
=>log3 5 =x
_a ' g i o 5 _ r
log 3 ^ t n e a D O v e I r r n u l a }
_ log10(10 +2)
logio 3
l og)0-l og1 0 2
log,o 3
= X
= X
Logarithm 701
1-0.3010
=> = x
0.4771
.". x1.5 (approximately)
Ex. 3: log,, a \ogc b log,, c = ?
Soln: logA axlog,.bx\oga c
\ogca
logc b
l ogc /3xl ogac Since, \ogx y =
log. y
log. x
Since, \ogL. a = =l ogc .axl ogac =l
loga e
Exercise
1. Given that log10 2=0.3010 , then log, 10 isequal to
| Assistant's Grade Exam, 1997]
a) 0.3010 b) 0.6990 c)
1000
301
d)
699
301
2. If l ogl 2 27 * a then l og6 16 is
[Assistant's Grade Exam, 1997|
4(3-a) 4(3+a) 3+a
b)
3 + a - 3-a C ; 4(3-4 d ) 4(3 +a)
3. If logx 4=0.4, then the valueof x is .
[ Assistant's Grade Exam, 1998]
a)4 b) 16 c)l d)32
4. I f l ogt y =100 and log2 x =10 , then the value of y is
3-a
[SSC Graduate Level PT Exam, 1999|
a) 2o b) 21000 c) 2100 d) 210000
5. If ax = b> b}" =c> cz =a - then the value of xyz is
a)0 b)l c)2 d)4
6. The value of log, 3x log3 2x log, 4 x log4 3 is
a)l b)2 c)3 d)4
log., x
7. The value of 5 2 logu b is .
logfl /, x
a)0
Answers
l.c; Hi nt : ' g21 0
b) 1 c) a d) ab
loglO _ 1 _ 1.0000 _ J000
log2 " log2 ~0.3010 ~301
log 27
.a; Hint: iog1227 =a or, , o o ] 2 = a
or, al ogl 2 =log3
or, a log(3x4 ) =3log 3
or, a[log 3+log4 ] = 3log 3
or, alog4 +alog3 =31og3
or, al og22 =(3-a)log3
or, 2alog2=(3-a)log3
log2 3-a
or,
log 3
()
Now, log61 6
l ogl 6_ log24 4 log 2
log 6 log(2x3) log2+log3
I 0 ! 2 . /3-a)
log3 _ ( 2a] _ 4(3-a)
+1
3. d; Hint: l o S.v4:
log 2
log 3
log 4 2
3-a
2a
+1
3 + a
\ogx 5
2log 2 _ 2
o r ' logx~~5 o r ' l o 8x =5 l o 2 =l o 82 5 r >og32
.-. x = 32
4. b; Hint: log,, y =100, log2 x =10
logy i n n log* l f l
or, 1 =1 0 0 and - =1 0
' logx
logy
log 2
=100x10 =1000
n log2
or, l og2y =1000 or, y =21 0 0 0
5. b; Hint: a* =b or >'ga b = x
or, t>y = c or, log* c = y
or, c - a ff or, log,, a =2
.-. xxy x2 S B log,, b x log/, cx log,, a =1
[See Illustrative Ex. 3]
log3 log2 log4 log3
6. a;Hint: ^x?x^x^- =1
log 2 log 3 log 3 log 4
7. b; Hint: logx =- 1 ^^
log<,/>-0
.-. thegiven expression
I
I =l oga a =1
ab
- log,, b =log,, a&- log,, h =log,, -
logA a b
702
Rule 8
y
I f log (x +y) =log (x) +log 0), thenx = _ j
Proof: log (x +y) =log (xy)
or, x+y =xy
v-1
Illustrative Example
Ex.: I f log (x +2) =log (.v) +log (2), thenfind thevalueof
x
Soln: Detail Method:
Wehave, log (x +2) =log (x) +log (2) =log (2x)
or, x +2 =2x
:. x = 2
Quicker Method: Appl ying the aboveformula, we
have
2-1
Exercise
1. I f log(x +5) =l og(5)+l og(x), thenfind thevalueof x.
a) 5 b)25 c ) - $ |
2. I f log(x +3)=log(3)+l og(x), thenfind thevalueof x.
a) | b) y c)3 d)4
3. I f log(x +4)=l og(4)+l og(x) and
I og(x +6)=l og(y)+l og(6), thenwhich of the f ollow-
ing is correct?
a)x=y b)x<y c)x>y d) Can't say
Answers
l .d 2.a
4 4 5 5
3.c; Hint:x = = y , y = = -
.'. x>y
Rule 9
to#f x-y) =tog x - logy, then x = .
Illustrative Example
Ex: I f log (x - 2) =l ogx - log (2), thenfind thevalueof x.
Soln: Detail Method:
Wehave, log (x - 2) - log (x) - log (2)
x
or, x - 2 =
PRAC T I C E B OOK ON QU I C KER MATHS
or, 2x-4 =x
.-. x =4
Quicker Method: Appl ying the aboveformula, we
have
(2)2
x= =4.
2-1
Exercise
I f log(x-
-3)
=l og(x)- log(3), then, find thevalueof x.
9
3 ) 2
b)9
9
c)4 d) - -
I f log(x-
-4)
=l og(x)-- log(4). thenfind thevalueof x.
16
a ) y
b)5 c)4 d)- l
I f log(x-
-5) =l og(x)-- log(5) and
log(x - 6) =l og(x)- l og(6), thenwhichof thef ollowing
is correct.
a) x >y b) x < y c) x =y d) Can't say
Answers
l .a 2. a
3b; Hint:-v == 6- and >== 7-
4 4 5 5
Rule 10
To find the number of digits in a h .
No. of digits =[integral part of (b l og1 0 < 3 ) ] + 1
Illustrative Example
Ex.: Find the no. of di gi ts in 24 7 (Given that
l og10 2 =0.3010)
Soln: Applying theaboverule, wehave
therequired answer =(I ntegral partof 47 l og1 0 2) +1
=(47x 0.3010)+1 =[14.1470+1]
= 14+1 =15.
Exercise
1. Fi nd the no. of di gi ts in s 5 7 (given that
l ogl 0 2 =0.3010)
a)52 b)50 c)51 d)53
2. Find the number of di gi ts in g10 . (Gi ven that
l ogl 0 2 =0.3010)
[ RRB, Calcutta Supervisor (P Way) Exam, 2000]
a) 19 b)20 c)17 d) 10
3. I f log 2 =0.3010 , thenthe number of digits in 26 4 is
Logarithm 703
[CBI and CPO Exam, 1997]
a) 18 b) 19 c)20 d)21
Answers
La; Hint: 857 =(23 )57 =2, 7 ,
.-. requiredanswer =[l711og,0 2+l ]
=[l71x0.3010]+l =[51.4710]+l =51 +l =52
2. d; Hi nt : 8 1 0=(23 )'0=23 0
.-. requiredanswer =[301og102+l ]
=[30x0.3010]+l =(9.03)+l =9 +l =10
3. c; Hint: Requiredanswer [641ogI 02]+l
=[64x0.3010]+l =[l9.264]+l =19 +1 =20.
Rule 11
Illustrative Example
Ex.: Findthe value of 3l og57
a) 7>g53 b) 5l o gJ7 c) 7l c, g35 d) Noneof these
Soln: Applying the above rule, we have
3 log,7 _ yl ogs3
Hence, (a) is the correct answer.
Exercise
1. I f A = log27625+7l 08 "1 3 andB= l og9125+13l og"7,
thenwhich of the following is true
a) A >B b) A <B c)A =B d) Can't say
Hint:b; A =l og27 625+7l o g "1 3 =log3, 54 +7l o g "1 3
= |l og3 5+7l o g ^3
B =log9125+13l o g"7 =l og3 2 53 +13l o g"7
= | t ef o5+13' "7
Let log3 5=x andby the above rule
7 I 0 8 1 1 I 3 _ ]3log,,7
Therefore,A= J A : +13, ob"7 a n dB = | * +13, og"7
Clearly, A <B. Hence (b) is the correct answer.