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Section 7.4 Page 387 To 392
Section 7.4 Page 387 To 392
4
Techniques for Solving
Logarithmic Equations
The sensitivity to light intensity of the human eye, as well as of
certain optical equipment such as cameras, follows a logarithmic
relationship. Adjusting the size of the aperture that permits
light into the camera, called the f-stop, can compensate for poor
lighting conditions. A good understanding of the underlying
mathematics and optical physics is essential for the skilled
photographer in such situations.
• a power: • a logarithm:
1
_
41 22 16 2 10log 4 log2 16 log3 81 log 10 000
2. a) Apply the power law of logarithms to the right side of the equation
in step 1.
b) Expand the squared binomial that results on the right side.
3. R e f l e c t
a) How is the perfect square trinomial you obtained on the right side
related to x 5, which appears on the left side of the equation?
How do you know this?
b) How could this be useful in finding an algebraic solution to the equation?
Solution
a) Method 1: Use Algebraic Reasoning
log (x 4) 1
x 4 101 Rewrite in exponential form, using base 10.
x 10 4 Solve for x.
x6
equation log (x 4) 1. 2
CONNECTIONS
4
If logm a logm b, then a b
for any base m, as shown below.
logm a logm b
b) log5 (2x 3) 2
logm a
_ 1 log5 (2x 3) log5 25 Express the right side
logm b
as a base-5 logarithm.
logb a 1 Use the 2x 3 52
change of
2x 25 3
base formula.
2x 28
b1 a Rewrite in
exponential form. x 14
b a
b) log √
3 2
x2 48x _
3
Solution
a) log (x 1) 1 log (x 2)
log (x 1) log (x 2) 1 Isolate logarithmic terms on one side
of the equation.
log [(x 1)(x 2)] 1 Apply the product law of logarithms.
log (x x 2) log 10
2
Expand the product of binomials on the
left side. Express the right side as a
common logarithm.
x2 x 2 10
x x 2 10 0
2
b) log √
3 2
x2 48x _
3
1
_
log (x 48x)
2 3 2
_
3
1 log (x2 48x) _
_ 2 Write the radical as a power and apply the power law of logarithms.
3 3
log (x2 48x) 2 Multiply both sides by 3.
log (x2 48x) log 100 Express the right side as a common logarithm.
x2 48x 100
x2 48x 100 0
(x 50)(x 2) 0
x 50 or x 2
Check these values for extraneous roots. For a valid solution, the argument
in green in the equation must be positive, and the left side must equal the
right side: log √x
3
2 2.
48x _
3
A Practise
For help with questions 1 and 2, refer to Example 1. For help with questions 3 and 4, refer to Example 2.
1. Find the roots of each equation. Check your 3. Solve. Identify and reject any extraneous roots.
solutions using graphing technology. Check your solutions using graphing technology.
a) log (x 2) 1 a) log x log (x 4) 1
b) 2 log (x 25) b) log x3 log 2 log (2x2)
c) 4 2 log (p 62) c) log (v 1) 2 log (v 16)
d) 1 log (w 7) 0 d) 1 log y log (y 9)
e) log (k 8) 2 e) log (k 2) log (k 1) 1
f) 6 3 log 2n 0 f) log (p 5) log (p 1) 3
2. Solve. 4. Use Technology Refer to Example 2b). Verify
a) log3 (x 4) 2 the solutions to the equation using graphing
technology. Explain your method.
b) 5 log2 (2x 10)
c) 2 log4 (k 11) 0
d) 9 log5 (x 100) 6
e) log8 (t 1) 1 0
f) log3 (n2 3n 5) 2
part a) graphically.
CONNECTIONS Verify that the graphical and algebraic
You used the decibel scale in Chapter 6. Refer to Section 6.5. solutions agree.