Math IA

[MATH (SL) LOGARITHM] 3rd of December 2008 Maha Touati
In this investigation, my aim is to discover the nature of logarithms, the trends they seem to go by and their
validity with different values. It’s also to have a closer look on the different ways of solving logarithms.
Throughout the project, I used and relied on the following laws of log, especially in the ‘manual
justifications’:
 log𝑎 𝑎=1
 log𝑎 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑥 log𝑎 𝑎
 log𝑎 𝑥𝑦 = log𝑎 𝑥 + log 𝑎 𝑦
 log𝑎 𝑦𝑥 = log𝑎 𝑥 − log 𝑎 𝑦
 log𝑎 𝑥𝑦 = log𝑎 𝑥 + log 𝑎 𝑦
 log𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑦 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒔: 𝑎 𝑦 = 𝑥
 log𝑏 𝑎 = log 𝑐𝑎
log 𝑐 𝑏
1
 Sequence 1:
Table 1
N=1 N=2 N=3 N=4 N=5
In this sequence, the base of the log is being doubled with each term. So, we can deduce the next two terms:
 N= 6: =
 N=7: =
From this, a patter could be seen and thus a general expression could be found. We notice that the base of each
log is 2n. This means that the nth term of this sequence would be:
This could be justified in three different ways:
 Calculating manually, using the laws of logarithm listed previously..

 Changing the base using the formula, then calculating it in the calculator.
 Using excel functions in Microsoft Excel.
Manual Justification Using Law of Log:
 =
= =3=
∴ =
 =
= = +
= 1+
=
= =
∴ = =
 =1=
2
 =
=
= 1-
=
= =
∴ =1- =
The main pattern I noticed here is that the denominator of the 4 fractions found are equal to the value of ‘n’. I.e.
for the first term, n=1, the denominator was 1, for n=4, it was 4…and so on. This straightforwardly suggests that:
=
Changing the base:


 =
=3=
 =
 =
=1 =
 =
Changing the base of the first 4 terms gave me the exact values as the ones I got from doing it manually.
3
Excel Functions:
Next, I decided to do this using Excel Functions as shown in the table below:
Table 2
Log Function used value derived
=LOG(8,2)
=LOG(8,4)
=LOG(8,8)
=LOG(8,16)
After justifying my answers in three different ways, and ensuring that the general expression is the correct one, I
went on to do the same with the rest of the general functions
4
 Sequence 2:
Table 3
N=1 N=2 N=3 N=4
In the second sequence, the base of the log is multiplied by 3 with each term. So the next two terms are:
 N= 5: =
 N=6: =
The patter here is that the base of each log is 3n. Thus the nth term of this sequence would be:
 Again, I started by solving them manually to express this general expression in terms of , where p, q :
Manual Justification:
 =
=
=
= =2
∴ = 2 + 2= 4
 =
=
= 1 + 1= 2
 =
=
=
= =
∴ = 1+ =
 =1
 = =
= =
∴ =1− =
5
The main pattern I noticed here was the same as the previous one: it is that the denominator of the 4 fractions found
is equal to the value of ‘n’. I.e. for the first term, n=1, the denominator was 1, for n=4, it was 4…and so on. This
straightforwardly suggests that: =
Changing the base:
 =
=4=
 =
= 2=
 =
 =
=1=
 =
Again, the values were identical to the ones derived manually. So, I went on to the last method, to see if I still got the
same answers.
Excel Functions:
Table 4

=LOG(81,3)
=LOG(81,9)
=LOG(81,27)
=LOG(81,81)
=LOG(81,243)
4
Same answers are derived; therefore, the general expression remains
𝑛
After justifying my answers in three different ways, and getting the same answers, I went on to the last two
sequences.
6
 Sequence 3:
Table 5
N=1 N=2 N=3 N=4
This sequence showed a similar pattern of the base multiplied by 5 every time. Therefore, the 5 th and the 6th
terms are:
 N= 5: =
 N=6: =
Another pattern to be noticed is that once again, the base of the log is 5n. This immediately leads us the general
expression: .
Manual Justification using Laws of Log:
Again I expressed this in terms of manually first.
 =
=
=1+1
2
=2=
1
2
= 1=
2
 =
1
= = 3
1 1
2
∴ =3+3=
3
 log 625 25 = log 625 5 + log 625 5

1
1
log 625 5= log 625 6254 = 4
1 1
2
∴log 625 25 = + =
4 4 4
This justification again showed that denominator is equal to value of 𝓃. Thus, leading us to deduce that:
2
log 5𝑛 25 = 𝑛
7
Changing the base:

log 10 25
 log 5 25 =
log 10 5
2
=2=1
log 10 25
 log 25 25 =
log 10 25
2
=1=
2
log 10 25
 log125 25 = log
10 125
2
=3
log 10 25
 log 625 25 =
log 10 625
1 2
=3 = 4
Excel Functions:
Table 6

2
log 5 25 =LOG(25,5)
1
2
log 25 25 =LOG(25,25)
2
2
log125 25 =LOG(25,125)
3
2
log 625 25 =LOG(25,625)
4
𝑝
2
The three methods again gave the exact values. So, the general expression in terms of is
𝑞 𝑛
8
 Sequence 4:
Table 7
N=1 N=2 N=3 N=4
The sequence here tends to follow a different pattern. Here, the power on the base of the log increases by one
with every term. The next two terms deduced from this are:
 N= 5: =
 N=6: =
Again another pattern seen here is that the power of the base is equal to ‘n’. This leads to the general
expression:
Manual Justification:
𝑘
 log 𝑚 𝑚𝑘 = 𝑘 log 𝑚 𝑚 = k = 1
 log 𝑚 2 𝑚𝑘 = 𝑘log 𝑚 2 𝑚 𝓂2=𝓃

1
=klog 𝑛 𝑛2
1 𝑘
=2 k log 𝑛 𝑛 = 2
 log 𝑚 3 𝑚𝑘 =𝑘log 𝑚 3 𝑚 𝓂3=𝓃

1
=klog 𝑛 𝑛3
1 𝑘
=3 k log 𝑛 𝑛 = 3

1
=klog 𝑛 𝑛3
1 𝑘
= k log 𝑛 𝑛 =
3 3

1
=klog 𝑛 𝑛 4
1 𝑘
=4 k log 𝑛 𝑛 = 4
𝑘
The pattern shown is again that the denominator is the same as the value of ‘n’. Thus the general expression is 𝑛
9
Changing the base:
log 10 𝑚 𝑘
 log 𝑚 𝑚𝑘 = log 10 𝑚
klog 10 𝑚 𝑘
= log 10 𝑚
=k= 1
log 𝑚𝑘
 log 𝑚 2 𝑚𝑘 = log 10 𝑚 2
10
klog 𝑚 𝑘
=2log 10 𝑚 = k = 2
10
log 𝑚𝑘
10
klog 𝑚 𝑘
=3log 10 𝑚 = k = 3
10
log 𝑚𝑘
10
klog 𝑚 𝑘
=4log 10 𝑚 = k = 4
10
log 𝑚𝑘
10
klog 10 𝑚 𝑘
= =k=
5log 10 𝑚 5
Changing the base again got me the same answers. Using excel to solve them isn’t possible in this case since the
logarithm here is in terms of 𝓂 and 𝓀. Therefore, the general expression remains the same after being justified.
Here’s a table that summarizes all what was found so far.
Table 8
General
N=1 N=2 N=3 N=4 N=5 N=6 N=7
Expression
=
Seq. 1 log 32 8
Seq. 2 =
-
2
Seq. 3 log 5𝑛 25 = 𝑛
-
Seq. 4 𝑘
- =𝑛
10
Calculation and description of sequences

Table 9
log 4 64 log 8 64 log 32 64
log 7 49 log 49 49 log 343 49
log 1 125 log 1 125 log 1 125

5 125 625
log 8 512 log 2 512 log16 512
These logs could be calculated in the three different ways listed above. I’m going to start with the manual, then the
changing the base then finally using excel functions, which I’m going to put one table for all the logs.
1
 log 4 64 = log 4 43
1
=
3
1
 log 8 64 = log 8 82
1
=
2
 log 32 64 = log 32 32 + log 32 2
= 1 + log 32 2
1 1
log 32 2= log 32 325 =
5
1 6
∴log 32 64 = 1 + =
5 5
 log 7 49 = log 7 72
2
= 2=
1
 log 49 49 = 1
 log 343 49 = log 343 343 − log 343 7
= 1 − log 343 7
1
1
log 343 7 = log 343 3433 = 3
1 2
∴ log 343 49 = 1 − 3 =
3
11
1 −3
 log 1 125 = log 1
5 5 5
= -3
1 −1
 log 1 125 = log 1
125
125 125
= -1
3
1 −4
 log 1 125 = log 1
625
625 625
3
=-4
 log 8 512 = log 8 83
3
=3=
1
 log 2 512 = log 2 2 + log 2 256
= 1 + log 2 256
log 2 256= log 2 28 = 8
∴log 2 512 = 1 + 8
9
=
1
9
 log16 512 = log16 164
9
=4
12
Changing the base
log 10 64
 log 4 64 = log 10 4
3
=3 = 1
log 10 64
 log 8 64 = log 10 8
2
=2 = 1
log 64
 log 32 64 = log 10 32
10
6
=
5
log 10 49
 log 7 49 = log 10 7
2
=2=1
log 49
 log 49 49 = log 10 49
10
2
= 1= 2
log 10 49
 log 343 49 = log
10 343
2
=3
log 10 125
 log 1 125= 1
5 log 10
5
3
= -3 = − 1
log 10 125
 log 1 125= 1
125 log 10
125
1
= -1 = − 1
log 10 125
 log 1 125= 1
625 log 10
625
3
= −4
log 10 512
 log 8 512 = log 10 8
3
=3=1
log 10 512
 log 2 512 = log 10 2
9
=9=1
log 10 512
 log16 512 = log 10 16
9
= 4
13
Excel Functions:
Table 10
Log Function Answer
3
log 4 64 =LOG(64,4)
1
2
log 8 64 =LOG(64,8)
1
6
log 32 64 =LOG(64,32)
5
Table 11
Log Function Answer
log 7 49 =LOG(49,7) 2
1
log 49 49 =LOG(49,49) 2
2
log 343 49 =LOG(49,343) 2

3
Table 12
Log Function Answer
log 1 125 1 3
=LOG(125, )
5
−
5 1
log 1 125 1 1
=LOG(125,
125
) −
125 1
log 1 125 1 3
=LOG(125,
625
) −
625 4
Table 13
Log Function Answer
3
log 8 512 =LOG(512,8)
1
9
log 2 512 =LOG(512,2)
1
9
log16 512 =LOG(512,16)
4
14
It is noticeable that the third answer is obtained by multiplying the numerators of the first two answers then
dividing by the sum of the two numerators. In the first example,
3 2
log 4 64 = 1 and log 8 64 = 1 , if we multiply 2 and 3, the divide the answer by the sum of 2 and 3, we’re
6
going to get 5 , which is the third answer (log 32 64) I.e. if n=1 is 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒎 𝒀 and n=2 is 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒏 𝒀 then n=3
is𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒎𝒏 𝒀.
Expressing log ab x in terms of 𝒸 and 𝒹:

log 𝑎 𝑥 log 𝑏 𝑥 log 𝑎𝑏 𝑥
This sequence applies to all the other ones shown previously in Table 9.
Calculation and description of sequences

Table 9 As the base of the third is the product of the first two bases. There fore if:
log 𝑎 𝑥 = c 𝑥=d
Then simply, we’re going to express the third answers in terms of the first two answers, 𝒸 and 𝒹. This gives us,
from the explanation of the third answer deduction above, that:
to express log 𝑎𝑏 𝑥 in terms of 𝒸 and 𝒹:
𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑠
∴log 𝑎𝑏 𝑥= 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑐𝑑
=
𝑐+𝑑
Two other examples:

 log 2 256 log 4 256 log 8 256
log 2 256 = c= 8
log 4 256 = d= 4
8×4 32
log 4×2 256 = =
8+4 12
 log 6 1296 log 36 1296 log 6 36
log 6 1296 = c= 4
log 36 1296 = d= 2
4×2 8 4
log 216 1296 = = =
4+2 6 3
15
Pre-validation consideration:
To test the validity of this general statement, I decided to try out different values of a, b and x to see what numbers
work with this statement.
First of all, I was able to remove the negative values from the list of possible type of numbers to be tried for the
following reasons:
 𝓍 cannot be negative as a log of a negative is impossible, mathematically. Theoretically, its correct and this
could be proven by giving the following example:
log −2 −8 Theoretically, this 3 because (-2)3= 8.
 The issue with negative bases. Negative bases are theoretically valid, but mathematically not. Here’s why:
If we take log −2 4 as an example, theoretically, this works because the answer is 2, since (-2)2= 4.
However if we try to work this our mathematically using for example changing the base method we’re going
to have:
log 10 4
log −2 4 = log
10 −2
This is not possible since I said earlier that it’s impossible to have a log of a negative value. So this possibility
is mathematically invalid.
Relying on the theoretical hypothesis, I deduced the following limitation of involving negative values:
 log −𝑣𝑒 −𝑣𝑒: This is possible only if the answer is odd, because multiplying a negative by an odd power gives a
negative.
 log −𝑣𝑒 +𝑣𝑒: This is possible only if the answer is even, because multiplying a negative by an eve power gives a
positive.
 log +𝑣𝑒 −𝑣𝑒: This is impossible theoretically as well as mathematically since there’s no power you could
multiply a positive with, to get a negative.
I decided not to use negative values for my validation due to the issues I just discussed.
The types of numbers I’m going to use are:
 ℕ: positive integers
 ℚ+: positive rational numbers
 ℚ’+: positive irrational numbers
16
Validation:
This validation is going to be divided into three sections. The first section would be when 𝓍 ∈ ℕ, tested with all
possible combinations of 𝒶 and 𝒷 shown in the small table below. The second is going to be the same but with
the 𝓍 ∈ ℚ. The third is where 𝓍 ∈ ℚ’, with the same procedure followed.
φ 𝓍 ∈ ℕ … 𝓍=2
Table 14
a
ℕ ℚ+ ℚ+'
b ℕ 1.1 1.2 1.3
ℚ+ 1.4 1.5 1.6
ℚ+' 1.7 1.8 1.9
 1.1: 𝒶= 2 𝒷= 8
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂 𝒙= c
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒙= d
𝒄𝒅
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂𝒃 𝒙 =
𝒄+𝒅
log 2 2= 1
1
log 8 2= 3
log (2×8) (2) = log16 2

1
log 10 2 1×3 1
= =
log 10 16 1+1 4
3
Yes, it is valid.
17
5
 1.2: a= 2 b= 5
𝒄𝒅
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂𝒃 𝒙 = 𝒄+𝒅
log 5 2= 0.75647
2
log 5 2= 0.43068
log 5
×5
(2) = log 25 2
2 2
log 10 2 0.75647 ×0.43068

25 = = 0.75647 +0.43068 = 0.27443
log 10
2
Yes, it is valid.
 1.3: a= π b= 7
𝒄𝒅
log 𝜋 2= 0.60551
log 7 2= 0.35621
log 7𝜋 (2) = log 7𝜋 2
log 10 2 0.60551 ×0.35621

= = 0.22427
log 10 7π 0.60551 +0.35621
Yes, it is valid.
18
2
 1.4: a= 16 b= 4
𝒄𝒅
1
log16 2= 4
log 2 2= -1
4
log 2
16×
(2) = log 8 2
4
1
log 10 2 ×−1 1
log 10 8
= 41 = 3
−1
4
Yes, it is valid.
6 16
 1.5: a= 4 b= 5
𝒄𝒅
log 6 2= 1.70951
4
log 16 2= 0.59592
5
log 6 16
×
(2) = log 24 2
4 5 5
log 10 2 1.70951 ×0.59592

= 24 = 1.70951+ 0.59592 = 0.44188
log 10
5
Yes, it is valid.
19
5
 1.6: a= 2 b=8
𝒄𝒅
log 2 2= 2
log 5 2= -1.47477
8
log 2×
5 (2) = log 0.88388 2
8
log 10 2 2×−1.47477
= log 0.88388
= 2−1.47477
= −5.61571
10
Yes, it is valid.
 1.7: a=8 b=π
𝒄𝒅
1
log 8 2= 3
log 𝜋 2= 0.60551
log 𝜋×8 (2) = log 8𝜋 2

1
log 10 2 ×0.60551
= = 31 = 0.21498
log 10 8π + 0.60551
3
Yes, it is valid.
20
9
 1.8: a=4 b=π
𝒄𝒅
1
log 9 2= 3
4
log 𝜋 2= 0.60551
log 𝜋×8 (2) = log 8𝜋 2

1
log 10 2 ×0.60551
= = 31 = 0.21498
log 10 8π + 0.60551
3
Yes, it is valid.
 1.9: a= 3 b=π
𝒄𝒅
log 3 2= 1.26186
log 𝜋 2= 0.60551
log 𝜋× 3 (2) = log 𝜋 3 2
log 10 2 1.26186 ×0.60551

= log = = 0.40917
10 π 3 1.26186 + 0.60551
Yes, it is valid.
21
φ 𝓍 ∈ ℚ … 𝓍= 𝟔
𝟒
Table 15
a
ℕ ℚ ℚ'
b ℕ 2.1 2.2 2.3
ℚ 2.4 2.5 2.6
ℚ’ 2.7 2.8 2.9
 2.1: 𝒶= 3 𝒷= 9
𝒄𝒅
6
log 3 = 0.36907
4
6
log 9 4
= 0.18454
6 6
log (3×9) 4
= log 27 4
6
log 10 0.36907 × 0.18454
4
= log 10 27
= 0.36907 +0.18454
= 0.12302
Yes, it is valid.
9
 2.2: a= b= 8
2
𝒄𝒅
6
log 9 = 0.26958
2 4
6
log 8 4
= 0.19499
6 6
log 9
×8
= log 36
2
4 4
6
log 10 0.26958 ×0.19499
4
= log 10 27
= 0.26958 +0.19499 = 0.11315 Yes, it is valid.
22
 2.3: a= π b= 3
𝒄𝒅
6
log 𝜋 4
= 0.60551
6
log 3 4
= 0.35621
6
log 3𝜋 (2) = log 3𝜋 4
6
log 10 0.60551 ×0.35621
4
= = 0.18074
log 10 3π 0.60551 +0.35621
Yes, it is valid.
3
 2.4: a= 7 b= 8
𝒄𝒅
6
log 7 = 0.20837
4
6
log 3 = -0.41339
8 4
6 6
log 3
7× 4
= log 21 4
8 8
6
log 10 0.20837 × −0.41339
4
21 = 0.20837 −0.41339
= 0.42014
log 10
8
Yes, it is valid.
23
9 3
 2.5: a= 5 b= 4
𝒄𝒅
6
log 9 = 0.68982
5 4
6
log 3 = -1.40942
4 4
6 6
log 9 3
× 4
= log 27 4
5 4 20
6
log 10 0.68982 ×−1.40942
4
= 27 = 0.68982−1.40942
= 1.35109
log 10
20
Yes, it is valid.
5
 2.6: a= π b=
6
𝒄𝒅
𝒄+𝒅
6
log 𝜋 4
= 0.35420
6
log 5 = -2.22390
6 4
6 6
log 𝜋×
5
4
= log 5𝜋 4
6 6
6
log 10 0.35420 ×−2.22390
4
= 5𝜋 = 0.35420 −2.22390
= 0.42130
log 10
6
Yes, it is valid.
24
 2.7: a=9 b= 3
𝒄𝒅
𝒄+𝒅
6
log 9 4
= 0.18454
6
log 3 4 = 0.73814
6 6
log 3×9 4
= log 9 3 4
6
log 10 0.18454 ×0.73814
4
= = = 0.14763
log 10 9 3 0.18454 + 0.73814
Yes, it is valid.
3
 2.8: a=5 b=π
𝒄𝒅
6
log 3 = -0.79374
5 4
6
log 𝜋 4
= 0.35420
6 6
log 𝜋×
3
4
= log 3𝜋 4
5 5
6
log 10 −0.79374×0.35420
4
= 3𝜋 = = 0.63963
log 10 −0.79374+ 0.35420
5
Yes, it is valid.
25
 2.9: a=π b= 2
𝒄𝒅
6
log 𝜋 4
= 0.35420
6
log 2 4 = 1.16993
6 6
log 𝜋× 2 4
= log 𝜋 2 4
6
log 10 0.35420 ×1.16993
4
= = = 0.27189
log 10 π 2 0.35420 + 1.16993
Yes, it is valid.
26
φ 𝓍 ∈ ℚ’ … 𝓍 = 𝛑
Table 16
a
ℕ ℚ ℚ'
b ℕ 3.1 3.2 3.3
ℚ 3.4 3.5 3.6
ℚ' 3.7 3.8 3.9
 3.1: 𝒶= 2 𝒷= 4
𝒄𝒅
log 2 𝜋= 1.6515
log 4 𝜋= 0.82575
log (2×4) 𝜋 = log 8 𝜋
log 10 𝜋 1.6515 × 0.82575

= log 10 8
= 1.6515 +0.82575
= 0.55050
Yes, it is valid.
2
 3.2: a= 3 b= 4
𝒄𝒅
log 2 𝜋= -2.82325
3
log 4 𝜋= 0.82575
log 2
×4
𝜋 = log 8 𝜋
3 3
log 10 𝜋 −2.82325 ×0.82575

= 8 = −2.82325 +0.82575 = 1.1671
log 10
3
Yes, it is valid.
27
 3.3: a= 5 b= 5
𝒄𝒅
log 5 𝜋= 1.42252
log 5 𝜋= 0.71126
log 5× 5 𝜋 = log 5 5𝜋
log 10 𝜋 1.42252 ×0.71126

= = 0.47417
log 10 5 5 1.42252 +0.71126
Yes, it is valid.
7
 3.4: a= 3 b=
5
𝒄𝒅
𝒄+𝒅
log 3 𝜋= 1.04198
log 7 𝜋= 3.40215
5
log 7
3×
𝜋 = log 21 𝜋
5 5
log 10 𝜋 1.04198× 3.40215

21 = 1.04198+3.40215
= 0.79768
log 10
5
Yes, it is valid.
28
7 2
 3.5: a= 3 b= 9
𝒄𝒅
log 7 𝜋= 1.3510
3
log 2 𝜋= -0.76108
9
log 7 2
×
𝜋 = log 14 𝜋
3 9 27
log 10 𝜋 1.3510 ×−0.76108

= 14 = 1.3510 −0.76108
= -1.74294
log 10
27
Yes, it is valid.
1
 3.6: a= π b=5
𝒄𝒅
log 𝜋 𝜋= 1
log 1 𝜋= -0.71126
5
log 𝜋×
1 𝜋 = log 𝜋 𝜋
5 5
log 10 𝜋 1×−0.71126
= 𝜋 = 1−0.71126
= −2.46333
log 10
5
Yes, it is valid.
29
 3.7: a=5 b= 7
𝒄𝒅
𝒄+𝒅
log 5 𝜋= 0.71126
log 7 𝜋= 1.17655
log 7×5 𝜋 = log 5 7𝜋
log 10 𝜋 0.71126 ×1.17655

= log = 0.71126 + 1.17655 = 0.44328
10 5 7
Yes, it is valid.
1
 2.8: a=9 b=π
𝒄𝒅
log 1 𝜋= -0.52099
9
log 𝜋 𝜋= 1
log 𝜋×
1 𝜋 = log 𝜋 𝜋
9 9
log 10 𝜋 −0.52099×1
= 𝜋 = −0.52099+ 1 = −1.08763
log 10
9
Yes, it is valid.
30
 2.9: a=π b= 8
𝒄𝒅
log 𝜋 π= 1
log 8 π= 1.101
log 𝜋× 8 π = log 𝜋 8 π
log 10 π 1×1.101
= log = = 0.52404
10 π 8 1+ 1.101
Yes, it is valid.
𝑐𝑑
From all the validations done above, I saw that the expression log 𝑎𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑐+𝑑 is valid for the following values:
 𝒶 ∈ ℕ, ℚ+, ℚ’+
 𝒷 ∈ ℕ, ℚ+, ℚ’+
 𝓍 ∈ ℕ, ℚ+, ℚ’+
The rest of the values, i.e. negative values wouldn’t be valid to use for the reasons and discussions mentioned on
pg.15.
Finally, this project showed the nature of logarithms and the values that determines its validity. I discovered the
limitation of logarithms, which values work and which don’t and why?
31

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[MATH (SL) LOGARITHM] 3rd of December 2008 Maha Touati

 log𝑎 𝑦𝑥 = log𝑎 𝑥 − log 𝑎 𝑦

 log𝑎 𝑥𝑦 = log𝑎 𝑥 + log 𝑎 𝑦

 log𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑦 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒔: 𝑎 𝑦 = 𝑥

N=1 N=2 N=3 N=4 N=5

This could be justified in three different ways:

 Calculating manually, using the laws of logarithm listed previously..

Manual Justification Using Law of Log:

Changing the base:

Log Function used value derived

N=1 N=2 N=3 N=4

Log Function used value derived

N=1 N=2 N=3 N=4

Manual Justification using Laws of Log:

Again I expressed this in terms of manually first.

 log 625 25 = log 625 5 + log 625 5

Changing the base:

Log Function used value derived

N=1 N=2 N=3 N=4

 log 𝑚 2 𝑚𝑘 = 𝑘log 𝑚 2 𝑚 𝓂2=𝓃

 log 𝑚 3 𝑚𝑘 =𝑘log 𝑚 3 𝑚 𝓂3=𝓃

 log 𝑚 3 𝑚𝑘 =𝑘log 𝑚 3 𝑚 𝓂3=𝓃

 log 𝑚 4 𝑚𝑘 =𝑘log 𝑚 4 𝑚 𝓂4=𝓃

Changing the base:

Calculation and description of sequences

log 4 64 log 8 64 log 32 64

log 7 49 log 49 49 log 343 49

log 1 125 log 1 125 log 1 125

log 8 512 log 2 512 log16 512

 log 32 64 = log 32 32 + log 32 2

 log 343 49 = log 343 343 − log 343 7

 log 8 512 = log 8 83

 log 2 512 = log 2 2 + log 2 256

log 2 256= log 2 28 = 8

Changing the base

Log Function Answer

Log Function Answer

log 343 49 =LOG(49,343) 2

Log Function Answer

Log Function Answer

Expressing log ab x in terms of 𝒸 and 𝒹:

Calculation and description of sequences

Two other examples:

 log 6 1296 log 36 1296 log 6 36

log −2 −8 Theoretically, this 3 because (-2)3= 8.

The types of numbers I’m going to use are:

 ℚ+: positive rational numbers

 ℚ’+: positive irrational numbers

log (2×8) (2) = log16 2

log 10 2 0.75647 ×0.43068

log 7𝜋 (2) = log 7𝜋 2

log 10 2 0.60551 ×0.35621

log 10 2 1.70951 ×0.59592

 1.7: a=8 b=π

log 𝜋×8 (2) = log 8𝜋 2

log 𝜋×8 (2) = log 8𝜋 2

log 𝜋× 3 (2) = log 𝜋 3 2

log 10 2 1.26186 ×0.60551