LOGARITHMS

Ex. 2c Express in logarithmic form

a) 53 = 125 ↔ log5 125 = 5 b) 72 = 49 ↔ log 49 = 2

c) 4096 = 84 ↔ log8 4096 = 4 d) 45/2 = 32 ↔ log4 32 = 5/2

e) 1331 = 1213/2 ↔ log121 1331 = 3/2 f) 10– 2 = 0.01 ↔ log10 0.01 = – 2

g) 50 = 1 ↔ log5 1 = 0 h) 8 – ½ = ½ ↔ log8 ½ = – ½

1 1
i) 125 = (1/5)– 3 ↔ log1/5 125 = – 5 j) 9– 3/2 = 27 ↔ log9 27 = – 3
2
k) 53 = 125 ↔ log 125 = 5 l) 72 = 49 ↔ log 49 = 2

m) 53 = 125 ↔ log 125 = 5 n) 72 = 49 ↔ log 49 = 2

Express in index form

a) log5 625 = 4 ↔ 54 = 625 b) lg 1000 = 3 1↔ 103 = 1000 [NB: lg ≡ log10 ]

c) log3 27 = 3 ↔ 33 = 27 d) lg 1 = 0 ↔ 100 = 1

e) log½ 4 = – 2 ↔ ( ½ )– 2 = 4 f) log25 5 = ½ ↔ 25 ½ = 5

g) log9 1 = 0 ↔ 90 = 1 h) logx y = 2↔ x2 = y

i) log4 p = q ↔ 4q = p j) loga 5 = b ↔ ab = 5

k) logx y = z ↔ xz = y l) p = logq r ↔ qp = r

Evaluate

a) log4 64 b) lg 10,000 c) log9 3 d) log½ 4

log4 64 = x lg 10,000 = x log9 3 = x log½ 4 = x

. . . .
. . 4x = 64 . . 10x = 10,000 . . 9x = 3 . . (2–1)x = 4
4x = 43 10x = 104 (32)x = 3 2–x = 4
4x = 43 10x = 104 32x = 3 2–x = 22
4 4 10 10 32x = 3 2–x = 22
x = 3 x = 4 3 3 2 2
2x = 1 –x=2
x=½ x = –2
e) log0.1 10 f) log125 g) log121 11 h) log81 3

log0.1 10 = x log125 25 = x log121 11 = x log81 3 = x

. . . .
. . 0.1x = 10 . . 125x = 25 . . 121x = 11 . . (81)x = 3
(112)x = 11 (34)x = 3
x
1 = 10 (53)x = 52 112x = 11 34x = 3
10 53x = 52 11 11 3 = 3
5 5 2x = 4 4x = 1
(10 – 1) x = 10 3x = 2 x = 2 x= ¼
10x = 10 x=⅔ 4
10 10 x=½
–x = 1
x = –1

i) lgx 0.1 j) log8 0.5 k) log9 9 ½ l) log2 23

lgx 0.1 = x log8 0.5 = x log9 9½ = x log2 23 = x

. . . .
x
. . 10 = 0.1 . . 8x = ½ . . 9x = 9½ . . 2x = 23
10x = 1 (23)x = 2– 1 (3 ) = (32) ½
2 x
2x = 23
10 23x = 2– 1 32x = 3 2 2
10x = 10– 1 2 2 32x = 3 x=3
10x = 10– 1 3x = – 1 3 3
10 10 x = –1 2x = 1
x = –1 3 x= ½

m) lg 1 n) loga 1 o) loga a3 p) loga ab

lg 1 = x loga 1 = x loga a3 = x loga ab = x

. . . .
x
. . 10 = 1 . . ax = 1 . . ax = a3 . . ax = ab
10x = 10×10 – 1 ax = a × a– 1 ax = a3 ax = ab
10x 100 a = a0
x
a a a a
10x = 100 ax = a0 x = 3 x = b
10 10 a a
x =0 x = 0

q) 10lg 10 r) 5 log5 25

10 lg 1 = x log5 25= y
(hint : lg 10 ≡ 1)
. .
. . 10 x = 1 . . 5y = 25
5x = 52
 5y = 52
5 5
y = 2
5y = x
52 = x
25 = x

Ex 3.5

1) log3 5 . log5 27

log3 5 . log5 27 ≡ 1 . log5(3)3

log5 3

= – log5 3 + 3 log5 3

= 3 log5 3 – log5 3

= 3 log5 3 =3
log53

2) log5 4 . log2 10
log25 √ 10

log5 4 . log2 10 = log5 22 . log210

log25 √ 10 log52 . √ 10

= 2 log5 2 . log2 10
log52 . 10 ½

= 2 1 . log210
log25
2 . 1 log52 10
2

= 2 – log 2 5 + log2 10 – 1 – log2 5 + 10

= 2 + 10 – ½ + log2 10 – log2 5 – log2 5

= log2 10 × 2 × 10
25 ½

= log2 2 × 40 [hint: log22 ≡ 1]

 5

= 1 × 40 = 8
5
Ex. 3.5

4a) log2 4 = x

log2 4 = x ↔ 2x = 4

2x = (2)2
2x = 22
2 2

x=2

4b) lg 1 = lg 10 – 1
10

log1010 – 1 = x ↔ 10x = 10 – 1 [hint: lg ≡ log10]

10x = 10– 1

10x = 10 -1
10 10

x = –1
4c) log2 8

log2 8 = x ↔ 2x = 8

2x = 23

2x = 23
2 2

x = 3

4d) log3 27

log327 = x ↔ 3x = 27

3x = 33

3x = 33
3 3
 x = 3

4e) log2 1
4

log2 1 ≡ log2 4– 1
4

– log2 4– 1 = x ↔ 2x = 4 – 1

2x = (22)– 1

2x = (2)2 – 2
2 2

x = –2

f) log9 √3

log9 √3 ≡ log93 ½

log93 ½ = x ↔ 9x = 3½

(32)x = 3½

32x = 3½

32x = 3½
3 3

2x = ½

2x = ½
2 2

x = ½×½

x = ¼

5a) log8 2 + log8 4

log8 2 + log8 4 ≡ log8 (2 × 4) = log88 = 1

5b) log3 36 – log3 12
3
log3 36 – log3 12 ≡ log3 36 = log3 3 = 1
12
1

5c) log2 60 – log2 15

2
log2 60 – log2 15 ≡ log3 60 = log2 4 →log2(2)2
15
1

log2 4 →log2 22 = x ↔ 2x = 22

2x = 22
2 2

x=2

5d) log3 4 + log3 2 – log3 72

1
log3 4 + log3 2 – log3 72 → log3 4 × 2 → log3 8 → log3 1 ≡ log3 9–1
72 72 9
9
–1 2 –1
log3 1 ≡ log3 9 ↔ log3 (3 )
9
log3 (32)–1 = x ↔ 3x = 3–2

3x = 3 – 2
3 3

x=–2

5e) log6 54 – 2 log6 3

1
log6 54 – 2 log6 3 → log3 4×2 → log3 8 → log3 1 ≡ log3 9–1
72 72 9
9
–1 2 –1
log3 1 ≡ log3 9 ↔ log3 (3 )
9
log3 (32)–1 = x ↔ 3x = 3–2

3x = 3 – 2
3 3
 x=–2

5f) log54 + 2 log5 3 – 2 log5 6

1
2
log54 + 2 log5 3 – 2 log5 6 ≡ log5 4 × 3 = log5 36
62 36
1

log5 1 = x ↔ 5x = 1

5x = 1 [1 ≡ 5 ]
5

5x = 5
5

5x = 5
5 5

x=0

6a) loga 8 – 2 loga 4

loga 8 – 2 loga 4 = loga 8 = loga 8 = loga 1

42 16 2

loga 1 ↔ loga 2–1

2

loga 2 –1 = – loga 2
6b) 2 logx 5 – 3 logx 2 + logx 4
25
2 logx 5 – 3 logx 2 + logx 4 ≡ logx 52 × 42 = logx 100 = logx 25
23 8 2
2

6c) lg 8 – 2 lg 3 + 4 lg 3
15 5 2

lg 8 – 2 lg 3 + 4 lg 3 ≡ lg 8 × 34 .
lg 32
15 5 2 75 24 .
52

→ lg 8 × 81 × 25
75 16 9
3 1
→ lg 27 × 25 = lg 3
 50 9 2
2 1

6d) 2 lg (x + 2) + lg (x + 1) – lg (x2 + 3x + 2)

2 lg (x + 2) + lg (x + 1) – lg (x2 + 3x + 2) ≡ lg (x + 2) (x + 1)
x2 + 3x + 2

factorise the denominator x2 + 3x + 2 ≡ (x + 2)( x + 1)

→ lg (x + 2) (x + 1) ≡ lg (x + 2) (x + 2) (x + 1) = lg (x + 2)
x2 + 3x + 2 (x + 2) (x + 1)

Ex. 2d
1
a) log ab ≡ log a + log b b) log abc ≡ log a + log b + log c

c) log a ≡ log a – log b d) log ab ≡ log a + log b – log c

b c

e) log a ≡ log a – log b – log c f) log ab ≡ log a + log b – log c

bc c

g) log a2b → log a2 + log b ≡ 2 log a + log b

h) log a → log a ½ ≡ log a½ – log b½ ≡ ½ log a – ½ log b

b b½

i) log a2 ≡ 2 log a – log b

b

2. Simplify

a) log 3 + log 4 ≡ log (3× 4) = log 12

b) log 6 – log 2 ≡ log 6 = log 3

2

c) log 2 + log 6 – log 4 ≡ log 2 × 6 ≡ log 12 = log 3

4 4

d) 2 log 3 + log 2 ≡ log (32 × 2) ≡ log (9 × 2) = log 18

e) ½ log 4 – log 6 ≡ log 4½ = log √4 = log 2 = log 1

 6 6 6 3

4
2
f) 2 – 2 log 5 ≡ log 100 – log 5 ≡ log 100 =log 4 [log 100 ≡ 2]
25
1

g) ½ log 9 + 1 ≡ log 9 ½ + log 10 ≡ log √9 + log 10 = log (3×10) = log 30 [log 10 ≡ 1]

h) ½ log 25 – 2 log 3 + 2 log 6 ≡ log 25½ – log 32 + log 62

≡ log √25 – log 9+ log 36

= log 5 + log 36 – log 9

= log 5 × 36 = log 20
9

i) log 9 = 0.9542 = 2
log 3 0.4771

j) log (x + 1) – log (x2 – 1) ≡ log (x + 1) – log [(x + 1)(x – 1)]

log (x + 1) – log [(x + 1)(x – 1)] ≡ log (x + 1) – log (x + 1) – log (x – 1)

≡ log x+1
(x + 1)(x – 1)

= log 1 Or log (x – 1)–1

x–1

= – log (x – 1)

k) log 125 = 2.09691 = 3

log 5 0.69897

l) 2 loga 5 + loga 4 – 2 loga 10 = loga 52 × 4

102
= loga 25 × 4
100

= loga 100
100

= loga 1
 ax = 1
.
. . x=0

Ex. 2d
5
a) Solve the equation 2(22x) – 5(2x) + 2 find x.

Substitute y for 2x to make the equation quadratic in y

2y2 – 5y + 2 = 0
ac → 4 = [– 4 × – 1 ]
b → – 5 = [– 4 + ( – 1)]
2y2 – 4y – y + 2 = 0
2y (y – 2) – (y – 2) = 0
(2y –1) (y – 2)= 0
2y –1 = 0 or y – 2 = 0
y = ½ or y = 2

since 2x = y then,

2x = 2– 1 or 2x = 2
2 2 2 2
x= –1 x=1

b) Solve the equation 32x + 1 – 26(3x) – 9 = 0

32x + 1 – 26(3x) – 9 = 0

32x + 1 – 32 – 26(3x) = 0

c) Solve the equation 4x – 6 (2x) – 16 = 0

4x – 6 (2x) – 16 = 0

since 4x ≡ 2(2x)

then 2(2x)– 6 (2x) – 16 = 0

Substitute y for 2x to make the equation quadratic in y

2y2 – 6y – 16 = 0
 ac → – 16 = [– 8 × 2]
b → – 6 = [– 8 + 2]
y2 – 8y + 2y + 16 = 0
y (y – 8) + 2 (y – 8) = 0
(y + 2) (y – 8) = 0
y + 2 = 0 or y – 8 = 0
y = – 2 or y = 8

since 2x = y

then, 2x = –2 or 2x = 8

2x = –2 or 2x = 23
2 2 2 2
x= –1 x=3
Now there are no real values of x for which 2x = –1
The only solution is x = 3 for which 2x = 8

6. Solve the equation log2 x + logx 2 = 2 find x.

log2 x + logx 2 = 2

Using the identity loga b = 1 , logx 2 may be replaced by 1

logb a log2 x

So the given equation becomes log2x + 1 =2

log2 x

make the equation quadratic log2 x + 1 = 2 , by carrying the 2 to the L.H.S.

log2 x

And so log2 x + 1 – 2 = 0 → (log2x)2 + 1 – 2 log2 x = 0

log2x

(log2x)2 + 1 – 2 log2 x = 0

Substitute y for log2 x to make the equation quadratic in y

y2 – 2y + 1 = 0
ac → 1 = [– 1 × – 1]
b → – 2 = [– 1 + (– 1)]
y2 – y – y + 1 = 0
y (y – 1) – (y – 1) = 0
(y – 1) (y – 1) = 0
y–1=0
 y=1

Thus the log2 x = y → log2x = 1

log2x ≡ y ↔ 2y = x

2y = x, so 21 = x

x=2

7) Solve the simultaneous equations:

logx y = 2 . . . . [1]
xy = 8 . . . . . [2]

Using the laws of logarithm [1] becomes x2 = y

(since logx y = 2 → x2 = y )

Transpose [2] for y gives y = 8 or y = 8x– 1

x

Substitute in x2 for y in [2] gives x2 = 8x– 1

x2 = 8
x– 1
x 2– ( – 1) = 8
x2+1 = 8
x3 = 8
3
√x 3 = 3√8
x=2
Solving [1] for y, y = x2
y = (2)2 = 4
x=2; y=4

8) Solve the simultaneously 2 lg y = lg 2 + lg x and 2y = 4x

2 lg y = lg 2 + lg x [1]
2y = 4x [2]

Using the laws of logarithms the R.H.S. of [1] becomes

2 lg y = lg 2 + lg x → 2 lg y = lg 2x (hint: loga x + loga y = loga xy)

And
2y = 4x → 2y = (22)x ≡ 22x
 2y = 22x

2y = 22x (bringing down indices / thru by 2)

2 2
y = 2x

Using the laws of logarithm to rewrite the L.H.S. [1]

2 lg y = lg 2x → lg y2 = lg 2x [1]
2 log(2x) = log 2x
log (2x)2 – log 2x = 0
log 2
Substitute in the value for y into [1] for

9) Solve the simultaneous equation log3 x = y and log9 (2x – 1)

log3x = y [1]
log9 (2x – 1) = y [2]

Simplifying [1] and [2]

log3x = y → 3y = x [1]

log9 (2x – 1) = y → 9y = 2x – 1
(32)y = 2x – 1
32y = 2x – 1 [2]

Substitute in x for 3y in [2] to attain a quadratic equation

32y = 2x – 1 → x2 = 2x – 1

x2 – 2x + 1 = 0

Solve the quadratic equation

x2 – 2x + 1 = 0

ac → 1 = [– 1 × – 1 ]
b → – 2 = [– 1 + (– 1)]
x2 – x – x + 1 = 0
x (x – 1) – (x – 1) = 0
(x – 1) (x – 1) = 0
x – 1 = 0 or x – 1 = 0
x=1
Thus the log3x = y → 3y = x

3y = x so, 3y = 1
 y=0

x = 1; y=0

10) Find the positive value of x that satisfies the equation log2 x = log4 (x + 6)

log2 x = log4 (x + 6)

Using the laws of logarithm [1] and [2] become

log2 x = y → 2y = x [1]

log4 (x + 6) = y → 4y = x + 6 [2]

And so the given equations become

log2 x = log4 (x + 6) → 2y = 4y – 6
2y = 4y – 6 (hint: 4 ≡ 22)
2y = (22)y – 6
2y = 22y – 6
22y – 2y – 6 = 0
y
Substitute 2 for x in the quadratic equation
x2 – x – 6 = 0

x2 – x – 6 = 0
ac → – 6 = [– 3 × 2]
b → – 1 = [– 3 + 2]
x2 – 3x + 2x – 6 = 0
x (x – 3) + 2(x – 3) = 0
(x + 2) (x – 3) = 0
x + 2 = 0 or x – 3 = 0
x = – 2 or x = 3

Now there are two values of x, with the positive one being x = 3
The only solution is x = 3

12) Solve the simultaneous equations

log(x + y) = 0 [1]

2 log x = log (y + 1) [2]

log x + log y = 0,

then log y = – log x

 log x2 = log y + log 1 [hint: log 1 10]

log x2 = log y + 0

Substitute – log x for log y into [2]

log x2 = – log x + 0
log x2 + log x = 0

x2 + x = 0
Substitute y for log x in [2]

y2 + y = 0

y(y + 1) = 0

y = 0 or y = – 1