Logarithms

• Logarithm is a derived term from two Greek words, namely: logos (expression) and
arithmos (number) . Thus, logarithm is a technique of expressing numbers.
• Logarithm is a system of evaluating multiplication, division, powers and roots by appropri-
ately converting them to addition and subtraction.
• The logarithm of b to the base a is written as loga b
• A logarithm to the base of 10 is called a common logarithm .It is written as log10 b or
log b

Rules of Logarithm

1. Addition-Product Law
logc a + logc b = logc ab

2. Subtraction-Quotient Law
a
 
logc a − logc b = logc
b

3. Power Law
logc am = m logc a

4. (Logarithm to the) Same Base Law

logc c = 1

5. Unity Law (or Log of Unity Law)

logc 1 = 0

6. logc a = logc b implies a=b

7. logc a = b implies a = cb
Example
Without using a calculator simplify:

(a) log10 10 (c) log3 3 (e) log10 1000

(b) log10 100 (d) log3 81 (f) log2 64

1
 SOLUTION
(a) (c) (e)
log10 10 = 1 log3 3 = 1 log10 1000 = log10 103
= 3 log10 10
=3×1
=3
(b) (d) (f)
2 4
log10 100 = log10 10 log3 81 = log3 3 log2 64 = log2 26
= 2 log10 10 = 4 log3 3 = 6 log2 2
=2×1 =4×1 =6×1
=2 =4 =6

Example
Without using a calculator simplify:

1 1
(a) log4 4
(b) 3
log3 729

SOLUTION
(a) (b)
1 1 1
log4 = log4 4−1 log3 729 = log63
4 3 3
1
 
= −1 log4 4 = × 6 log3 3
3
= −1 × 1
=2×1
= −1
=2

Example
Without using a calculator simplify:

(a) log10 5 + log10 2 (b) log2 4 + log2 8 (c) log3 9 + log3 3 (d) log5 5 + 3 log5 5

2
SOLUTION
(a) (c)
log10 5 + log10 2 = log10 (5 × 2) log3 9 + log3 3 = log3 (9 × 3)
= log10 (10) = log3 27
=1 = log3 33
= 3 log3 3
=3
(d)
(b) log5 5 + 3 log5 5 = log5 5 + log5 53
log2 4 + log2 8 = log2 (4 × 8) log5 5 + 3 log5 5 = log5 (5 × 125)
= log2 32 = log5 625
5
= log2 2 = log5 54
= 5 log2 2 = 4 log5 5
=5 =4

Example
Without using a calculator simplify:

(a) log10 10000 − log10 100 (b) log4 64 − log4 4

SOLUTION
(a) (b)
10000 64
   
log10 10000 − log10 100 = log10 log4 64 − log4 4 = log4
100 4
= log10 100 = log4 16
= log10 102 = log4 42
= 2 log10 10 = 2 log4 4
=2 =2

Example
Without using a calculator simplify:

(a) log10 40 + log10 50 − log10 20 (b) log2 18 + log2 32 − 2 log2 6

3
 SOLUTION
(a)
log10 40 + log10 50 − log10 20 = log10 (40 × 50) − log10 20 Apply BODMAS
= log10 (2000) − log10 20
2000
 
= log10
20
= log10 100
= log10 102
= 2 log10 10
=2
(b)
log2 18 + log2 32 − 2 log2 6 = log2 (18 × 32) − log2 62
= log2 576 − log2 36
576
 
= log2
36
= log2 16
= log2 24
= 4 log2 2
=4

1 Exercise Set

1. Without using a calculator simplify:

1
(a) log10 10000 (d) log3 27 (g) 5
log5 625 (j) log 1000000
1 1
(b) log8 64 (e) log5 125
(h) log4 256
1
(c) log2 128 (f) 4 log9 9
(i) log 100000

2. Without using a calculator simplify:

(a) log2 32 + 2 log2 8 (e) log4 256 − 2 log4 8

(b) log10 25 + log10 4 (f) log4 80 − log4 5
(c) log10 20 + 13 log10 125 (g) log6 12 + log6 18
(d) log5 625 − log2 25 (h) log2 56 − 12 log2 49

3. Without using a calculator simplify:

(a) log10 40 + log10 50 − log10 20 (c) log2 18 + log2 32 − 2 log6

(b) log 75 + 2 log 2 − log 3 (d) 2 log5 5 + 21 log5 81 − log5 45

4. Express the following as a single logarithm:

4
 (a) log10 25 + log10 5 (c) log3 56 − log3 27
(b) log10 84 − log10 12 (d) 2 log10 8 + 13 log10 125 − 1

Using Logarithms for calculation

Rules of logarithms apply when we are multiplying or dividing numbers.

Example
Use logarithms to calculate 38 × 145
SOLUTION
x Standard form log10 x
38 3.8 × 101 1.5798
145 1.45 × 102 +2.1614

5511 5.511 × 103 3.7412

Therefore 38 × 145 ≈ 5511

Example
Use logarithms to evaluate 356 × 43.6
SOLUTION
x Standard form log10 x
356 3.56 × 102 2.5514
43.6 4.36 × 101 + 1.6395

15520 1.552 × 104 4.1909

Therefore 356 × 43.6 ≈ 15520

Example
Use logarithms to evaluate 0.0417 × 0.00928
SOLUTION
x Standard form log10 x
0.0417 4.17 × 10−2 2̄.6201
0.00928 9.28 × 10−3 +3̄.9675

0.0003869 3.869 × 10−4 4̄.5876

Therefore 0.0417 × 0.00928 ≈ 0.0003869

Example
Use logarithms to evaluate 8.62 ÷ 3.457

5
 SOLUTION
x Standard form log10 x
8.62 8.62 × 100 0.9355
3.457 3.457 × 100 −0.5387
2.49 2.49 × 100 0.3968
Therefore 8.62 ÷ 3.457 ≈ 2.49

Example
Use logarithms to evaluate 4565 ÷ 98.88
SOLUTION
x Standard form log10 x
4565 4.565×103 3.6594
98.88 9.888 × 101 −1.9951
46.16 4.616 × 101 1.6643
Therefore 4565 ÷ 98.88 ≈ 46.16

2 Exercise Set

1. Evaluate using logarithms

(a) 36.5 × 480.2 (c) 245 × 22.34 (e) 56.34 ÷ 5.86

(b) 8.21 × 516.4 (d) 12.9 × 3.135 (f) 24.46 ÷ 13.34

2. Evaluate using logarithms

(a) 75.6 × 0.8563 (c) 234.2 ÷ 12.34 (e) 1200 ÷ 12

(b) 0.0075 × 98 (d) 6.26 × 45.678 (f) 63.74 ÷ 8.46