Dr.

Rashed Al Karim
Logarithms PhD (Malaysia); MBA (UK)
M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

Definition: If ax = N, then x is called the logarithm of N to the base ‘a’ and is written as
log a N .

Thus, ax = N ⇔ x = log a N [In this case, ax = N is an exponential form and x = log a N is

logarithmic form]

For example: 23 = 8 ⇒ log 2 8 = 3

26 = 64 ⇒ log 2 64 = 6

102 = 100 ⇒ log 10 100 = 2

 Properties of Logarithms
I. The logarithm of a product is equal to the sum of the logarithms of its factors i.e.,

log a(mn) = log a m + log an

II. The logarithm of a fraction is equal to the logarithm of the numerator minus the
logarithm of the denominator i.e.,
m
log a ( ) = log a m - log a n
n
III. The logarithm of nth power of a number (m) is ‘n’ times the logarithm of that number
i.e., log a m n = nlog a m
log a N
IV. Base changing formula i.e. l ogb N =
l oga b
∴ log a N = log a b × log b N
V. log a a = 1 and log a 1 = 0

1
VI. log a b =
log b a

Common Logarithms: The logarithms to the base ‘10’ are called Common Logarithms. For
all numerical calculations, the base 10 is used.

Consider, 101 = 10 ⇒ log 10 10= 1

102 = 100 ⇒ log 10 100 = log 10 102 =2

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 Dr. Rashed Al Karim
Logarithms PhD (Malaysia); MBA (UK)
M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

103 = 1000 ⇒ log 10 1000 = log 10 103 = 3 and so on.

 Solved Problems

1
Example-1: Find the value of (i) log 3 (ii) log 8 .25
9

1
Solution: (i) Let, log 3 =x
9

1
⇒ = 3x [∵ log a N = x ∴ N = ax]
9

⇒ 9-1 = 3x

⇒ 3-2 = 3x

∴ x = -2 [Ans]

(ii) Let, log 8 .25 = x

⇒ 0.25 = 8x [∵ log a N = x ∴ N = ax]

⇒ 1/4 = 8x ⇒ 4-1 = 23x

−2
⇒ 2-2 = 23x ∴ 3 x=−2 i.e., x= [Ans]
3

10 25 81
Example-2: Simplify 7 log – 2 log + 3 log
9 24 80

10 25 81
Solution: Hence, 7 log – 2 log + 3 log
9 24 80

= 7[log10 – log 9] – 2 [log 25 – log 24] + 3[log81 –log80]

= 7[log (5×2 ¿ – log 9] – 2[log 52 – log (3 × 8)] + 3 [log 34 – log (5 ×16 ¿ ¿

= 7[log5 + log2 – log32] – 2 [2log5 – log3 – log23] + 3[4log3 – log5 – log24]

= 7[log5 + log2 – 2log3] – 2[2log5 – log3 – 3log2] + 3[4log3 – log5 – 4log2]

= (7 – 4 – 3) log5 – (14 -2 – 12) log3 + (7 + 6 – 12) log2

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 Dr. Rashed Al Karim
Logarithms PhD (Malaysia); MBA (UK)
M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

= 0 – 0 + log2 = log2 [Ans]

log √27 +log 8 – log√ 1000

Example-3: Find the value of
log 1 .2

log √27 +log 8 – log√ 1000

Solution:
log 1.2

log √3 3+ log23 – log √ 103

= log
12
10

log 33/ 2 + log 23 – log103 /2

= log 12−log 10

3 3
log 3+3 log 2− log 10
= 2 2
log ( 3 × 4 ) −log 10

3
= 2
¿¿

3 3 3
= 2
¿ ¿ = ¿ ¿ = [Ans]
2 2

21
Example -4: If log 2 x+ log 4 x+ log 16 x =¿ ,then find the valueof x .¿
4

21
Solution: Given that, log 2 x+ log 4 x+ log 16 x =¿ ¿
4

1 1 1 21 1
⇒ + +
log x 2 log x 4 log x 16
= [∵ logax = log a ]
4 x

1 1 1 21
⇒ log 2 + + =
x log x 22 log x 24 4

1 1 1 21
⇒ log 2 + 2 log 2 + 4 log 2 =
x x x 4

4+ 2+ 1 21 7 21
⇒ 4 log 2 = ⇒ 4 log 2 =
x 4 x 4

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 Dr. Rashed Al Karim
Logarithms PhD (Malaysia); MBA (UK)
M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

1
⇒ =3 ⇒ 3 log x 2 = 1
log x 2

⇒ log x 23 = 1

⇒ log x 8 = 1 = logx x [∵ logaa = 1]

∵ x=8 [Ans]

x− y 1
Example-5: If log = (log x + log y); then prove that x2 + y2 = 11xy
3 2

x− y 1
Solution: Given that, log = (log x + log y)
3 2

x− y 1
⇒ log ( ) = log (x y)
3 2

x− y
⇒ log ( ) = log (x y)1/2
3

x− y
⇒ ( ) = (x y)1/2
3

x− y 2
⇒( ) = x y [taking square on both sides]
3

x2 −2 xy + y 2
⇒ =xy
9

⇒ x 2−2 xy+ y 2 = 9xy

⇒ x 2+ y 2 = 9xy+ 2xy = 11xy [Proved]

1 1
Example -6: Prove that +
log a (ab) log b (ab)
=1

1 1
Solution: L.H.S = +
log a (ab) log b (ab)

= log ab a + log ab b [∵log a b = 1/log b a

= log ab ab

= 1 = R. H .S (Proved)

Example -7: Show that log x = log [1 – {1 – (1 – x2)-1}-1] -1/2

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 Dr. Rashed Al Karim
Logarithms PhD (Malaysia); MBA (UK)
M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

Solution: R.H.S = log [1 – {1 – (1 – x2)-1}-1]-1/2

1 1 -1
=– log [1 – {1 – } ]
2 1−x 2

1 1−x 2−1 -1
=– log [1 – { } ]
2 1−x2

1 −x 2 -1
= – log [1 – { } ]
2 1−x 2

1 1−x 2
=– log [1 + { 2 }]
2 x

1 x2 +1−x 2
=– log [ ]
2 x2

1 1 1
= – log [ 2 ] = – log(x)-2
2 x 2

1
=2 × log x = log x = L. H. S (Proved)
2

Example -8: Find the value of log2 [log2 {log3 (log3273)}]

Solution: Hence, log2 [log2 {log3 (log3273)}]

= log2 [log2 {log3 (3 log327)}]

= log2 [log2 {log3 (3log333)}]

= log2 [log2 {log3 (3×3 log33)}]

= log2 [log2 {log3 (9 ×1)}] [∵ log33 = 1]

= log2 [log2 {log3 9}]

= log2 [log2 {log3 32}]

= log2 [log2 {2 log3 3}]

= log2 [log22] [∵ log33 = 1]

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 Dr. Rashed Al Karim
Logarithms PhD (Malaysia); MBA (UK)
M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

= log21 = 0 [∵ log22 = 1] [Ans]

Example -9: If a3 –x. b5x = ax +5. b3x, then show that x log¿) = log a

Solution: Given that, a3 –x. b5x = ax +5. b3x

⇒ log [a3 –x. b5x ] = log [ax +5. b3x ] (Taking log on both sides)

⇒ log a(3 – x) + log b5x = log a (x + 5) + logb3x

⇒ (3 – x) log a + 5x log b = (x + 5) log a + 3x log b

⇒ 3 log a – x log a + 5x log b = x log a + 5 log a + 3x log b

⇒ 2x log b – 2x log a = 2 log a

⇒ 2x (log b – log a) = 2 log a

⇒ x log¿) = log a [Showed]

 Exercise
16 25 81
1) Show that log 2 +16 log + 12 log + 7 log =1
15 24 80
log √ 27+ log √8−log √ 125 3
2) Show that =2
log6−log 5
2 log6+ 6 log 2
3) Find the value of [Ans: 2]
4 log2+ log 27−log 9
4 3
4) Find the simplest value of log 3 √ 729 √9−1 . 27−4 /3 [Ans: 1]
x+ y 1 x y
5) If log = (log x + log y); then show that + =47
7 2 y x
a+b 1
6) If log = (log a + log b); then prove that a2 + b2 = 7ab
3 2
1 1 1
7) Prove that log xy (xyz)
+ log yz (xyz)
+ log zx (xyz )
=2

1 1 1
8) Prove that
(log¿ ¿ a bc)+1 ¿
+ (log¿ ¿ b ca)+ 1¿ + (log¿ ¿ c ab)+1 ¿ = 1

9) If a2x-3. b2x = a6- x. b5x, then show that x log¿) = 3log a

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 Dr. Rashed Al Karim
Logarithms PhD (Malaysia); MBA (UK)
M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

10) Show that xlog y – log z . ylog z – log x . zlog x – log y = 1

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