The logarithm as an inverse function

In this section we concentrate on understanding the logarithm function. If

the logarithm is understood as the inverse of the exponential function,
then the properties of logarithms will naturally follow from our
Elementary Functions understanding of exponents.
Part 3, Exponential Functions & Logarithms
The meaning of the logarithm.
Lecture 3.3a, Logarithms: Basic Properties
The logarithmic function g(x) = logb (x) is the inverse of the exponential
function f (x) = bx .
Dr. Ken W. Smith
The meaning of y = logb (x) is by = x.
Sam Houston State University
The expression
2013 by = x
is the “exponential form” for the logarithm y = logb (x).

The positive constant b is called the base (of the logarithm.)

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Logarithms Logarithms

Some worked exercises.

Write each of the following logarithms in exponential form and then use
that exponential form to solve for x. 4 log2 ( 18 ) = x
1 log2 (8) = x Solution. The exponential form is 2x = 18 . Since 2−3 = 81 the answer
Solution. The exponential form is 2x = 8. Since 23 = 8 the answer is is x = −3 .
x=3. √
5 log2 ( 3 2) = x
2 log2 (247 ) = x √
Solution. The exponential form is 2x = 3 2 = 21/3 . So x = 1/3 .
Solution. The exponential form is 2x = 247 . So x = 47 .
3 log2 ( 21 ) = x
1 Notice how we use the exponential form in each problem!
Solution. The exponential form is 2x = 21 . Since 2−1 = the answer
2
is x = −1 .

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The graph of a logarithm function The graph of a logarithm function

The graph of y = 2x was drawn in an earlier lecture (see below.) The graph of y = log2 x :

The graph of the inverse function y = log2 x is obtained by reflecting the

graph of y = 2x across the line y = x.
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The graph of a logarithm function The graph of a logarithm function

If we draw them together, we have the picture below. The graph of the exponential function y = 2x :

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The graph of the logarithmic function
Smith (SHSU)
y = log2 x:
Elementary Functions 2013 8 / 29
Logarithms Logarithms
We agreed earlier that the exponential function f (x) = bx has domain
(−∞, ∞) and range (0, ∞).
Since g(x) = logb x is the inverse function of f (x) the domain of the log
function will be the range of the exponential function, and vice versa.
So the domain of logb x is (0, ∞) and the range is (−∞, ∞). In summary, here are our abbreviations:
1 ln x means the logarithm base e,
The most useful base for logarithms is e. We will abbreviate loge (x) by
2 log x means the logarithm base 10 and
ln(x) and speak of the “natural logarithm”.
3 lb x means the logarithm base 2.
Sometimes, for historical reasons, we may use base 10. It is customary to
speak then of the “common logarithm” and abbreviate log10 (x) by log(x),
dropping the subscript. However (warning!), in higher mathematics and
engineering applications, log(x) usually means base e and is equivalent to
ln(x).
In these notes we will use log(x) to mean log10 (x).
One more abbreviation – in computer science, because computers store
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data in binary (in bits of zeroes and ones), one uses base 2. Some
abbreviate log2 (x) as lb(x) and speak of the “binary” logarithm.
Logarithms Properties of exponential functions in terms of logarithms
The logarithm function plucks the exponent from an expression. For this
A few more worked exercises. reason, the properties of exponents translate into properties of logarithms.
Write each of the following logarithms in exponential form and then use For example, we know that when we multiply two terms with a common
that exponential form to solve for x. base, we add the exponents:
1 log(1000) = x
Solution. The exponential form is 10x = 1000. Since 103 = 1000 the (bx )(by ) = bx+y (1)
answer is x = 3 . Suppose we call the first term M := bx and the second term N := by .
1 Then one may ask the question, “What is the exponent on b in the
2 ln( 3 ) = x
e product M N ?
Solution. The exponential form is ex = e−3 so the answer is −3 . The answer is “We add the exponents appearing in M and N .” In other
1 words (if we learn to translate “logb ” as “the exponent on b that...”), we
3 lb( √ ) = x
2 can restate this exponent property as “when we multiply numbers we add
1 √ their exponents”. This is the product property for logarithms:
Solution. The exponential form is 2x = √ . Since 21/2 = 2 then
2
−1/2 1 logb (M N ) = logb M + logb N (2)
2 = √ and so the answer is x = −1/2 .
2
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Logarithms Logarithms

What happens when we divide two terms with a common base? A third important property of exponents: when we raise a term like bx to a
power, we multiply exponents.
bx
= bx−y (3) (bx )c = bxc (5)
by
When we do division, we subtract exponents. So, in the language of In our “logarithm language” (thinking of M as bx ) we have the exponent
logarithms, we have the quotient property, “the exponent in a quotient is property
the difference of the two exponents”:
logb (M c ) = c logb M (6)
M
logb ( ) = logb M − logb N (4)
N
Each of these three properties is merely a restatement, in the language of
logarithms, of a property of exponents.

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Logarithms Exponential Functions

We review the three basic logarithm rules we have developed so far.

Product Property of Logarithms:

logb (M N ) = logb M + logb N

Quotient Property of Logarithms: In the next presentation, we develop several more properties of logarithms.

M (END)
logb ( ) = logb M − logb N
N

Exponent Property of Logarithms:

logb (M c ) = c logb M

Each of these properties is a restatement, in the language of logarithms, of

a property of exponents.
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 Logarithms
We review the three basic logarithm rules we have developed so far.

Product Property of Logarithms:

logb (M N ) = logb M + logb N
Elementary Functions
Part 3, Exponential Functions & Logarithms
Lecture 3.3b, Logarithms: Basic Properties, Continued Quotient Property of Logarithms:
M
logb ( ) = logb M − logb N
Dr. Ken W. Smith N

Sam Houston State University

Exponent Property of Logarithms:
2013
logb (M c ) = c logb M

Each of these three properties is merely a restatement of a property of

exponents.
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Changing the base Changing the base

Suppose we want to change the base of our logarithm. This often occurs We began with
when we want to use a “good” base like e on a problem which began with y = logb x.
a different base.
Suppose we want to work with base c but our problem began with base b: We rewrote this as
logc x
y= .
logc b
y = logb x.
Rewrite this in exponential form: So y, which was originally equal to logb x is now

by = x. logc x
logb x =
Now take the log of both sides of the equation. If we want to work in base logc b
c then let us apply logc () to both sides of our equation.
Let’s call this the “change of base” equation or “change of base”
y
logc (b ) = logc (x). property.
Now we use the exponent property pulling the exponent y outside the
logarithm: One way to remember this is to note that on the left side of the equal sign
y logc (b) = logc (x). (logb x), b is lower than x.
Then on the right side of the equal sign ( log x
log b ), b is still lower than x!
Solve for y:
Smith (SHSU)
log x
c
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y= .
Logarithms More on the logarithm as an inverse function
We began this lecture by defining g(x) = logb (x) as the inverse function of
f (x) = bx . Since these functions are inverses, we know then that

(f ◦ g)(x) = (g ◦ f )(x) = x. (7)

Example. Suppose we want to compute log2 (17) but our calculator only
Let us examine this in more detail.
allows us to use the natural logarithm ln. Then, by the change of base
equation we can write Note that (g ◦ f )(x) = g(f (x)) = g(bx ) = logb (bx ). Since the log function
ln 17 and the exponential function are inverse functions, this must be equal to
log2 (17) = ≈ 4.087463. just x and we have
ln 2
logb (bx ) = x.

This equation is really fairly easy to understand. If we translate “logb (x)”

as “the exponent on b that give x” then we should translate logb (bx ) as
“the exponent on b which gives bx .”
Obviously this should be x since x is the exponent one places on b to get
bx . (If that doesn’t make sense, read through it one more time slowly....)
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More on the logarithm as an inverse function Six properties of logarithms

In summary, we have developed the following six properties of logarithms.

1 The Product Property of Logarithms:

Since (f ◦ g)(x) = x we also have logb (M N ) = logb M + logb N

x = (f ◦ g)(x) = f (g(x)) = f (logb x) = blogb x . So

blogb x = x. 2 The Quotient Property of Logarithms:

This is almost as easy to understand as the previous equation. M
logb ( ) = logb M − logb N
N
It says that if we place on b “the exponent you put on b to get x” (logb x)
then we should just get x!
3 The Exponent Property of Logarithms:

logb (M c ) = c logb M

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Six properties of logarithms More on the logarithm as an inverse function
If we understand the logarithm as the inverse of the exponential function
then we are prepared to find the inverse of a variety of functions. Here are
4 The Change of Base Property some examples.
Find the inverse function of:
logc x 2
1 f (x) = ex .
logb x = 2
logc b 2 f (x) = ex −5 .
3 f (x) = 5 + ex .

5 Inverse Property #1 4 f (x) = log2 (x + 2) + 2.

logb bx = x Solutions
2 2
1 To find the inverse of f (x) = ex set y = ex and swap inputs and

6 Inverse Property #2 outputs

2
x = ey .
blogb x = x
Take the natural logarithm of both sides
ln x = y 2
and solve for y by taking square roots of both sides
√
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Elementary x = y. 2013 26 / 29

−1 (x) =
√
More on the logarithm as an inverse function MoreSoon
onetheinverse function isasfan
logarithm inverse ln xfunction
.

4 To find the inverse of f (x) = log2 (x + 2) + 2 we write

2 2
2 To find the inverse of y = ex −5 we swap letters so that x = ey −5 , y = log2 (x + 2) + 2,
take natural logs of both sides
change variables (to indicate that we are swapping inputs and
2 outputs)
ln x = y − 5,
x = log2 (y + 2) + 2,
add 5 and take square roots so that and subtract 2 from both sides
√ x − 2 = log2 (y + 2).
f −1 (x) = ln x + 5 .
At this point it is best to write this logarithmic equation in
exponential form.
3 To find the inverse of y = 5 + ex we swap variables, subtract 5 from 2x−2 = y + 2.
both sides and then take the natural log to get ln(x − 5) = y. So Subtract 2 from both sides

f −1 (x) = ln(x − 5) . 2x−2 − 2 = y

and then write out our answer using inverse function notation.
f −1 (x) = 2x−2 − 2
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Exponential Functions

In the next series of lectures, we apply properties of logarithms.

(END)

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