Chapter 8 Logarithmic Functions

[Solve a problem in a relation of the form y = kxn]

Example 4 Level 2
The total cost $y of producing x electronic components can be expressed by y = kxn,

[
where k and n are constants. The graph in the figure shows the linear relation
between log9 x and log3 y. The slope and the intercept on the vertical axis of the
4m¥
4
graph are and 4 respectively.
3 lysktnloysx logy -_

(a) Find the values of k and n.

logsk=4 "
nlogsx-tlg.am
(b) Find the total cost of producing 8 000 electronic components. 1<=3

¥ I:*
=81 n'
(c) Is it possible to produce 350 electronic components with a budget of $4 000? .

Explain your answer.

b) " 49=8 / 1350¥ n=¥ logs
y=kx } = 4022.81797} =3
logs
Solution
=
8118000 ) > 4000
i. NO
(a) Method 1: =
32400 Method 2:
y  kx n Cost is $32400 4
log 3 y  log 9 x  4
'

.
◄ Use the slope-intercept form.
log 3 y  log 3 ( kx n ) 3
4 (i) Horizontal axis: log9 x
log 3 y  log 3 k  log 3 x n log 3 y  log 9 x 3  log 9 9 4 (ii) Vertical axis: log3 y
log 3 y  log 3 k  n log 3 x 4
4
log 3 y  log 9 (9 4 x 3 ) (iii) Slope:
 log x  log b x 3
log 3 y  log 3 k  n  9  ◄ log a x  4
log b a (iv) Intercept on the vertical axis: 4
 log 9 3  log 3 (9 4 x 3 )
log 3 y  logb x
  log 3 9 ◄ loga x 
 log x  1 logb a
log 3 y  log 3 k  n  9  ◄ log9 3  log9 9 2 1
4

 1  log 3 y  log 3 (9 4 x 3 ) ◄ log 3 9  log 3 32

  
1 2 2
 2  2 4 1
log 3 y  log 3 k  2n log 9 x log 3 y  log 3 (9 4
x3 )2
Intercept on the vertical 2

axis of the graph = 4 log 3 y  log 3 (81x 3 )

log3 k = 4 2

k = 34 ∴ y  81x 3
= 81 2
∴ k = 81, n =
4 3
Slope of the graph =
3
4
2n =
3
2
n=
3