Exponents and Logarithms (Revision A)

 For log 𝑎 𝑦 to be defined,

y > 0 and
} Can you think of why these conditions are required?
a > 0, a ≠ 1.

 We can convert an equation in logarithmic form to index form and vice versa.

Exponential Form Logarithmic Form

8 = 23

log 5 25 = 2

1
3−2 =
9

log 4 64 = 3

70 = 1

91 = 9

 Equations of the form 𝑥 = log 𝑎 𝑦 can be solved (for any of the three variables
𝑦, 𝑎 or 𝑥) by first writing them in index form. Care must be taken to check the
answer(s) to see whether the logarithm is defined.

Example 1: Solve log 3 𝑥 = −1.

Example 2: Solve 𝑥 = log 1 16.

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Example 3: Solve log 𝑥+1 81 = 2.

Example 4: Solve log 𝑥 (4𝑥 − 3) = 2.

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(A) Two Special Logarithms
In general, for 𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ 1,
(i) log 𝑎 𝑎 = 1 (Logarithms of a number to a base of the same number is 1.)
(ii) log 𝑎 1 = 0 (Logarithms of 1 to any base is 0.)

Example 5: Without using calculators, evaluate log 8 (4 log 6 6 − 3 log 5 5).

3log 𝑥 + 2 2
Example 6: Without using calculators, evaluate (4 − 2𝑥log 1) .
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(B) Common and Natural Logarithms (read and spot the differences)

Common Logarithms Natural (or Naperian) Logarithms

Base: 10 e (≈ 2.718 28….)
Written as: log10 or log log e or ln

Calculator Key: log ln

By definition: lg 𝑦 = 𝑥 ⇔ 𝑦 = 10𝑥 ln 𝑦 = 𝑥 ⇔ y = e𝑥

 Convert the following equations in logarithmic form to index form and vice versa.

Exponential Form Logarithmic Form

log 𝑚 = −1

10√2 = 𝑥 − 𝑦

ln 𝑘 = 2𝑥

e𝑥 = 𝑦 + 1

Example 7: Use your GDC to evaluate each of the following, giving your answers correct
to 3 significant figures.
(a) log 7 − log 3 + log 5 (b) 5(ln 2)2 − 3ln 14

(c) log (ln 36) ⎯ ln (log 36) 6 log 8

(d) + log 9
log 3

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 Example 8: Solve ln 𝑥 = log 4

Example 9: Solve log (𝑥 − 1) = ln (e2 − 1)

Example 10: Solve ln 2 ∙ ln 3𝑥 = 1

Example 11: Solve (log 20)(lg 𝑥 2 ) = 7 log 7

(C) Laws of Logarithms

If 𝑎, 𝑥 and 𝑦 are positive numbers, 𝑟 is any real number, and 𝑎 ≠ 1, then

(i) log 𝑎 𝑥𝑦 = log 𝑎 𝑥 + log 𝑎 𝑦 (Product Law for Logarithms)
𝑥
(ii) log 𝑎 𝑦 = log 𝑎 𝑥 − log 𝑎 𝑦 (Quotient Law for Logarithms)

(iii) log 𝑎 𝑥 𝑟 = 𝑟log 𝑎 𝑥 (Power Law for Logarithms)

 Can you prove the above laws?

Let 𝑚 = log 𝑎 𝑥 and 𝑛 = log 𝑎 𝑦,
then 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑚 and 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑛 .

(i) Proof for Product Law for Logarithms:

 Multiply 𝑥 by 𝑦: 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑎𝑚 × 𝑎𝑛

 Apply Index Rule on RHS:

 Change to logarithmic form:

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 (ii) Proof for Quotient Law for Logarithms:

𝑥
 Divide 𝑥 by 𝑦: = 𝑎𝑚 ÷ 𝑎𝑛
𝑦

 Apply Index Rule on RHS:

 Change to logarithmic form:

(iii) Proof for Power Law for Logarithms:

 Consider 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑚

 Rise 𝑥 to the power of 𝑟 : 𝑥 𝑟 = 𝑎𝑚𝑟

 Change to logarithmic form:

 Common mistakes made by students when applying the Laws of Logarithms…

 (log 𝑎 𝑥)(log 𝑎 𝑦) = log 𝑎 𝑥 + log 𝑎 𝑦
log 𝑎 𝑥
 = log 𝑎 𝑥 − log 𝑎 𝑦
log 𝑎 𝑦

 (log 𝑎 𝑥)𝑟 = 𝑟 log 𝑎 𝑥 [ log 𝑎 𝑥 𝑟 means log 𝑎 (𝑥 𝑟 ). It is not the same as (log 𝑎 𝑥)𝑟 .]
 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 (𝑥 ± 𝑦) = log 𝑎 𝑥 ± log 𝑎 𝑦

 We can use the Laws of Logarithms to evaluate or simplify logarithmic expressions,

and to solve logarithmic equations. The following transformation may be useful when
you work with the Laws of Logarithms:

(a) Change of Base

In general, for any positives 𝑎, 𝑏 & 𝑁, and 𝑎 ≠ 1, 𝑏 ≠ 1,
log 𝑏 𝑁
(i) log 𝑎 𝑁 = (Changing from base 𝑎 to base 𝑏.)
log 𝑏 𝑎

Can you prove the above law?

Proof: Let 𝑥 = log 𝑎 𝑁, then 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑁.

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  Take log 𝑏 on both sides:
 Apply Power Law of Logarithm on LHS:
 Make 𝑥 the subject:
 Rewrite 𝑥 as log 𝑎 𝑁:


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(ii) log 𝑎 𝑁 = (Interchanging the number 𝑁 & the base 𝑎.)
log 𝑁 𝑎

Can you prove the above law?

Proof: Change log 𝑎 𝑁 to base N using (i) above.

log𝑁
log 𝑎 𝑁 =
log𝑁

Example 12: Evaluate the following by converting them to log or ln, giving your
answers correct to 3 significant figures.

(a) log 2 35 − log 4 13 (b) (log 5 7)2

(b) Convert a number into logarithmic form

In general, for any number 𝑛, 𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ 1,

 𝑛 = 𝑛 log 𝑎 𝑎 = log 𝑎 𝑎𝑛

Example 13: Express 3 + log 2 5 as a single logarithm.

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(D) Solving Exponential Equations Using Logarithms
When solving exponential equations of the form 𝒂𝒙 = 𝒃 in which both sides of the
equations cannot be expressed in the same base, take log or ln on each side where
appropriate.

Example 14: Solve 3𝑥 = 7.

Example 15: Solve 62𝑥−1 = 9.

Example 16: Solve 3𝑥 (22𝑥 ) = 7(5𝑥 ).

(E) Solving Logarithmic Equations

Before solving any logarithmic equations, check that the bases are the same. If not, you will
need to change to the same base.

(a) Both sides containing 1 term in log: Use 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝒂 𝑿 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝒂 𝒀 ⇒ 𝑿 = 𝒀.

Example 17: Solve log (𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 8) = 2log 𝑥.

(b) One side containing a term in log only: Use 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝒂 𝑿 = 𝒀 ⇒ 𝒂𝒀= 𝑿.
(Change to index form.)
Example 18: Solve log 2 (𝑥 + 1) = 4.

(c) More than one term on both sides: Use laws of logarithms to combine terms into form
either (a) or (b).

Example 19: Solve log 𝑞 = 1 + log 2 − 2log 5.

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Exercise A: Pick & choose questions that you know you need more practice on or that you’ve
struggled with in the past, or questions that don’t seem to have a clear outcome yet

1. Evaluate the following without using a calculator.

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(a) log 5 5√5 + log 5 √5 − log 5 54 (b) log 8 64 + log 7 7 − log16 4
4 2 3 1
(c) log 3 12 + log 3 4 − 2 log 3 3 (d) log 2 8 − 2 log 2 16 + 2 log 2 32
3

(e) log 3 5 × log 5 27 (f) log 7 5 × log 5 9 × log 9 7

log5 4 × log2 10
(g) (h) (log 5)2 + log 2 log 50
log25 √10

2. Solve the following equations.

3𝑥+1
(a) log 2 =3 (b) log 2 (log 3 𝑦) = log 7 7
2𝑥−7

(c) log 2 (𝑥 − 1) = log 2 (4𝑥 − 7) (d) log 3 (𝑥 + 2) + log 3 (𝑥 − 2) = log 3 (2𝑥 − 1)

(e) log 2 4𝑥 − 2 log 2 5 = 3 (f) log (𝑥 2 − 6) + log 2 = 1 + log 𝑥
(g) 2 log 5 − log(𝑥 + 2) = 1 − log(2𝑥 − 1) (h) log 7 (9𝑥 + 38) − log 7 (𝑥 + 2) = log 9 81
(i) 3 log 𝑥 2 + log 𝑥 18 = 2 (j) log 3 𝑥 = 9 log 𝑥 3
(k) log 3 𝑥 + 2 = 3 log 𝑥 3 (l) log 9 (3𝑥 + 1) = log 3 𝑥 + log 3 2
(m) log 5 (5 − 4𝑥) = log √5 (2 − 𝑥) (n) log 2 𝑥 3 = (log 2 𝑥)3
(o) 2(log 2 𝑥)2 = 7 log 2 𝑥 − 3 (p) (log 5 𝑥)2 = 2 log 5 𝑥
(q) 27 × 3lg 𝑥 = 91+lg(𝑥−20) (r) 3𝑥+1 × 2𝑥−2 = 21
(s) 4(32𝑥 ) = e𝑥 (t) 3𝑥 × 102𝑥 = 4 × 20𝑥−2
(u) 2e2𝑥 − 3e𝑥 = 2 (v) e𝑥 = 7 − 12e−𝑥
(w) e3𝑥 + 2e𝑥 = 3e2𝑥 (x) 9𝑥 − 4 = 3𝑥+1
1 1
(y) 2e𝑥 = 7√e𝑥 − 3 (z) log(3𝑥 − 24−𝑥 ) = 2 + 3 log 8 − 4 𝑥 log 16

3. Given that log 4 3 = 𝑎 and log 4 5 = 𝑏, express the following in terms of 𝑎 and 𝑏.
(a) log 4 45 (b) log 4 20

4. Given that log 𝑥 = 𝑝 and log 𝑦 = 𝑞, express the following in terms of 𝑝 and 𝑞.
(a) log 𝑦 𝑥 (b) log (𝑥𝑦)2
log 10𝑥 100√𝑥
(c) (d) log ( )
log 𝑦 𝑦2

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5. Express 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥 if
1
(a) log 4 3𝑦 − 2 log 4 𝑥 = 1 (b) log (𝑦 + 1) = 2 − 2 log 𝑥
(c) log 4 𝑦 = log 2 𝑥 + log 2 9 − log 2 3 (d) log 9 𝑦 + log 3 𝑦 = 2 log 3 𝑥 + 3 log 3 2

6. Express 𝑥 in terms of 𝑎 if
(a) 2 log 𝑎 𝑥 = 1 + log 𝑎 (7𝑥 − 10𝑎) (b) log 𝑎 5 + 2 = log 𝑎 (𝑥 + 𝑎) + log 𝑎 (𝑥 − 3𝑎)

7. Given that log 4 𝑦 = 𝑎 and log 8 (2𝑦) = 𝑏, show that 2𝑎 = 3𝑏 − 1.

8. If 3 = 5𝑥 and 5 = 3𝑦 , find the numerical value 𝑥𝑦 without using a calculator.

9. The equation 22𝑥+𝑝 − 2𝑥+𝑝 = 9(2𝑥 ) − 2 has a solution 𝑥 = 1. Find

(a) the value of 𝑝, (b) the other solution of the equation.

10. Given that 𝑥 = log 𝑎 is a solution of the equation 102𝑥+1 + 7(10𝑥 ) = 26, find the value of 𝑎.

11. The mass, 𝑚 grams, of a radioactive substance, present at time 𝑡 days after first being
observed, is given by the formula 𝑚 = 32e−0.02𝑡 . Find
(i) the value of 𝑚 where 𝑡 = 20,
(ii) the value of 𝑡 when the mass is half of its value at 𝑡 = 0.

12. A liquid cools from its original temperature of 80℃ to a temperature 𝑇℃ in 𝑥 minutes.
Given that 𝑇 = 80(0.95)𝑥 , find the value of
(i) 𝑇 when 𝑥 = 6,
(ii) 𝑥 when 𝑇 = 25.

13. If an initial principal of $𝑃 is invested at an interest rate of 𝑟% compounded continuously

𝑛𝑟
for 𝑛 years, the compounded amount $𝐴 is given by 𝐴 = 𝑃e(100) .
(i) Find the compounded amount when $200 is invested at an interest rate of 4% for 6
years.
(ii) After how long will $200 take to grow to $500 at an interest rate of 7% giving your
answer correct to the nearest month?

14. The Richter scale is a measurement of earthquake magnitudes based on the formula 𝑅 =
𝑥
lg (0.001) where 𝑥 is the intensity of the earthquake as registered on a seismograph.
𝑥
(i) Make 𝑥 the subject of the formula 𝑅 = lg (0.001) .
(ii) Calculate the intensity 𝑥 for a 9.0-magnitude earthquake.

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15. An experimental population of fruit flies increases according to the law of exponential
growth such that, after 𝑡 days, the number of fruit flies 𝑁 is given by 𝑁 = 100(1.65)𝑡 .
(i) How many fruit flies are there at the beginning of the experiment?
(ii) What is the population after 4 days?
(iii) Find the value of 𝑡 when the population reaches 400.

Answer Key
Exercise A
1 1
1(a) −2 (b) (c) 3 (d) −1 2
2
(e) 3 (f) 1 (g) 8 (h) 1
2(a) 𝑥 =
5 (b) 𝑦 = 9 (c) 𝑥 = 2 (d) 𝑥 = 3
4 13
1 1
(e) 𝑥 = 50 (f) 𝑥 = 6 (g) 𝑥 = 1 8 (h) 𝑥 = −1 2
1 1
(i) 𝑥 = 12 (j) 𝑥 = 27 or (k) 𝑥 = 3 or (l) 𝑥 = 1
27 27
(m) 𝑥 = ±1 (n) 𝑥 = 1 or 2√3 or 2−√3 (o) 𝑥 = √2 or 8 (p) 𝑥 = 1 or 25
(q) 𝑥 = 40 (r) 𝑥 = 1.86 (s) 𝑥 = −1.16 (t) 𝑥 = −1.70
(u) 𝑥 = 0.693 (v) 𝑥 = 1.10 or 1.39 (w) 𝑥 = 0 or 0.693 (x) 𝑥 = 1.26
(y) 𝑥 = −1.39 or 2.20 (z) 𝑥 = 3
3(a) 2𝑎 +
(b) 1 + 𝑏
𝑏
4(a) 𝑞10𝑝 (c)
1+𝑝 1
(b) 2𝑝 + 2𝑞 𝑞
(d) 2 + 2 𝑝 − 2𝑞
4𝑥2 100 4
5(a) 𝑦 = (b) 𝑦 =
√𝑥
−1 (c) 𝑦 = 9𝑥 2 (d) 𝑦 = 4𝑥 3
3
6(a) 𝑥 = 2𝑎 or 𝑥 = 5𝑎 (b) 𝑥 = 4𝑎
8. 1
9(a) 3
(b) 𝑥 = −3
10. 1.3

11(i) 21.5
(ii) 34.7

12(i) 58.8 (ii) 22.7

13(i) $254 (ii) 13 years 1 month
14(i) 𝑥 = 10𝑅−3 (ii) 1 000 000
15(i) 100 (ii) 741 (iii) 2.77