LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

A logarithm is simply an exponent that is written in a special way.i.e, Logarithmic functions are
inverses of exponential functions.
• For example{exponential equation} : 22 = 4 – the base is 2 and the exponent is 2
• In logarithm form the same becomes: log2 4=2 - "the logarithm of 4 to the base 2 is 2".
hence the logarithmic Function is defined as:

f(x}=logbx

PROPERTIES OF LOGARITHMS

1. logb1=0. This follows from the fact that b0=1

2. logbb=1. This follows from the fact that b1=b.

3. logbbx=x. This can be generalized out to logbbf(x) =f(x).
4. blogbx=x. This can be generalized out to blogbf(x) =f(x)
LOGARITHMICS GRAPHS

loga(x) is considered to
be the inverse of a . It follows that loga(x) (blue solid line) is the inverse of ax (red dotted line)
x

and so their graphs are reflections of each other in the line y=x (green dotted line). Since loga (x)
and ax are mathematical inverses we have that loga (ax) =aloga(x) =x. sketch the graph of
f(x)=log2 x
  Choosing the values of x to be powers of 2
x Log2 x
16 4
8 3
4 2
2 1
1 0
0.5 -1

0.25 -2
0.125 -3
0.0625 -4

LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONAL GRAPH

4

0
Y AXIS

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5
X AXIS

Differences between Rational, Exponential & Logarithmic graphs

RATIONAL EXPONENTIAL LOGARITHMICS

Function equation R(x)= P(x)/Q(x) f(x)=bx / y = bX (b > 0, b # y = f(x)=logb x

l, and x is a real number)

domain set of all values for (-∞, ∞) (0,∞)

which the function is
defined
range the set of all values (0, ∞) (-∞,∞)
that f takes

asymptote Horizontal, vertical & horizontal Vertical

slant