Lesson 3: Properties of Logarithmic Functions

Properties of Logarithms

For any positive numbers 𝑀𝑀, 𝑁𝑁, and 𝑏𝑏 where 𝑏𝑏 ≠ 1, and 𝑝𝑝 any real number
the following properties apply:

Product Property

Quotient Property

Power Property

Note: These are also valid for base 10 and base 𝑒𝑒.

Expanding Logarithmic Expressions

EX #1: Expand the following logarithms using the properties.

A. log(8𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦 4 ) B. ln
𝑥𝑥 2 +5
𝑥𝑥

Condensing Logarithmic Expressions

EX #2: Condense the following logarithms using the properties.

A. ln 𝑥𝑥 5 − 2 ln(𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦) B. log 5 − log 𝑥𝑥 C. 3 ln 𝑥𝑥 3 𝑦𝑦 + 2 ln(𝑦𝑦𝑧𝑧 2 )

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 Evaluating Logarithms by Changing the Base

Change of Base Formula

For positive real numbers 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, and 𝑥𝑥; with 𝑎𝑎 ≠ 0 and 𝑏𝑏 ≠ 1

EX #3: Evaluate the logarithms by changing the base.

A. log 3 13 B. log 6 10 C. log 1 2

2

Logarithmic Functions
𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥 = log 𝑏𝑏 𝑥𝑥 with b > 1

Domain:

Range:

Continuous, Increasing on its domain

Symmetry:

Bounded:

Local Extrema:

HA:

VA:

End Behavior:

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 Graphs of Logarithmic Functions with Base b

EX #4: Describe how to transform the graph of 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥 = ln 𝑥𝑥 into the graph of the given function.

A. 𝑔𝑔 𝑥𝑥 = log 5 𝑥𝑥 B. ℎ 𝑥𝑥 = log 1 𝑥𝑥
2

INYourNOT A Logarithmic Model

EX #5: The data below represents the price and quantity demand for a personal computer. Use a
graphing utility to draw a scatter plot.

A. Fit a logarithmic function to the data. Price Quantity

($/Computer) Demand
$2400 148
$2100 160
$1800 166
$1600 173
$1400 178
$1300 182
$1100 193

B. Use the function above to find the number of personal computers

that would be demanded if the price was $1500.

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 Properties of Logarithmic
3.3 Functions Homework

Problems 1 − 6, Assuming x and y are positive, use properties of logarithms to write the expression
as a sum or difference of logarithms.

1. log 16𝑥𝑥 3
2. ln 𝑦𝑦

3. ln 𝑒𝑒 3 𝑦𝑦 5 4. log(1000𝑥𝑥 5 )

𝑥𝑥 3 6. log 2 𝑥𝑥 3 𝑦𝑦 2
5. ln 𝑦𝑦

Problems 7 − 12, Assuming x , y, and z are positive, use properties of logarithms to write the
expression as a single logarithm.

7. log 2 64 − log 2 4 8. ln 𝑥𝑥 + 3 + 2 ln 𝑥𝑥

9. 4 ln 𝑥𝑥 + 7 ln 𝑦𝑦 − 3 ln 𝑧𝑧 10.
1
log 𝑥𝑥 − 2 log 𝑦𝑦
3

11.
1
2 log 𝑥𝑥 + 1 − log 𝑥𝑥 − log(𝑥𝑥 − 3) 12. 3 ln 𝑥𝑥 + ln 𝑥𝑥 − 2 − 4 ln(𝑥𝑥 2 − 4)
3

Problems 13 − 16, Use a calculator to evaluate to three decimal places.

13. log 4 18 14. log 1 23

2

15. log 𝜋𝜋 57 16. log 0.8 16

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Problems 17 − 22, Find the exact value of the logarithm without using a calculator. If this is not
possible, state the reason.

17. log 5 125 − log 5 5 18. 6 ln 𝑒𝑒 5 + 4 ln 𝑒𝑒 −2

19. ln
1 20. log 3 −27
𝑒𝑒 3

4
21. log 2 32 22. log 3
1
81

Problems 23 – 24, Solve.

23. Mrs. Adams gave her students a quiz on logarithms. Every week for three months they took
another quiz to see how much they remembered. The average scores of the students can be
modeled by the human memory model 𝑆𝑆 𝑡𝑡 = 87 − 12 log(𝑡𝑡 + 1) for 0 ≤ 𝑡𝑡 ≤ 12 where t is the
time in weeks.

A. Find the average score on the original quiz.

B. What was the average score after 1 month (4 weeks)?

C. Find the average score at the end of the 12 weeks.

24. The Richter scale model for measuring magnitude R of an earthquake is modeled by the equation
𝑎𝑎
𝑅𝑅 = log 𝑇𝑇 + 𝐵𝐵, where a is the amplitude in micrometers, T is the period in seconds, and B
represents the dampening effect (weakening) of the wave due to the distance from the epicenter of
the quake.

A. Find the magnitude R of a quake where 𝑎𝑎 = 325, 𝑇𝑇 = 4 and 𝐵𝐵 = 3.25

B. Find the magnitude R of a quake where 𝑎𝑎 = 230, 𝑇𝑇 = 2 and 𝐵𝐵 = 4.5

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