Basic

Mathematics
LOGARITHM
Logarithm
Every positive real number N can be expressed in exponential
form as 𝐚𝐱 = N where 'a' is also a positive real number
different than unity and is called the base and 'x' is called an
exponent.

ax = N ⇔ logaN = x
Limitations of logarithm

loga N is defined only when

(i) N > 0 (ii) a > 0 (iii) a  1

Important note
For a given value of N, 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐚 𝐍 will give us a unique value.

Logarithm of zero does not exist.

Logarithm of negative reals are not defined in the system of

real numbers.
IMPORTANT RESULTS

Using the basic definition of logarithm, we have 3 important

deductions :
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐚 𝟏 = 0 i.e. logarithm of unity to any base is zero

𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐍 𝐍 = 1 i.e. logarithm of a number to the same base is 1.

𝟏
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟏 𝐍 = –1 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐍 i.e. logarithm of a number to the base as
𝐍
𝐍
its reciprocal is –1.

Important note
N= 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐚 𝐍
Example
Express the following in logarithmic form :
𝟏
(a) 0.001 = 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 (b) 2 =𝟏𝟐𝟖 𝟕

Solution
Example
Express the following in exponential form :

(a) log232 = 5 (b) log 4=4 (c) log 𝟏𝟎 0.01 = −2

𝟐

Solution
Ans. (a) 𝟐𝟓 = 𝟑𝟐
(b) 𝟐𝟐 = 𝟒
(c) 𝟏𝟎−𝟐 = 𝟎.𝟎𝟏
Example
Find the value of the following :
𝟒𝟑 1 log25
(a) 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟏.𝟒𝟑ഥ (b) 2
𝟑𝟎

Solution
Ans. (a) 1 (b) 1/5
Example
If log (5+2 𝟔) (5−2 𝟔) = x, find x.

Solution

Ans. −1
The Principal Properties of Logarithms

If m, n are arbitrary positive numbers where a > 0, a ≠ 1, then:

m
(1) loga mn = logam + logan (2) loga = logam − logan
n
 Base Changing Theorem

It can be stated as "quotient of the logarithm of two numbers is

independent of their common base ."

Symbolically

logb m
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐚 𝐦 = where a > 0, a ≠ 1, b > 0, b ≠ 1
logb a
The base of the logarithm can be any positive number
other then 1, but in normal practice, only two bases are
popular, these are 10 and e( = 2.718 approx) .

Logarithms of numbers to the base 10 are named as

′common logarithm′ and the logarithms of numbers to
the base ′e′ are called Natural or Napierian logarithm. We
will consider logex as lnx.
log 𝒂 bk = klog𝐚b

1
Base power formula :– log k m = log𝐚m
a k

𝟏
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐛 𝐚 =
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐚 𝐛

𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐛 𝐜 = 𝐜 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐛 𝐚
Example
16 25 81
Prove that : 7 log + 5log + 3log = log 2
15 24 80

Solution
Example
1 1
Show that log9 + 2log6 + log81 − log12 = 3log3
2 4

Solution
Example
Evaluate : log34 . log45 . log56 . log67 . log78 . log89

Solution

Ans. 2
Example
𝐏𝟒 𝐐𝟒
If 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 𝐏= a and 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟐 𝐐= a , then prove that = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟐𝐚−𝟏
𝟏𝟎𝟎

Solution
Example
𝟏𝟏
If 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 𝟓 = x and 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟐𝟓 𝟏𝟏 = y, then find the value of 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 ( ) in terms
𝟑
of x and y.

Solution
Ans. 2xy − 1
Example
1 1 1
Find the value of log + log + .
abc abc log ca abc
ab bc
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3

Solution
Ans. 𝟏
 Homework Questions

DPP – 09

Exercise – 02
Q. 5, 6, 7, 13, 14

CYL – 04