Laws of

Logarithms
Since log functions & expo functions are inverse
functions of each other they “undo” each other.

Remember that:

This means that:

inverses
“undo” each
each other

=5 =7
Laws of Logarithms

Single Logarithm = Expanded Form

1.
=
2.
=
3.
=
Note: These properties are based on laws of
exponents since logarithms are also exponents
 Ex 1. Using the laws of log, write the expression as a
sum and/or difference of logarithms.

When working with logs, re-write any radicals as rational

exponents.

using the second law:

using the first law:

using the third law:

 Ex 2. Using the laws of log, write the expression as a
single logarithm.

using the third law:

this direction

using the second law:

this direction
Other Properties of Logarithms
This one says if you have an equation, you can take
the log of both sides and the equality still holds.

This one says if you have an equation and each side

has a log of the same base, you know the arguments
of are equal.
 There is an answer to this and it must
be more than 3 but less than 4, but
(2 to the what is 8?)
we can't do this one in our head.
Let's put it equal to x and we'll solve for x.
Change to
exponential form.
(2 to the what is 16?)
use log property & take log of
both sides (use 10 as a base)

(2 to the what is 10?)

use 3rd log property
Check by
putting 23.32 in
your calculator solve for x by
(we rounded so dividing by log 2
it won't be use calculator to
exact) approximate
 If we generalize the process we just did Example
we come up with the: for TI-83

Change-of-Base Formula

The base you change to can “common”

be any base so generally log base 10
we’ll want to change to a LOG
base so we can use our
calculator. That would be LN
either base 10 or base e. “natural” log
base e
Use the Change-of-Base Formula and a calculator to
approximate the logarithm. Round your answer to three
decimal places.

Since 32 = 9 and 33 = 27, our answer of what exponent to

put on 3 to get it to equal 16 will be something between
2 and 3.

put in calculator