Logarithmic Functions and Their

Graphs
General Mathematics
O. Oronce
Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students must be able
to:
• represent a logarithmic function through its: (a)
table of values, (b) graph, and (c) equation;
• find the domain and range of a logarithmic
function;
• determine the intercepts, zeros, and asymptotes
of logarithmic functions; and
• graph logarithmic functions.
Definition of Terms
One-to-one Function – A function is one-to-one
if no two ordered pairs in the function have
the same second components.
Relation – a set of ordered pairs. The domain of
a relation is the set of first coordinates. The
range is the set of second coordinates.
Function – a relation in which each element of
the domain corresponds to exactly one
element of the range.
If f = {(1, 4), (1, 6), (5, 8)}, then f is not a function
because the ordered pairs (1, 4) and (1, 6)
have the same first components. f is only a
relation.
If h = {(1, 4), (3, 6), (5, 8)}, then h is a function
and is one-to-one.
Finding the Inverse Function of a
One-to-One Function f
1. Find the domain of f and verify if it is one-to-
one. If it is not one-to-one, then stop. It
means the inverse function does not exist.
2. Solve the equation y = f(x) for x.

y  x2

y  x2
2

x  y2  2
Thus,
1
x  f ( x)  y  2
2
3. Interchange x and y

1
y  f ( x)  x  2
2
4. Find the domain of f⁻¹

The domain of f⁻¹ must

equal the range of f. From
the graph of f in Step 1,
we see that the range of f
is [0, ∞). Thus, the domain
of f⁻¹ is also [0, ∞)
Logarithmic Function
log b y  x if and only if bˣ = y for b > 0, b ≠ 1.

A logarithm is an exponent which b must have to

produce y.

In either equation, b is called the base and must

be a positive number, not equal to 1.
Example 1
Write each exponential equation in logarithmic
form.
a. 3² = x b. 81 = 3ˣ c. 10⁻² = 0.01 d. eʸ = 9
Solution to Example 1
a.

b. 81 = 3ˣ means log 3 81  x

c. 10 2  0.01 means log10 0.01  2

d. eʸ = 9 means log 9 9  y
Example 2
Write each logarithmic equation in exponential
form.
a. log 5 x b.4 log 2 64  6

c. log a Md. 7 x  log c T

Solution to Example 2
a.

 6 2⁶ = 64
b. log 2 64means

 7a⁷ = M
c. log a Mmeans

d. x  log cmeans
T cˣ = T
Properties of Logarithms
If b > 0 and b ≠ 1, then
1. log b 1 because
0 b⁰ = 1
2. log b b because
1 b¹ =log
b x
3. log b b and
x
x b (Inverse
b
 x
Properties)
log b x  log b y
4. If , then x = y (One-to-one Property)
log b c
5. log a c  log a
b
1
log a b 
6. log b a
 Location of Base and Exponent in
Exponential and Logarithmic Forms
Difference Between Exponential and
Logarithmic Functions
Example 4
Evaluate each.
a. log 7 7
b. log 8 1
c. log 7 78
log3 15
d. 3
Solution to Example 4
a. Because log b  1, we conclude that log 7  1
b 7

b. Because log 1,we

0 conclude that log 8 1  0
b

c. Because log b x ,we

x conclude that
b
log 7 78  8
d. Because , we conclude that
b logb x
x
3log3 15
 15
Graphs of Logarithmic Functions
To sketch the graph of y  log b x , you can use
the fact that the graphs of inverse functions
are reflections of each other along the line
y = x.
Example 5
Graph f(x) = 3ˣ and g(x) = log 3 x in the same x-y
plane.
Solution to Example 5
Set up a table of coordinates for f(x) = 3ˣ.
Reverse these coordinates to get the
coordinates for the inverse function
g(x) = log 3 x.
Solution to Example 5
Plot the ordered pairs in both tables. Connect
each set with a smooth curve. The graph of the
inverse can also be drawn by reflecting the
graph of f(x) = 3ˣ about the line y = x.
 Characteristics of the Graphs of Logarithmic
Functions
• The x-intercept is 1. There is no y-intercept.
• The y-axis is a vertical asymptote.
• If b > 1, the function is increasing. If 0 < b < 1,
the function is decreasing.
• The graph is smooth and continuous. It has no
sharp corners or gaps.
Example 6
Graph f(x) = log 3and
x h(x) in the same x-y plane.
Solution to Example 6
Transformations Involving Logarithmic
Functions
Example 7
Without graphing, use equation 1 to describe
the transformation that yields the graph of
equation 2.
 Solution to Example 7
a. The graph of g(x) =4  log 5 x graph of
is the
f(x) =log 5 x moved 4 units up.
b. The graph of g(x) =  log 7 x reflection of the
is the
graph of f(x) = log 7 about
x the x-axis.
c. The graph of g(x) =log 6 (,where
x) x < 0, is the
reflection of the graph of f(x) =log 6 x about
the y-axis.
log 2 ( x  1)
d. The graph of g(x) = is the graph of
log x
f(x) = moved 1 unit to the left.
2
Exercise A
Complete the following table.
Exercise B
Write each equation in exponential form.
1. 6 =log 2 64 6. 1
log 3  5
243
2. 4 = log 8 x
1
3. 3 = log 27 7.b log 1 3
4 64
4. log 5 125  m
5. 1 8. 0.5  log121 11
log 7  2
49
Exercise C
Write each equation to its logarithmic form.
1. 3⁴ = 81 6. bᶟ = 343
2. 4ᶟ = 64 7. 8ʸ = 300
1
3. 6⁻ᶟ = 8. 10⁻ᶟ = 0.001
216
2
4. 9.  1
4
16  2 27 3

9
5. 12² = x