UNIT 5: LOGARITHMS

MODULE: BASIC MATHEMATICS (8.1)

by GEOFFREY B
Contact: 256788783018

Contents
1 INTRODUCTION TO LOGARITHMS 2
1.1 Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2 Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3 Common Logarithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4 Basic Logarithmic Evaluations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2 LAWS OF LOGARITHMS 3
2.1 The Three Basic Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2 Additional Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.3 Examples Using Laws of Logarithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3 CHANGE OF BASE FORMULA 5

4 SOLVING LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS 6

4.1 Basic Logarithmic Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.2 Equations Using Logarithm Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.3 Exponential Equations Using Logarithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

5 USING LOGARITHM TABLES 9

5.1 Structure of Logarithm Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5.2 Finding Logarithms Using Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5.3 Multiplication Using Logarithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.4 Division Using Logarithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.5 Power Using Logarithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.6 Roots Using Logarithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.7 Combined Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

6 APPLICATIONS OF LOGARITHMS 12
6.1 Exponential Growth and Decay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
6.2 Computer Science Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

7 ADVANCED LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS 15

8 PRACTICE QUESTIONS (UBTEB/UVTAB STYLE) 16

9 SUMMARY OF KEY FORMULAS 17

1
1 INTRODUCTION TO LOGARITHMS
1.1 Definition
A logarithm is the inverse operation of exponentiation. If ax = N , then:

loga N = x

where:
• a is the base (a > 0, a ̸= 1)

• N is the argument (N > 0)

• x is the logarithm
In words: "The logarithm of N to base a is the exponent to which a must be raised
to get N ."

1.2 Examples
Example 1: Write in logarithmic form:

23 = 8 ⇒ log2 8 = 3
34 = 81 ⇒ log3 81 = 4
52 = 25 ⇒ log5 25 = 2
103 = 1000 ⇒ log10 1000 = 3

Example 2: Write in exponential form:

log2 16 = 4 ⇒ 24 = 16
log3 27 = 3 ⇒ 33 = 27
log5 125 = 3 ⇒ 53 = 125
log10 100 = 2 ⇒ 102 = 100

1.3 Common Logarithms

• Common logarithm: log10 x is usually written as log x (base 10)

• Natural logarithm: loge x is written as ln x (base e ≈ 2.71828)

1.4 Basic Logarithmic Evaluations

Example 3: Evaluate:

log2 32 =? (25 = 32 ⇒ log2 32 = 5)

log3 81 =? (34 = 81 ⇒ log3 81 = 4)
log5 25 =? (52 = 25 ⇒ log5 25 = 2)
log4 64 =? (43 = 64 ⇒ log4 64 = 3)
log7 49 =? (72 = 49 ⇒ log7 49 = 2)

2
Example 4: Evaluate:
1 1 1
log2 =? (2−3 = ⇒ log2 = −3)
8 8 8
1 1 1
log3 =? (3−3 = ⇒ log3 = −3)
27 27 27
log10 0.001 =? (10−3 = 0.001 ⇒ log10 0.001 = −3)

Example 5: Evaluate:
√ √ 3
log2 8 =? (81/2 = (23 )1/2 = 23/2 ⇒ log2 8 = = 1.5)
2
√
3 1/3 2 1/3 2/3
√
3 2
log3 9 =? (9 = (3 ) = 3 ⇒ log3 9 = ≈ 0.667)
3

2 LAWS OF LOGARITHMS
2.1 The Three Basic Laws
1. Product Law: loga (M N ) = loga M + loga N

2. Quotient Law: loga M

N
= loga M − loga N

3. Power Law: loga (M n ) = n loga M

2.2 Additional Laws

4. loga a = 1 (since a1 = a)

5. loga 1 = 0 (since a0 = 1)

6. loga M1 = − loga M

7. loga b = 1
logb a
(reciprocal property)

8. aloga M = M (inverse property)

2.3 Examples Using Laws of Logarithms

Example 6: Simplify: log2 8 + log2 4
Solution:

log2 8 + log2 4 = log2 (8 × 4) = log2 32 = 5

Alternative: log2 8 = 3, log2 4 = 2, sum = 5

Example 7: Simplify: log3 81 − log3 9
Solution:
 
81
log3 81 − log3 9 = log3 = log3 9 = 2
9
Example 8: Simplify: 2 log5 10 + log5 2 − log5 4

3
Solution:

2 log5 10 = log5 102 = log5 100

2 log5 10 + log5 2 = log5 100 + log5 2 = log5 200
 
200
log5 200 − log5 4 = log5 = log5 50
4

Example 9: Simplify: 1
2
log2 16 + 3 log2 2 − log2 4
Solution:
1
log2 16 = log2 161/2 = log2 4 = 2
2
3 log2 2 = 3 × 1 = 3
log2 4 = 2
2+3−2=3

Example 10: Express as a single logarithm: 2 log x + 3 log y − 21 log z

Solution:

2 log x = log x2
3 log y = log y 3
1 √
log z = log z 1/2 = log z
2  2 3
1 xy
2 log x + 3 log y − log z = log √
2 z
 2√ 
x y
Example 11: Expand: log z3
Solution:
√ 
x2 y

√
log 3
= log(x2 y) − log(z 3 )
z
√
= log x2 + log y − log z 3
1
= 2 log x + log y − 3 log z
2
Example 12: Given log 2 = 0.3010, log 3 = 0.4771, find: a) log 6 b) log 1.5 c) log 12 d)
log 18
Solution:

a) log 6 = log(2 × 3) = log 2 + log 3 = 0.3010 + 0.4771 = 0.7781

 
3
b) log 1.5 = log = log 3 − log 2 = 0.4771 − 0.3010 = 0.1761
2
c) log 12 = log(22 × 3) = 2 log 2 + log 3 = 2(0.3010) + 0.4771 = 0.6020 + 0.4771 = 1.0791
d) log 18 = log(2 × 32 ) = log 2 + 2 log 3 = 0.3010 + 2(0.4771) = 0.3010 + 0.9542 = 1.2552

Example 13: Given log 5 = 0.6990, find log 2.

4
Solution:
 
10
log 2 = log = log 10 − log 5 = 1 − 0.6990 = 0.3010
5
Example 14: Given log 2 = 0.3010, find log 5.
Solution:
 
10
log 5 = log = log 10 − log 2 = 1 − 0.3010 = 0.6990
2

3 CHANGE OF BASE FORMULA

The change of base formula allows us to convert logarithms from one base to another:
logc b
loga b =
logc a
Commonly used with base 10 or base e:
log b ln b
loga b = =
log a ln a
Example 15: Evaluate log2 5 using common logarithms.
Solution:
log 5 0.6990
log2 5 = ≈ ≈ 2.322
log 2 0.3010
Example 16: Evaluate log3 7 using natural logarithms.
Solution:
ln 7 1.9459
log3 7 = ≈ ≈ 1.771
ln 3 1.0986
Example 17: Evaluate log4 20.
Solution:
log 20 log(2 × 10) log 2 + log 10
log4 20 = = 2
=
log 4 log 2 2 log 2
0.3010 + 1 1.3010
= = ≈ 2.161
2(0.3010) 0.6020
Example 18: If log2 3 = 1.585, find log3 2.
Solution:
1 1
log3 2 = = ≈ 0.631
log2 3 1.585
Example 19: Express log8 16 in terms of log 2.
Solution:
log 16 log 24 4 log 2 4
log8 16 = = 3
= =
log 8 log 2 3 log 2 3

5
4 SOLVING LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS
4.1 Basic Logarithmic Equations
Example 20: Solve log3 (2x − 1) = 2
Solution:

log3 (2x − 1) = 2
2x − 1 = 32 = 9
2x = 10
x=5

Check: log3 (2(5) − 1) = log3 9 = 2

Example 21: Solve log5 (3x + 2) = 3
Solution:

log5 (3x + 2) = 3
3x + 2 = 53 = 125
3x = 123
x = 41

Example 22: Solve log2 (x2 − 3x) = 3

Solution:

log2 (x2 − 3x) = 3

x2 − 3x = 23 = 8
x2 − 3x − 8 = 0
√ √
3 ± 9 + 32 3 ± 41
x= =
2 2
√
Check:
√
Both give positive arguments? For x = 3+2 41 ≈ 4.7, argument > 0 For x =
3− 41
2
≈ −1.7, argument = (−1.7)2 − 3(−1.7) = 2.89 + 5.1 = 7.99 > 0 Both solutions
valid.

4.2 Equations Using Logarithm Laws

Example 23: Solve log x + log(x − 3) = 1
Solution:

log x + log(x − 3) = 1
log[x(x − 3)] = 1
x(x − 3) = 101 = 10
x2 − 3x − 10 = 0
(x − 5)(x + 2) = 0
x = 5 or x = −2

6
Check: x = 5: log 5 + log 2 = log 10 = 1 x = −2: log(−2) undefined → reject Solution:
x=5
Example 24: Solve log2 (x + 1) + log2 (x − 1) = 3
Solution:

log2 [(x + 1)(x − 1)] = 3

log2 (x2 − 1) = 3
x2 − 1 = 23 = 8
x2 = 9
x = ±3

Check: x = 3: log2 4 + log2 2 = 2 + 1 = 3 x = −3: log2 (−2) undefined → reject Solution:

x=3
Example 25: Solve log3 (x + 2) − log3 (x − 1) = 1
Solution:
 
x+2
log3 =1
x−1
x+2
= 31 = 3
x−1
x + 2 = 3(x − 1)
x + 2 = 3x − 3
2 + 3 = 3x − x
5 = 2x
x = 2.5

Check: log3 (4.5) − log3 (1.5) = log3 (3) = 1

Example 26: Solve log(2x − 1) + log(x + 2) = 2 log 3
Solution:

log[(2x − 1)(x + 2)] = log 32 = log 9

(2x − 1)(x + 2) = 9
2x2 + 4x − x − 2 = 9
2x2 + 3x − 2 = 9
2x2 + 3x − 11 = 0
√ √
−3 ± 9 + 88 −3 ± 97
x= =
4 4
x ≈ −3+9.85
4
≈ 1.71 or x ≈ −3−9.85
4
≈ −3.21 (reject negative gives arguments?)
√
Check
x ≈ 1.71: 2(1.71) − 1 = 2.42 > 0, 1.71 + 2 = 3.71 > 0 Solution: x = −3+ 97
4
≈ 1.71
Example 27: Solve log2 x + log4 x = 3

7
Solution:
log2 x log2 x
log4 x = =
log2 4 2
log2 x
log2 x + =3
2
3
log2 x = 3
2
log2 x = 2
x = 22 = 4

Check: log2 4 + log4 4 = 2 + 1 = 3

4.3 Exponential Equations Using Logarithms

Example 28: Solve 2x = 5
Solution:

log(2x ) = log 5
x log 2 = log 5
log 5 0.6990
x= ≈ ≈ 2.322
log 2 0.3010

Example 29: Solve 3x+1 = 20

Solution:

log(3x+1 ) = log 20
(x + 1) log 3 = log 20
log 20 1.3010
x+1= ≈ ≈ 2.726
log 3 0.4771
x ≈ 1.726

Example 30: Solve 52x = 100

Solution:

log(52x ) = log 100

2x log 5 = 2 (log 100 = 2)
2 2
2x = ≈ ≈ 2.861
log 5 0.6990
x ≈ 1.4305

Example 31: Solve 2x = 3x−1

8
Solution:

log(2x ) = log(3x−1 )
x log 2 = (x − 1) log 3
x log 2 = x log 3 − log 3
x log 2 − x log 3 = − log 3
x(log 2 − log 3) = − log 3
− log 3 − log 3
x= =
log 2 − log 3 −(log 3 − log 2)
log 3 0.4771
x= ≈ ≈ 2.71
log 3 − log 2 0.1761

5 USING LOGARITHM TABLES

5.1 Structure of Logarithm Tables
Logarithm tables typically provide:

• Characteristic: The integer part determined by the number’s position relative to

1

• Mantissa: The decimal part found from the table

5.2 Finding Logarithms Using Tables

Rules for Characteristic:

• For numbers ≥ 1: characteristic = (number of digits before decimal) - 1

• For numbers < 1: characteristic = negative = (number of zeros after decimal) (with
negative sign)

Example 32: Find the characteristic of:

345 ⇒ 3 digits ⇒ characteristic = 2

34.5 ⇒ 2 digits ⇒ characteristic = 1
3.45 ⇒ 1 digit ⇒ characteristic = 0
0.345 ⇒ no zeros after decimal ⇒ characteristic = 1̄ (or − 1)
0.0345 ⇒ 1 zero after decimal ⇒ characteristic = 2̄ (or − 2)

Example 33: Find log 23.45 using tables.

Solution:

23.45 = 2.345 × 101

Characteristic = 1
Find mantissa for 2345 : From tables, log 2.345 = 0.3701
log 23.45 = 1.3701

9
Example 34: Find log 0.003456
Solution:
0.003456 = 3.456 × 10−3
Characteristic = −3 = 3̄
Find mantissa for 3456 : log 3.456 = 0.5386
log 0.003456 = 3̄.5386 (or − 3 + 0.5386 = −2.4614)

5.3 Multiplication Using Logarithms

Example 35: Calculate 23.45 × 1.876 using log tables.
Solution:
log 23.45 = log(2.345 × 101 ) = 1 + 0.3701 = 1.3701
log 1.876 = log(1.876) = 0.2733 (from tables)
Sum = 1.3701 + 0.2733 = 1.6434
Find antilog of 1.6434:
Characteristic 1 ⇒ number × 101
Mantissa 0.6434 : From tables, antilog 0.6434 = 4.400
Result = 4.400 × 101 = 44.00
Example 36: Calculate 456.7 × 23.45 using log tables.
Solution:
log 456.7 = log(4.567 × 102 ) = 2 + 0.6596 = 2.6596
log 23.45 = log(2.345 × 101 ) = 1 + 0.3701 = 1.3701
Sum = 2.6596 + 1.3701 = 4.0297
Antilog of 4.0297:
Characteristic 4 ⇒ number × 104
Mantissa 0.0297 : antilog = 1.071
Result = 1.071 × 104 = 10, 710

5.4 Division Using Logarithms

Example 37: Calculate 456.7 ÷ 23.45 using log tables.
Solution:
log 456.7 = 2.6596
log 23.45 = 1.3701
Difference = 2.6596 − 1.3701 = 1.2895
Antilog of 1.2895:
Characteristic 1 ⇒ ×101
Mantissa 0.2895 : antilog = 1.948
Result = 1.948 × 101 = 19.48

10
5.5 Power Using Logarithms
Example 38: Calculate (34.56)2 using log tables.
Solution:
log 34.56 = log(3.456 × 101 ) = 1 + 0.5386 = 1.5386
log[(34.56)2 ] = 2 × 1.5386 = 3.0772
Antilog of 3.0772:
Characteristic 3 ⇒ ×103
Mantissa 0.0772 : antilog = 1.195
Result = 1.195 × 103 = 1195
Example 39: Calculate (7.89)3 using log tables.
Solution:
log 7.89 = log(7.89) = 0.8971 (7.89 is between 7.8 and 7.9)
log[(7.89)3 ] = 3 × 0.8971 = 2.6913
Antilog of 2.6913:
Characteristic 2 ⇒ ×102
Mantissa 0.6913 : antilog = 4.912
Result = 4.912 × 102 = 491.2

5.6 Roots Using Logarithms

√
Example 40: Calculate 456.7 using log tables.
Solution:
log 456.7 = 2.6596
√ 2.6596
log( 456.7) = = 1.3298
2
Antilog of 1.3298:
Characteristic 1 ⇒ ×101
Mantissa 0.3298 : antilog = 2.138
Result = 2.138 × 101 = 21.38
√
Example 41: Calculate 3 125.6 using log tables.
Solution:
log 125.6 = log(1.256 × 102 ) = 2 + 0.0990 = 2.0990
√
3 2.0990
log( 125.6) = = 0.6997
3
Antilog of 0.6997:
Characteristic 0 ⇒ ×100
Mantissa 0.6997 : antilog = 5.008
Result = 5.008

11
5.7 Combined Operations
Example 42: Calculate 45.67×2.345
7.89
using log tables.
Solution:
log 45.67 = log(4.567 × 101 ) = 1 + 0.6596 = 1.6596
log 2.345 = 0.3701
Sum (numerator) = 1.6596 + 0.3701 = 2.0297
log 7.89 = 0.8971
Difference = 2.0297 − 0.8971 = 1.1326
Antilog of 1.1326:
Characteristic 1 ⇒ ×101
Mantissa 0.1326 : antilog = 1.357
Result = 1.357 × 101 = 13.57
Example 43: Calculate 567.8×3.456
12.34
using log tables.
Solution:
log 567.8 = log(5.678 × 102 ) = 2 + 0.7542 = 2.7542
log 3.456 = 0.5386
Sum = 2.7542 + 0.5386 = 3.2928
log 12.34 = log(1.234 × 101 ) = 1 + 0.0913 = 1.0913
Difference = 3.2928 − 1.0913 = 2.2015
Antilog of 2.2015:
Characteristic 2 ⇒ ×102
Mantissa 0.2015 : antilog = 1.590
Result = 1.590 × 102 = 159.0

6 APPLICATIONS OF LOGARITHMS
6.1 Exponential Growth and Decay
Example 44 (Population Growth): A population grows from 10,000 to 15,000 in 5
years. Find the annual growth rate.
Solution:
10000(1 + r)5 = 15000
(1 + r)5 = 1.5
5 log(1 + r) = log 1.5
log 1.5 0.1761
log(1 + r) = = = 0.03522
5 5
1 + r = antilog(0.03522) ≈ 1.0845
r ≈ 0.0845 = 8.45%

12
Example 45 (Compound Interest): How long will it take $5000 to double at 6%
compounded annually?
Solution:

5000(1.06)t = 10000
(1.06)t = 2
t log 1.06 = log 2
log 2 0.3010
t= ≈ ≈ 11.9 years
log 1.06 0.0253

Example 46 (Half-Life): A radioactive substance has half-life of 8 years. How long

until it decays to 20% of original?
Solution:
 t/8
1
A0 = 0.2A0
2
 t/8
1
= 0.2
2
 
t 1
log = log 0.2
8 2
t
(− log 2) = log 0.2
8
t
(−0.3010) = −0.6990 (log 0.2 = log(2/10) = log 2 − log 10 = 0.3010 − 1 = −0.6990)
8
t
−0.3010 · = −0.6990
8
t 0.6990
= ≈ 2.322
8 0.3010
t ≈ 18.58 years

6.2 Computer Science Applications

Example 47 (Algorithm Analysis): An algorithm takes f (n) = n log2 n steps for n
inputs. Find: a) Steps for n = 1024 b) Steps for n = 2048 c) How many times faster is
n = 1024 compared to n = 2048?
Solution:

a) f (1024) = 1024 × log2 1024 = 1024 × 10 = 10, 240 steps

b) f (2048) = 2048 × log2 2048 = 2048 × 11 = 22, 528 steps
f (2048) 2048 × 11
c) = = 2 × 1.1 = 2.2 times
f (1024) 1024 × 10

Example 48 (Binary Search): Binary search on a sorted list of n items takes at most
⌈log2 n⌉ comparisons. Find maximum comparisons for: a) n = 1000 b) n = 1, 000, 000 c)
n = 1, 000, 000, 000

13
Solution:
log 1000 3
a) log2 1000 = = ≈ 9.97 ⇒ ⌈9.97⌉ = 10 comparisons
log 2 0.3010
6
b) log2 106 = ≈ 19.93 ⇒ 20 comparisons
0.3010
9
c) log2 109 = ≈ 29.90 ⇒ 30 comparisons
0.3010
Example 49 (Information Theory): The information content in bits of an event with
probability p is I = − log2 p. Find information for: a) p = 0.5 b) p = 0.25 c) p = 0.125
Solution:
 
1
a) I = − log2 0.5 = − log2 = −(−1) = 1 bit
2
 
1
b) I = − log2 0.25 = − log2 = −(−2) = 2 bits
4
 
1
c) I = − log2 0.125 = − log2 = −(−3) = 3 bits
8

Example 50  (Sound
 Intensity - Decibels): Sound intensity in decibels is given by
dB = 10 log I0 . If I = 1000I0 , find dB.
I

Solution:
 
1000I0
dB = 10 log = 10 log 1000 = 10 × 3 = 30 dB
I0

Example 51 (pH Scale): pH of a solution is pH = − log[H + ]. Find pH if: a) [H + ] =

10−5 b) [H + ] = 2.5 × 10−4
Solution:

a) pH = − log(10−5 ) = −(−5) = 5
b) pH = − log(2.5 × 10−4 ) = −[log 2.5 + log 10−4 ]
= −[0.3979 − 4] = −(−3.6021) = 3.60
 
Example 52 (Richter Scale): Earthquake magnitude is M = log A
A0
. How many
times more intense is a magnitude 6 earthquake than a magnitude 4?
Solution:

A6 A6
6 = log ⇒ = 106
A0 A0
 
A4 A4
4 = log ⇒ = 104
A0 A0
6
A6 10
= 4 = 102 = 100 times more intense
A4 10

14
7 ADVANCED LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS
Example 53: Solve log2 x + log4 x + log8 x = 11
Solution:
log2 x log2 x
log4 x = =
log2 4 2
log2 x log2 x
log8 x = =
log2 8 3
log2 x log2 x
log2 x + + = 11
2 3
1 1
log2 x 1 + + = 11
2 3
 
6+3+2
log2 x = 11
6
11
log2 x × = 11
6
log2 x = 6
x = 26 = 64
Example 54: Solve log(x2 − 5x + 6) = log(2x − 4)
Solution:
x2 − 5x + 6 = 2x − 4
x2 − 5x − 2x + 6 + 4 = 0
x2 − 7x + 10 = 0
(x − 2)(x − 5) = 0
x = 2 or x = 5
Check: x = 2: log(4 − 10 + 6) = log 0 undefined → reject x = 5: log(25 − 25 + 6) = log 6,
log(10 − 4) = log 6 Solution: x = 5
Example 55: Solve log2 (9x−1 + 7) = 2 + log2 (3x−1 + 1)
Solution:
log2 (9x−1 + 7) − log2 (3x−1 + 1) = 2
 x−1 
9 +7
log2 =2
3x−1 + 1
9x−1 + 7
= 22 = 4
3x−1 + 1
Let y = 3x−1 , then 9x−1 = (32 )x−1 = 32x−2 = (3x−1 )2 = y 2 :
y2 + 7
=4
y+1
y 2 + 7 = 4y + 4
y 2 − 4y + 3 = 0
(y − 1)(y − 3) = 0
y = 1 or y = 3

15
If y = 1: 3x−1 = 1 ⇒ x − 1 = 0 ⇒ x = 1 If y = 3: 3x−1 = 3 ⇒ x − 1 = 1 ⇒ x = 2 Check
both: valid. Solution: x = 1 or x = 2

8 PRACTICE QUESTIONS (UBTEB/UVTAB STYLE)

1. Evaluate without calculator:

(a) log2 64
(b) log3 81
(c) log5 125
(d) log4 1
16

2. Simplify:

(a) log2 8 + log2 16 − log2 4

(b) 2 log 5 + log 4 − log 2
(c) 1
2
log3 81 + 3 log3 3 − log3 9

3. Given log 2 = 0.3010, log 3 = 0.4771, find:

(a) log 6
(b) log 18
(c) log 1.5
(d) log 0.5

4. Solve for x:

(a) log3 (2x − 1) = 4

(b) log5 (x + 2) = 2
(c) log x + log(x − 3) = 1
(d) log2 (x + 1) − log2 (x − 1) = 2

5. Use change of base to evaluate:

(a) log2 7
(b) log3 10
(c) log5 20

6. Use log tables to calculate:

(a) 34.56 × 2.345

(b) 456.7 ÷ 12.34
(c) (23.45)3
√
(d) 567.8

7. Solve exponential equations:

16
 (a) 2x = 10
(b) 3x+1 = 15
(c) 52x = 30
(d) 4x = 3x+1

8. A population grows from 5000 to 8000 in 4 years. Find annual growth rate.

9. How long will it take $2000 to triple at 5% compounded annually?

10. A radioactive substance decays from 100g to 25g in 12 years. Find half-life.

11. Binary search on a list of 1,000,000 items takes at most how many comparisons?

12. Solve log2 x + log4 x = 6

13. Solve log(x2 − 4) = log(x + 2)

14. If log2 3 = 1.585, find log3 2 and log4 9.

15. An algorithm takes n log2 n steps. Compare steps for n = 1024 and n = 2048.

9 SUMMARY OF KEY FORMULAS

Topic Key Formulas
Definition loga N = x ⇐⇒ ax = N
Product Law loga (M N
) = loga M + loga N
Quotient Law loga M N
= loga M − loga N
Power Law loga (M n ) = n loga M
Special Values loga a = 1, loga 1 = 0
Change of Base log c
loga b = log a
= log1 a
b
Inverse Property aloga M = M , loga (ax ) = x
Characteristic Rule log(N × 10n ) = n + log N
Exponential to Log ax = b ⇒ x = log log b
a

Contact Information
For questions or clarification:

Geoffrey B
Tel: 256788783018

These notes are prepared for the BASIC MATHEMATICS module (8.1) following the
UBTEB/UVTAB curriculum framework.

17