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Logarithm Properties and Examples

This document provides an overview of logarithms including: 1. It defines the two basic logarithms - logn and loge (written as ln), and gives examples of evaluating logarithmic expressions. 2. It lists several important properties of logarithms that should be memorized including how to manipulate logarithmic expressions. 3. It gives examples of solving logarithmic equations taken from past exams, demonstrating how to apply logarithmic properties and change logarithmic forms to take advantage of relationships like logb a * loga b = 1.

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Lin Li
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6 views2 pages

Logarithm Properties and Examples

This document provides an overview of logarithms including: 1. It defines the two basic logarithms - logn and loge (written as ln), and gives examples of evaluating logarithmic expressions. 2. It lists several important properties of logarithms that should be memorized including how to manipulate logarithmic expressions. 3. It gives examples of solving logarithmic equations taken from past exams, demonstrating how to apply logarithmic properties and change logarithmic forms to take advantage of relationships like logb a * loga b = 1.

Uploaded by

Lin Li
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Math Magic Logarithms

Page 1

Logarithms:

A. Logarithms, usually called logs, can be a little complicated since there are so many
properties to learn. To become good at the log problems requires lots of practice.

B. There are 2 basic logs: logn and loge (which is written as ln and means "natural log").
1. In general, logb x = n means b n = x and ln x = n means, e n = x.
2. If no 'b' is given, then it is assumed the value 10.
Ex [1] log 1000 = _______

a. Since no value 'b' is given, b = 10.

b. The problem is 10 x = 1000. For this to be true, x = 3.


c. The answer is 3.

Ex [2] log4 x = 3/2, then x = _____

a. The answer is 4 3/2 = x or 8 = x. The answer is 8.

Ex [3] logb 81 = log2 16, then b = ______

a. This means b log216 = 81. So the first thing to do is to find log 2 16


which means 2 x = 16. So x = 4. So log2 16 = 4.
b. So substituting we get b 4 = 81. So b = 3.
c. The answer is 3.

C. Properties Of Logs:

1. Below are the common properties of logs. All of these should be memorized
and you should be very familiar with knowing how to manipulate them.
logn n = 1

logn 1 = 0

log a + log b = log ab

log a - log b = log a/b

nlogn a = a

logn (1/x) = -logn x

logna x logan = 1

log na = a x log n

logn x = log x/log n

Math Magic Logarithms

Page 2

2. There might be other properties, but these are the ones that show up on the
number sense tests the most.

D. Examples Taken From Past UIL Tests


Ex [4] log4 27

log4 3 = _________

a. In this problem, if we can make the 1 st term be log4 3 then the problem
would be easy.
b. Change log4 27 to log4 33 = 3*log4 3.
c. So now we have 3 x log 4 3
d. The answer is 3.

log4 3 = 3 x 1 = 3.

Ex [5] ln 5 + ln 8 = ln 10 - ln x, then x = ______


a. ln 5 + ln 8 = ln 5*8 = ln 40.
b. ln 10 - ln x = ln 10/x.

c. So we have ln 40 = ln 10/x. The only way for this to be true is if 40 =


So, solving for x we get x = 1/4.

10

/x.

d. The answer is 1/4.

Ex [6] (log2 7)(log7 4) = _______

a. We know that (logb a) (loga b) = 1. So we need to change the 2 nd term to


be log7 2 to use this property.

b. Change log7 4 to log7 22 = 2*log7 2.

c. So we have 2 x log2 7 x log7 2 = 2 x 1 = 2.


d. The answer is 2.

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