Using the ChangeOfBase Property to Evaluate Logarithms
Evaluating Logarithms
If we need to evaluate logarithms such as log 53 or ln 75 we can use our calculator to find the approximate
value of each by simply typing the problem into our calculator. We can evaluate log 53 » 1.724276 and
ln 75 » 4.317488 o our calculator because calculators can evaluate two types of logarithms, common
logarithms (base 10) and natural logarithms (base e). What if we need to evaluate log3 89 or log 7 215?
Neither of these problems can simply get typed into the calculator because calculators do not have log base
3 or log base 7 buttons.
Let’s look at how we can evaluate logarithms with bases other than 10 or e. We will start by evaluating the
two logarithms above.
Evaluate log 3 89.
log 3 89 = x Set the problem equal to x because we know it has to equal
something.
89 = 3x Rewrite the problem in exponential form by moving the base of
the logarithm to the other side.
log(89) = log(3x ) To solve exponential problems with different bases we take the
common logarithm or natural logarithm of each side.
log 89 = x(log 3) Use the properties of logarithms to rewrite the problem. Use
Property 5 to move the exponent out front which turns this into
a multiplication problem.
log 89
= x Divide each side by log 3.
log 3
4.085733 » x Use a calculator to find log 89 divided by log 3. Round the
answer as appropriate, these answers will use 6 decimal places.
log 89
Therefore, log 3 89 = » 4.085733.
log 3
The directions say, “Take the common logarithm or natural logarithm of each side.” You will get the
same answer no matter which logarithm you use, the common logarithm or the natural logarithm.
Evaluate log 7 215.
log 7 215 = x Set the problem equal to x.
215 = 7 x Rewrite the problem in exponential form by moving the base of
the logarithm to the other side.
log(215) = log(7 x ) To solve exponential problems with different bases we take the
common logarithm or natural logarithm of each side.
log 215 = x(log 7) Use the properties of logarithms to rewrite the problem. Use
Property 5 to move the exponent out front which turns this into
a multiplication problem.
log 215
= x Divide each side by log 7.
log 7
2.759962 » x Use a calculator to find log 215 divided by log 7. Round the
answer as appropriate, these answers will use 6 decimal places.
log 215
Therefore, log 7 215 = » 2.759962.
log 7
The ChangeOfBase Property
Notice in each of the examples shown above that final answers were very similar and if we did several more
examples the resulting answers would all be very similar. So, to evaluate logarithms with a base other than
10 or e, we can simply rewrite the problem as log of the number divided by the log of the base. We could
also rewrite the problem as natural log of the number divided by natural log or the base and the decimal
approximates would be the same whether we used common logarithms or natural logarithms.
The similarity of these answer lead to the ChangeOfBase Property for evaluating logarithms.
The ChangeOfBase Property – For any logarithmic bases a and b, and any positive number N,
log a N
log b N = .
log a b
The changeofbase property shows that we could use any base a to rewrite the logarithm, but if we want to
use our calculator to evaluate the logarithm we need to use base 10 or base e. So, I prefer to write the
changeofbase formula as follows.
log N ln N
log b N = or log b N =
log b ln b
Examples – Now let’s use the steps shown above to work through some examples.
Example 1: Evaluate log 9 564.
log 564 Use the ChangeOfBase Property to rewrite the problem using
log 9 564 =
log 9 common logarithms or natural logarithms.
log 9 564 » 2.883207 Use a calculator to find log 564 divided by log 9. Round the
answer as appropriate, these answers will use 6 decimal places.
log 564
Therefore, log 9 564 = » 2.883207.
log 9
Example 2: Evaluate log 2 947.
log 947 Use the ChangeOfBase Property to rewrite the problem using
log 2 947 =
log 2 common logarithms or natural logarithms.
log 2 947 » 9.887221 Use a calculator to find log 947 divided by log 2. Round the
answer as appropriate, these answers will use 6 decimal places.
log 947
Therefore, log 2 947 = » 9.887221.
log 2
Example 3: Evaluate log11 2164.
log 2164 Use the ChangeOfBase Property to rewrite the problem using
log11 2164 =
log11 common logarithms or natural logarithms.
log11 2164 » 3.202689 Use a calculator to find log 2164 divided by log 11. Round the
answer as appropriate, these answers will use 6 decimal places.
log 2164
Therefore, log11 2164 = » 3.202689.
log11
Example 4: Evaluate log 6 5534.
log 5534 Use the ChangeOfBase Property to rewrite the problem using
log 6 5534 =
log 6 common logarithms or natural logarithms.
log 6 5534 » 4.810169 Use a calculator to find log 5534 divided by log 6. Round the
answer as appropriate, these answers will use 6 decimal places.
log 5534
Therefore, log 6 5534 = » 4.810169.
log 6
Addition Examples
If you would like to see more examples of evaluating logarithms using the changeofbase property, just
click on the link below.
Additional Examples
Practice Problems
Now it is your turn to try a few practice problems on your own. Work on each of the problems below and
then click on the link at the end to check your answers.
Problem 1: Evaluate log8 557
Problem 2: Evaluate log 4 99
Problem 3: Evaluate log13 2397
Problem 4: Evaluate log 7 668
Problem 5: Evaluate log 5 8761
Problem 6: Evaluate log 20 48147
Solutions to Practice Problems