LOGARITHMIC
FUNCTION
Ref. [Link]
Self-Learning Module (SLM) – SHS Gen. Math
Note: If the base is not written, it is understood to be in the
base 10. The next examples illustrate how to evaluate
logarithms.
[Link]: Determine whether the given
are logarithmic function, logarithmic
equation, or logarithmic inequality and
write on the space provided.
• ____ 1.
• ____2.
• ____3.
• ____4.
[Link]: Determine whether the given are
logarithmic function, logarithmic equation, or
logarithmic inequality and write on the space
provided. .
1. Logarithmic Equation
• ____ 1. 2. Logarithmic Inequality
• ____2. 3. Logarithmic Equation
4. Logarithmic Function
• ____3. 5. Logarithmic Function
• ____4.
• Here are the properties of logarithms explained in an easy-to-understand way:
1. Product Rule
loga(mn) = logam + logan
• Thus, the log of two numbers m and n, with base ‘a’ is equal to the sum of log m and
log n with the same base ‘a’.
• If a, m and n are positive integers and a ≠ 1, then;
Example: log3(9.27)
= log3(9) + log3(27)
= log3(32) + log3(33)
=2+3 (By property: logb bx = x)
=5
log(a × b) = log(a) + log(b)
Example: log(2 × 3) = log(2) + log(3)
Example 1: log₂(4 × 6) = log₂(4) + log₂(6)
•Solution: log₂(24) = 2 + 2.585 = 4.585 Meaning: Logs of products become
sums of logs.
2. Quotient Rule:
• If m, n and a are positive integers and a ≠ 1, then;
loga(m/n) = logam – logan
• In the above expression, the logarithm of a quotient of two positive
numbers m and n results in a difference of log of m and log n with the
same base ‘a’.
Example: log2(21/8)
• log2(21/8) = log2 21 – log2 8
log(a ÷ b) = log(a) - log(b)
• Example 1: log(12 ÷ 4) = log(12) - log(4)
•Example 2: log₂(24 ÷ 4) = log₂(24) - log₂(4)
•Solution: log₂(6) = 4.585 - 2 = 2.585
• Meaning: Logs of quotients become differences of logs.
3. Power Rule
• If a and m are positive numbers, a ≠ 1 and n is a real number,
then;
logamn = n logam
• The above property defines that logarithm of a positive number m
to the power n is equal to the product of n and log of m.
Example:
• log2103 = 3 log210
• The above three properties are the important ones for logarithms.
Some other properties are given below along with suitable
examples.
log(ab) = b × log(a)
• Example: log(23) = 3 × log(2)
•Example 3: log₂(25) = 5 × log₂(2)
•Solution: log₂(32) = 5 × 1 = 5
• Meaning: Logs of powers become products of exponents and logs.
4. Identity Property logₐ(a) = 1
• Example: log₂(2) = 1
• Meaning: Log of the base equals 1.
5. Zero Property logₐ(1) = 0
• Example: log₂(1) = 0
• Meaning: Log of 1 equals 0.
6. Inverse Property logₐ(ax) = x
• Example: log₂(23) = 3
• Meaning: Logarithm and exponentiation are inverse
operations.
7. Log of a Reciprocal logₐ(1/a) = -logₐ(a)
• Example: log₂(1/2) = -log₂(2)
• Meaning: Log of a reciprocal equals negative log.
• Comparison of Exponent law and Logarithm law
• As you can see these log properties are very much similar to laws of
exponents. Let us compare here both the properties using a table:
Natural Logarithm Properties
• The natural log (ln) follows the same properties as the base logarithms
do.
• ln(pq) = ln p + ln q
• ln(p/q) = ln p – ln q
• ln pq = q log p