Sec 4.

2 Logarithmic functions
A logarithm is a mathematical operation that determines how
many times a certain number, called the base, is multiplied by
itself to reach another number.

Relation between Exponents and Logarithms

2 x 2 x2 =8; 2 =8 3

log 2 8=3

10 x 10 =100; 10 =100∨log 2
10 100=2

3 4=81∨log 3 81=4

Logarithmic Functions
The inverse of exponential functions are logarithmic
functions
Definition: If x is a positive number and b>0, b≠ 1
then the logarithm of x to the base b is y if b =x y

Or
y=log b x if ∧only if b y =x

log 2 16=4∨24 =16

log 3 81=4 ; 3 4=81

Examples: 1.
log 2 8=3 means23 =8

ii) From 3 =9it follows that log 9=2

2
3

iii) From 5 =25 it follows that log 25=2

2
5

Graphs of Logarithmic Functions.

If base b >1, the graph is the mirror image of the
graph of an exponential function with base b> 1 in
the line y = x.
Ex: Plot the graph of y=log 2 x
Some properties:
1.The domain of a logarithmic function is x>0 or
(0,∞ ¿ .
The log of a negative number or zero does not
exist.
2.The range is the interval (−∞ , ∞ ) .
3. The logarithm of 1 is zero and so the x
intercept is 1.
 Some important logarithms are log to the base
10 denoted by log x and log to the base e
denoted by ln x.

ln x is read as the natural log of x.

Properties of Logarithms
1. log b ( u ) =log b v if ∧only if u=v

2. log b ( uv )=log b u+ log b v

Examples :
i) Log(2x)=log2+logx

ii) log ( x 2 y ) =log x 2+logy

iii) Log3+log4+logx=log(12x)

3. log b ( uv )=log u−log v

b b

Examples:
i) log (5 /3)=log 5−log3
 ii) log ( x /2)=logx −log 2

iii) logx−log 4=log( x / 4)

iv) ln (x+1)−ln 3=ln ( x+1/3)

4. log b ur =r log b u for any real number r

Examples:
2
i) ln x =2 lnx
3
ii) log 2 =3 log2
3x
iii) log 2 =3 xlog 2
x
iv) xln3=ln 3

5. log b b u=u

Examples:

y3
1. Simplify log 2
x( ) in terms of log x and log y
y3
( )
log 2 =log ( y 3 )−log ( x 2 ) =3 log y−2 logx.
x
 Combining Logarithms
Write ln x−ln ( x +1 ) as a single logarithm.

x
So ln x−ln ( x +1 )=ln ( x+1 )

x
Writeln ( zw ) in terms of lnx , lnz∧lnw .

ln ( zwx )=ln x −ln ( zw )=ln x−lnz−lnw

Find ln √ ab if ln a=3∧ln b=7

0.5
ln √ ab=ln ( ab )

¿ 0.5 ln ( ab )

¿ 0.5 ( lna+lnb )

¿ 0.5 ( 3+7 )

¿5
 8
x 5 ( x−2 )
Write ln √
3

x −3
in terms of lnx ,ln(x-2) and ln(x-3) .

8 8 1/ 3 8
x 5 ( x−2 ) x 5 ( x−2 ) 5
1 x ( x−2 )
ln
√
3

x −3
=ln
x−3 ( ) = ln
3 x−3

1 1
¿ { ln(x 5 ( x−2 )8 – ln ( x−3 )) }= {ln x 5 +ln ( x−2 )8 −ln (x−3) }
3 3

1
= {5 lnx+8 ln ( x−2 )−ln ( x−3 ) }
3

Write the following in terms of lnx, ln(x+1)

1. ln √5 x
(x+1)3
5 1
ln √ x =ln √5 x−ln(x+ 1)3=ln x 5 −ln ( x+1 )3= 1 lnx−3 ln ⁡(x+1)
3
( x +1) 5

x2 (x +1)
2. write log x+2
as a sum or difference of logartihms

x2 ( x+1 )
log =log x 2 ( x +1 ) −log ( x +2 ) =log x2 + log ( x +1 )−log ( x +2 )=2 logx+ log ( x +1 )−log ( x +2 )
x +2

Ex: Graph of y=2 ∧ y=log x on the same axes .

x
2
Solving logarithmic and exponential
equations.

1.Solve log x=4.

2

The equation can be written as 2 =x

4

So x = 16

2.Solve ln(x+1)=7
 We have e =x +1. Hence x=e −1 7 7

3.Solve log 49=2 x

This means x =49. So x=7. 2

The base of a logarithmic number can never

be negative so we reject x = -7.

4.
Solve e 5x
=4

Taking natural log on both sides

5x
lne =ln 4
5 x=ln 4 ,
ln 4
So x=
5

5
5.Solve 1+ e =3 −2 x

Separate/Isolate the exponential term

before taking log on both sides
5=3+3 e−2 x
 2=3 e−2 x
2 −2 x
=e
3
Take natural log on both sides
2
ln ()
3
=lne−2 x

2
ln ( )=−2 x
3
−1 2
so x= ln ( )
2 3

Solving an exponential equation

Find x if ( 25 ) x+2
=5
3 x−4

x+2
( 52 ) =5 3 x−4

( 5 )2 x +4=5 3 x−4

2x+4=3x-4
X=8

If log 3 ( x−5 )=2 , what is lnx?

x−5=32
x−5=9

x=14

so lnx=ln 14

−2 x
Find x if 20=5 (3 )

Separate/Isolate the exponential term

before taking log on both sides
4= (3 )−2 x
−2 x
log 4=log (3 )

log 4=−2 x log 3

log 4
x= =−0.6309
−2 log 3
Summary - Properties of Logarithms
 The log of a product is the sum of the logs
 The sum of the logs is the log of the products
 The log of a quotient is the difference of the logs
 The difference of the logs is the log of the quotient
 The exponent on the argument is the coefficient of the log
 The coefficient of the log is the exponent on the argument

Most Common Mistakes

 The log of a sum is NOT the sum of the logs. The sum of the logs is the log
of the product. The log of a sum cannot be simplified.
loga (x + y) ≠ loga x + loga y

 The log of a difference is NOT the difference of the logs. The difference of the logs is
the log of the quotient. The log of a difference cannot be simplified.
loga (x - y) ≠ loga x - loga y
 

 An exponent on the log is NOT the coefficient of the log. Only when the
argument is raised to a power can the exponent be turned into the
coefficient. When the entire logarithm is raised to a power, then it can not
be simplified.
(loga x)r ≠ r * loga x

 The log of a quotient is not the quotient of the logs. The quotient of the logs is from
the change of base formula. The log of a quotient is the difference of the logs. 
loga (x / y) ≠ ( loga x ) / ( loga y )
Applications Sec 4.1 and 4.2

Additional Properties:

1. log b b x =x

log 2 2x =x
2. b ¿¿

or 10log x =x

Simplify I )ln e 3 x
ln e 3 x =3 x ¿
2

ii) Find e ( ln x ) .

e ( ln x )=x 2
2

iii) Solve 10log x =25

x 2=25 so x=5∧x=−5

Important
lnx 2 ≠ ( lnx )2 . Hereln x 2=ln ( x . x )∧( lnx )2= (lnx )( lnx )

Notation:
( lnx )2=ln 2 x

Change of Base Formula

Original base is b ; New base is a

log m
log b ( m )= ¿ ¿a¿ ¿

Example: Express log x in terms of natural logarithms.

log x=log 10 x=log e x /¿ ¿ ¿

Applications
kt
r
Formula : S=P 1+ ( ) : Interest is compounded k times a year.
k

S=P e rt : Interest is compounded continuously

1. If a person invests $1000 at 8% annual interest

compounded continuously how long does it take for
the investment to double.
P = $1000, S = $ 2000, r = 0.08
S=P e rt

2000=1000 e0.08 t

2=e0.08 t

ln 2
t= =8.66 years
0.08

Would the doubling time change if something other than $1000

was invested?

No.

2. . How long will it take $5000 to grow to $7000 in an

investment earning interest at an annual rate of 6% if
compounding is
a. Quarterly

P=5000 , S=7000, r =0.06 , k=4 , t=?

kt
r
S=P 1+ ( ) k
 4t
0.06
7000=5000 1+ ( 4 )
7
=1.0154 t
5

Taking the natural log on both sides

ln ( 75 )=ln ( 1.015 ) 4t

ln 1.4=4 tln1.015

t=5.65 years

b. Compounded continuously
S=P e rt

7000=5000 e0.06 t

7000 0.06 t
=e
5000

Take natural log on both sides

ln 1.4=0.06 tlne

t=5.61 years

3. . A person has $1500 to invest and wants it to grow to

$2000 in 5 years. At what annual rate r compounded
continuously must she invest her money to achieve her
goal.
 rt
For continuous compounding S=P e
2000=1500 e5 r

4 5r
=e
3

Take natural log on both sides

ln ( 43 )=5 r lne
r =0.0575∨5.75 %

4. A person has $1500 to invest and wants it to grow to

$2000 in 5 years. At what annual rate r compounded
semi annually must she invest her money to achieve her
goal.
kt
r
S=P 1+ ( )
k
10
r
2000=1500 1+ ( ) 2
10
4 r
3
= 1+( )
2
1
4 r
()
3
10
=1+
2
1
4
so r=2 [( ) ]
3
10
−1 =0.0583∨5.83 %
 5.
center is
Q= A e−kx .

Find this function if the population density at the city center

is 15000 people per square mile∧at 10 milesaway ¿

the city center is 9000 people per square mile .

Q= A e−kx

x=0 , Q=15000 So A=15000

Q=15000 e−kx

When x = 10, Q = 9000

So 9000=15000 e −10k

3 −10 k
=e
5

Take natural log on both sides

ln ( 35 )=ln e
−10 k

ln ( 35 )=−10 k lne
k =0.051

−0.051 x❑
So Q=15000 e people
 6. Qs 53 Sec 4.2
A manufacturer determines that the supply function for x
units of a commodity is
S ( x )=ln ( x+ 2 )∧demand is D ( x ) =10−ln ⁡( x+ 1)

a. Find the demand price p = D(x) when x =10 units.

D ( x ) =10−ln ( x +1 ) D ( 10 )=10−ln (11 )=7.60

Logarithmic Functions S ( x )=ln ( x+ 2 ) so S ( 100 )=ln ( 100+2 ) =ln ( 102 )=4.62

b. Find the level pf production and price at market

equilibrium.
Supply = Demand
ln ( x +2 )=10−ln ( x+ 1 )

To solve a log equation , combine all logarithmic terms and

write them as a single log
ln ( x +2 ) +ln ( x+ 1 )=10

ln ( ( x +2 ) ( x +1 ) ) =10

( x +2 )( x +1 )=e10

x 2+ 3 x + ( 2−e 10) =0
 −3 ± √9−4 ( 2−e 10 )
x=
2

−3+ √ e 10+1
S o x= =147≈.
2

p=5 dollars≈.

7. An investment firm estimates that the value of its

portfolio after t years is A million dollars where
A ( t )=300 ln ( t +3 )

a. What is the value of the account when t = 0.

A(0) = 300 ln(3) = 329.6 million dollars

b. How long does it take for the account to double its initial
value?
2(300 ln(3)) = 300 ln(t+3)
2ln(3) = ln(t+3)
ln9=ln(t+3)
so t = 6

OR 659.2=¿300 ln(t+3)
ln(t+3) =659.2/300 = 2.1973
t+ 3=e2.1973 =8.9979

; t=5.9979

c. How long does it take before the account is a billion

dollars?
1000 =300 ln(t+3) ;
10
e =t + 3
3

10
so t = e −3= 25 years approx..
3