Basic Algebra

What is an Equation
• An equation says that two things are equal. It
will have an equals sign "=" like this:

𝒙 + 1 = 5
• The equation above says: what is on the left (𝒙
+ 1) is equal to what is on the right (5). The 2
sides are equal when the value of 𝒙 is 4.
• So an equation is like a statement
"this equals that”
Parts of an Equation
 Parts of an Equation

• A Variable is a symbol that we assign to an

unknown value. It is usually a letter like 𝑥, y etc.
For example, we may say that l represents the
length of a rectangle, and w represents the width.
• A number on its own is called a Constant. It is a
fixed quantity.
• A Coefficient is a number used to multiply a
variable (4𝑥 means 4 times 𝑥, so 4 is a coefficient)
• An Operator is a symbol (such as +, -, *, etc) that
represents an operation (ie what you want to do
with the values).
Parts of an Equation
 Parts of an Equation

• A Term is either a constant or a variable, or numbers and

variables multiplied together. For example, 3, y, 𝑥y, 𝑥 2, 3yz.
Like terms are terms that differ only in their coefficients. For
example, 3ab, 4ab and ab are like terms.

• An Expression is made up of one or more terms (the terms

are separated by + or - signs). For example, 3𝑥 + 4y + 5. So,
now we can say things like "the expression has three terms",
or "the third term is a constant” etc.

• An Equation is a mathematical sentence in which 2

expressions are joined by an equal sign =.
For example, 4a + b = 5
 Polynomials
• Polynomial comes from poly- (meaning
"many") and -nomial (in this case meaning
"term") ... so it says "many terms“
• A polynomial can have:
• constants (like 3, -20, or ½)
• variables with or without coefficients
(like 𝒙 and 2y)
• exponents (like the 2 in y2), but only positive
integers 0, 1, 2, 3, ... etc are allowed in
exponents in a polynomial
 Polynomials
• Example of a Polynomial: 3𝒙 2 + 𝒙 – 2
• A polynomial can have constants, variables,
coefficients and the exponents 0,1,2,3,...
• But you can never have division by a variable
(so something like 2/𝒙 is right out)
These are polynomials:
• 3𝒙2
• - 6y2
• 3𝒙y2z - 0.1𝒙z - 200y + 0.5512v5+ 99w5
• 5
• (Yes, even "5" is a polynomial, one term is
allowed, and it can even be just a constant!)
• And these are not polynomials
• 3𝒙y-2 is not, because the exponent is "-2"
(exponents can only be 0,1,2,...)
• 2/(𝒙+2) is not, because dividing by a variable
is not allowed
• 1/𝒙 is not either
• 𝒙 is not, because the exponent is "½"
• But these are allowed:
• 𝒙/2 is allowed, because you can divide by a
constant
• also 3𝒙/8 for the same reason
• 𝟐 is allowed, because it is a constant (=
1.4142...)
 Monomial, Binomial, Trinomial
• There are special names for polynomials with
1, 2 or 3 terms:
 Variables in Polynomials
• Polynomials can have no variable at all:
Example: 21 is a polynomial. It has just one
term, which is a constant.
• Or one variable: Example: 𝒙4-2𝒙2+𝒙 has three
terms, but only one variable (𝒙)
• Or two or more variables: Example: 𝒙y4-
5𝒙2z has two terms, and three variables (𝒙, y
and z)
 Degree
• Types of polynomials are based on number of
terms involved in the expression, whereas,
degree of polynomials is based on highest
degree of the terms in the polynomial.
• The degree of a polynomial with only one
variable is the largest exponent of that
variable.
• Example:
The Degree is 3 (the largest
exponent of x)
• More Examples:
The Degree is 1 (a variable without an
exponent actually has an exponent of 1)

The Degree is 5 (largest exponent of x)

 Names of Degrees

Degree Name Example

0 Constant 7
1 Linear 𝒙+3
2 Quadratic 𝒙2-𝒙+2
3 Cubic 𝒙3-𝒙2+5
Higher degree equations
are usually harder to solve.
 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
• To add and subtract polynomials
we simply add or subtract
any like terms together
 Like Terms
• Like terms are terms that have the same variable
part.(Note: the coefficients can be different)
• Example:

(1/3) 𝒙y2 -2𝒙y2 6𝒙y2

are all like terms because the variables are all 𝒙y2

• 6𝒙 and 6y are unlike terms

 Example
• Add 2𝒙2 + 6𝒙 + 5 and 3𝒙2 - 2𝒙 – 1
Start with: 2𝒙2 + 6𝒙 + 5 + 3𝒙2 - 2𝒙 - 1

Place like
terms 2𝒙2 + 3𝒙2 + 6𝒙 - 2𝒙 + 5-1
together:

Add the like

(2+3) 𝒙2 + (6-2) 𝒙 + (5-1)
terms:

= 5𝒙2 + 4𝒙 + 4
Expanding
 Expanding
• "Expanding" means removing the ( )
• Whatever is inside the ( ) needs to be treated
as a "package".
• So when you multiply, you have to multiply by
everything inside the "package".
• Example: Expand 3(5+2)
3(5+2) = 3 * 5 + 3 * 2
= 21
• In Algebra putting two things next to each
other usually means to multiply.
• So 3(a+b) means to multiply 3 by (a+b)
= 3*a + 3*b = 3a + 3b
• -3(a – 5) = -3a + -3(-5) = -3a + 15
• 2y (y - a) = 2y*y + 2y(-a) = 2y2 – 2ay
• a(2-b+c) = 2a – ab +ac
• Example: Simplify the expression
6 𝑥 + 2 + 4 6𝑥 + 9
Solution:
6 𝑥 + 2 + 4 6𝑥 + 9
= 6𝑥 + 12 + 24𝑥 + 36
= 6𝑥 + 24𝑥 + 12 + 36
= 30𝑥 + 48
• Example: 9 2𝑥 − 6 − 4(5𝑥 − 8)

• Ans: 𝑥 = −2𝑥 − 22
= −2(𝑥 + 11)
Solving Linear Equations
 Solving a Linear equation
• The basic rule is using transposition to isolate the
variable to one side of the equation (usually, the
left side), and the constants to the right side, so
that you can solve the equation.
We will look at 2 methods:
• Method 1: Performing the same operation on
both sides of the equation
• Method 2: A shortcut that allows you to work
faster, where we isolate the variable by
moving like terms to one side of the equation.
 Method 1: Solving a Linear Equation
• Figure out what to remove to get "𝒙 = ..."
• Remove it by doing the opposite operation
• Perform the operation on both sides
• Example 1: 𝒙+9 = 11 (We want to remove the 9)
𝒙 + 9 - 9 = 11 – 9 (Subtract 9 from both sides)
𝒙+0=2 𝒙=2
• Example 2:
4 𝒙 = 8 (We want to remove the 4)
4 𝒙 /4 = 8/4 (Divide both sides of equation by 4)
𝒙=2
 Method 2: Solving a Linear Equation
• We isolate the variable by moving like terms to one side of the equation.
To maintain the equality of both sides, there are two rules for Method 2.
• When moving a term to the other side of the equal sign:
1. Change the sign (for addition and subtraction of terms in the
equation)
2. Flip the coefficient (for multiplication and division of terms in the
equation)
• Solve 𝒙 + 9 = 11
Notice that our previous method of subtracting 9 from both sides is
basically moving 9 over to the other side of the equation and changing
the sign. 𝑥 = 11 − 9 𝑥=2
• Solve -4 𝒙 = 8
8
𝑥= 𝑥 = −2
−4
• Here, dividing both sides by -4 is basically flipping -4 over to the other
side.
 Solving equations with variables on
both sides
Consider the equation 𝑥 − 6 = −2𝑥 + 3
• To isolate the variable, we need to get all the
variable terms to one side and the constant
terms to the other side.
• Next, we combine like terms and then isolate
the variable by multiplying or dividing.
Solve 𝒙 − 𝟔 = −𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑

• Step 1: Get all the variable terms to one side and the constant
terms to the other side.
𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 3 + 6 (Adding 2𝑥 and 6 to both sides, or using
Method 2)
• Step 2: Combine like terms
3𝑥 = 9
• Step 3: Divide or multiply to isolate the variable
• Dividing both sides of the equation by 3, or using Method 2
𝑥 =3

• Check:
Substituting 𝑥 =3 into the original equation, 𝑥 − 6 = −2𝑥 + 3

3 − 6 = −2 ∗ 3 + 3
−3 = −3
Word Problems using Linear Equations
• The length of a rectangle is twice that of its
width. The perimeter of the rectangle is 24 cm.
What is the width of the rectangle?
Let L be the length, and W be the width of the
rectangle.
L = 2W……………(1)
2L + 2W = 24………(2)
Substituting the value of L from (1) into (2),
2(2W) + 2W = 24
4W + 2W = 24
6W = 24
W = 24/6 = 4 cm.
Word Problems using Linear Equations
• Marcus, Sally and Sammy decided to share 20
sweets. Marcus took 8 sweets and Sally took
three times as many as Sammy. How many
sweets did Sammy receive?
• Let s be the number of sweets that Sammy
received
No. of sweets taken by Sally = 3s
8 + 3s + s = 20
4s + 8 = 20
4s = 20 – 8 = 12
s = 12/4 = 3
Sammy received 3 sweets
 Solving a System of Linear Equations
• In some word problems, we may need to translate the
sentences into more than one equation.
• If we have two unknown variables then we would need
at least two equations to solve the variable. In general,
if we have n unknown variables then we would need at
least n equations to solve the variable.
• There are a combination of techniques you can use to
eliminate a variable when you need to solve more than
one equation:
– Multiply or divide an equation by a constant
– Adding or subtracting the equations
• Once we have eliminated a variable, we substitute the
value of the variable in one of the equations to find the
value of the other variable.
• Example 1:
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = −2 ……..(equation 1)
4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 14 ……..(equation 2)
• We can add equations (1) and (2) to eliminate the variable y since the +3y and -3y
will cancel out.
• Adding the two equations, we get
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = −2 + 14
2𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 3𝑦 = 12
6𝑥 = 12 𝑥 = 12/6 𝑥=2
We can now substitute the value of 𝑥 into either equation (1) or (2).
Let us use equation (1)
2(2) + 3𝑦 = -2
4 + 3𝑦 = -2
3𝑦 = −2 − 4
3𝑦 = −6 𝑦 = -6/3 = -2

Hence, the solution to our system of Linear Equations is 𝑥 = 2, y = −2

Check: Substitute the value of 𝑥 = 2, y = −2 into equation (1) or (2) to verify
2(2) + 3(-2) (using equation 1)
=4–6
=-2
which is the right hand side of equation (1). So, we know that our answer is correct.
You should always verify the accuracy of your answer.
• Example 2:
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 1 ……..(equation 1)
3𝑥 − 4𝑦 = 10 ……..(equation 2)
• We need to multiply equations (1) and (2) by constants, so that we can
then proceed to add/subtract them to eliminate a variable.
• Let us multiply equation (1) by 3 and equation (2) by 2
6𝑥 + 9𝑦 = 3 ……..(equation 1)
6𝑥 − 8𝑦 = 20 ……..(equation 2)

• Subtracting the two equations, we get

6𝑥 + 9𝑦 − 6𝑥 + 8𝑦 = 3 − 20
6𝑥 − 6𝑥 + 9𝑦 + 8𝑦 = −17
17𝑦 = −17 𝑦 = −17/17 𝑦 = −1
We can now substitute the value of 𝑦 into either equation (1) or (2).
Let us use equation (1)
2𝑥 + 3(−1) = 1
2𝑥 − 3 = 1
2𝑥 = 1 + 3
2𝑥 = 4 𝑥 = 4/2 = 2

Hence, the solution to our system of Linear Equations is 𝑥 = 2, y = −1

Formula
 What is a Formula?
• A formula is a special type of equation that shows
the relationship between different variables.
• A formula will have more than one variable.
• The following are all equations, but only some
are formulas:
• 𝒙 = 2y - 7
• Formula (relating 𝒙 and y)
• a2 + b2 = c2
• Formula (relating a, b and c)
• 𝒙/2 + 7 = 0
• Not a Formula (just an equation)
 Subject of a Formula
• The "subject" of a formula is the single
variable (usually on the left of the "=") that
everything else is equal to.
• Example: in the formula
s = ut + ½ at2
"s" is the subject of the formula
In the formula
C=πd

Subject: C Rule: multiply π by diameter

• The variable on the left, is known as the subject: What

you are trying to find.

• The formula on the right, is the rule, that tells you how
to calculate the subject.

• So, if you want to have a formula or rule that lets you

calculate d, you need to make d the subject of the
formula. This is changing the subject of the formula
from C to d.
Some hints at changing the subject of a formula

• To change the subject, apply the same rules as we

have applied to normal equations.

1. Add or subtract the same variable to both sides.

2. Multiply or divide both sides by the same
variable.
3. Square or square root both sides
4. Get rid of fractions − multiply throughout by the
denominator.
5. Expand brackets − if it helps.
 Changing the Subject
• Example: Rearrange the volume of a box
formula
V = lwh so that the width w, is the subject:

Start with: V = lwh

divide both sides by h: V/h = lw
divide both sides by l: V/(hl) = w
swap sides: w = V/(hl)
 Changing the Subject
• Example: Rearrange the area of a circle
formula 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2 so that 𝑟 is the subject of
the formula
Start with: 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2

𝑨
Divide both sides by 𝜋: = 𝑟2
𝝅
𝐴
Take square root on both sides: =𝑟
𝜋

𝐴
Swap sides: 𝑟=
𝜋
Cross Multiplication
Cross Multiplication
 Cross Multiply
• Cross multiplying means multiplying the numerator on
one side of the equation by the denominator on the
other side of the equation.
• To find the solution of an equation:
Given an equation, we want to solve for 𝑥
𝑥 2
=
8 𝑥
Cross multiplying, 𝑥 ∗ 𝑥 = 2*8
= 𝑥 2 = 16
Taking the square root on both sides of the equation,
2
𝑥= 16 = +4 or -4
Inequalities
 Inequalities
• An inequality is a mathematical sentence in
which two expressions are joined by relational
symbols such as >, < etc.
 Inequalities

Symbol Words Example

> greater than 𝑥+3>2

< less than 7𝑥 < 28
greater than or
≥ 5≥𝑥-1
equal to
less than or equal
≤ 2y + 1 ≤ 7
to
 Solving Inequalities
• Our aim is to have 𝑥 (or whatever the
variable is) on its own on the left of the
inequality sign:
• For example: 𝑥 > 5
• Solving inequalities is very like solving
equations ... you do most of the same things ...
• ... but you must also pay attention to
the direction of the inequality.
• Some things you do will change the direction!
< would become >
> would become <
≤ would become ≥
≥ would become ≤
 Safe Things To Do
The following are things you can do without
affecting the direction of the inequality:
• Add (or subtract) a number from both sides
• Multiply (or divide) both sides by a positive
number
• Simplify a side
Example: 3𝑥 < 7+3
• You can simplify 7+3 without affecting the
inequality:
3𝑥 < 10
But the following things will change the
direction of the inequality ("<" becomes ">" for
example):
• Multiply (or divide) both sides by a negative
number
• Swapping left and right hand sides
Example: 2y+7 < 12
• When you swap the left and right hand sides,
you must also change the direction of the
inequality:
12 > 2y+7
 Adding or Subtracting a Value
• We can often solve inequalities by adding (or
subtracting) a number from both sides
Solve: 𝑥+ 3 < 7
• If we subtract 3 from both sides, we get:
𝑥+3-3<7-3
𝑥<4
• And that is our solution: 𝑥 < 4
In other words, 𝑥 can be any value less than 4.
 What If I Solve It, But " 𝑥 " Is On The
Right?
• No matter, just swap sides, but reverse the
sign so it still "points at" the correct value!
Example: 12 < 𝑥 + 5
• If we subtract 5 from both sides, we get:
12 - 5 < 𝑥 + 5 - 5
7<𝑥
• That is a solution!
• But it is normal to put " 𝑥 " on the left hand side
...
... so let us flip sides (and the inequality sign!):
𝑥>7
 Multiplying or Dividing by a Positive
Value
• Another thing we do is multiply or divide both
sides by a positive value
• Everything is fine if you want to multiply or divide
by a positive number:
• Solve: 3y < 15
If we divide both sides by 3 we get:
3y/3 < 15/3
y<5
• And that is our solution: y < 5
Multiplying or Dividing by a Negative Value
• When you multiply or divide by a negative
number, you have to reverse the inequality.
Solve: -2y < -8
• Let us divide both sides by -2 ... and reverse the
inequality!
-2y < -8
-2y/-2 > -8/-2
y>4
• And that is the correct solution: y > 4
• (Note that we reversed the inequality on the
same line we divided by the negative number.)
 A Bigger Example
(𝒙−𝟑)
Solve: < -5
𝟐
• First, let us clear out the "/2" by multiplying both
sides by 2.
• Because you are multiplying by a positive
number, the inequalities will not change.
𝒙−𝟑
*2 < -5*2
𝟐
= (𝒙-3) < -10
• Now add 3 to both sides:
𝒙 - 3 + 3 < -10 + 3
𝒙 < -7
• And that is our solution: 𝒙 < -7
 Another example
• Evaluate 2(8 − 𝑝) ≤ 3(𝑝 + 7)
• Solution:
2(8 − 𝑝) ≤ 3(𝑝 + 7)
16 − 2𝑝 ≤ 3𝑝 + 21
16 − 21 ≤ 3𝑝 + 2𝑝
−5 ≤ 5𝑝
−1 ≤ 𝑝
𝑝 ≥ −1

Note: a<b is equivalent to b>a, or a ≤ b is equivalent

to b ≥ a.
 Summary - Inequalities
• Many simple inequalities can be solved by
adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing
both sides until you are left with the variable
on its own on the LHS of the inequality.
• But the following things will change direction
of the inequality:
– Multiplying or dividing both sides by
a negative number
– Swapping left and right hand sides
Exponents
 Exponents
• You can multiply any number by itself as many
times as you want using exponents.
• So in general:
Exponents
 Exponents
• The exponent (such as the 2 in 82) says how many
times to use the value in a multiplication.
Examples:
• 82 = 8 * 8 = 64
• y3 = y * y * y
• y2z = y * y * z
• Exponents make it easier to write and use many
multiplications
• Example: y4z2 is easier than y * y * y * y * z * z, or
even yyyyzz
• Familiarise yourself with the exponent button
on your calculator. (𝒙 ▪ ,^, 𝒙 y or y𝒙). Most
calculators will also have separate buttons to
square (𝒙 2) and cube a number (𝒙 3).
 Negative Exponents
• A negative exponent means how many times to
divide one by the number.
𝟏
• Example: = = 0.125
8-1
𝟖
• You can have many divides:
𝟏
• Example: 5-3 = 𝟑
𝟓
𝟏 𝟏
= =
𝟓∗𝟓∗𝟓 𝟏𝟐𝟓

= 0.008
 Negative Exponents
• That last example showed an easier way to
handle negative exponents:

• Calculate the positive exponent (an)

• Then take the Reciprocal (i.e. 1/an)
 Reciprocal of
Negative
Positive Answer
Exponent
Exponent
4-2 = 1 / 42 = 1/16 = 0.0625
10-3 = 1 / 103 = 1/1,000 = 0.001
(-2)-3 = 1 / (-2)3 = 1/(-8) = -0.125
 What if the Exponent is 1, or 0?
• If the exponent is 1, then you just have the
number itself (example 91 = 9)
• If the exponent is 0, then you get 1
(example 90 = 1)
• But what about 00 ? It could be either 1 or 0,
and so we say it is "indeterminate".
 What if the Base is 0?
Positive
0n = 0
Exponent (n>0)

Negative Undefined! (Because dividing by

Exponent (n<0) 0 is undefined)

Exponent = 0 Indeterminate
 Fractional Exponents
• But what if the exponent is a fraction?
• An exponent of 1/2 is actually square root
• And an exponent of 1/3 is cube root
• An exponent of 1/4 is 4th root
• And so on!

• A fractional exponent like 1/n means to take the n-th

root:
 Exponents and Roots
• A root is the reverse of an exponent. When 5 is
squared, the answer is 25. That is 52 = 25. The
reverse of this process is called finding the square
root.
2
• 25= √25 = 5 . Most calculators have a square
root button √. Higher roots eg 5√ 7,776 can be
found by using 'shift' before the exponent(𝒙▪ ,^,
𝒙y or y𝒙) button. On a modern scientific
calculator, press 5 shift 𝒙 ▪7,776 = to obtain the
answer = 6.
• And the law about Fractional Exponents
(Roots):
Be Careful About Grouping

With () : (ab)2 = ab × ab
Without () : ab2 = a × (b)2 = a × b × b

With () : (-2)2 = (-2) × (-2) = 4

Without () : -22 = -(22) = - (2 × 2) = -4
 Rules for Exponents
• Rule 1: 𝒙m. 𝒙n = 𝒙(m+n)

Powers are added together.

For example: 32.33 = 3(2+3) = 35 = 243

• Rule 2: 𝒙m ÷ 𝒙n = 𝒙(m-n)
Powers are subtracted
For example: 65 ÷ 63 = 6(5-3) = 62 = 36
 Rules for Exponents
• Rule 3: (𝒙m)n = 𝒙m*n

Powers are multiplied together

For example: (32)3 = 32*3 = 36 = 729

• Rule 4: 𝒙1 = 𝒙

Any figure to the power of 1 always equals itself.

For example: 61 = 6; 1001 = 100
 Rules for Exponents
• Rule 5: 𝒙0 = 1

Any figure to the power of 0 always equals 1.

For example: 250 = 1; 9560 = 1

• Rule 6: 1m = 1

1 to any power always equals 1.

For example: 125 = 1; 15 = 1
 Rules for Exponents
• Rule 7: An Exponent can be a fraction such as
𝒙1/2. What this means is the square root of 𝒙 or √𝑥

• For example, 161/2 = 16 = 4

16. 16 = 16, since
161/2. 161/2 = 16(1/2+1/2) = 161 = 16

• Example: 2161/3 is the cube root of 216, which is 6.

3 3 3
• 216 . 216. 216 = 216
 Rules for Exponents
−𝒙 𝟏
• Rule 8: 𝟐 =
𝟐𝒙

• An Exponent can be a negative value. The

negative sign represents a reciprocal.
• Example 1: 2-1 is the reciprocal of 21
1 1
2-1 = =
21 2

1 1
• Example 2: 2-3 = =
23 8
 Laws of Exponents Summary
(m and n can be positive or negative)
Law Example
𝒙1 = 𝒙 61 = 6
𝒙0 = 1 70 = 1
𝒙-1 = 1/𝒙 4-1 = 1/4

𝒙m𝒙n = 𝒙m+n 𝒙2𝒙3 = 𝒙2+3 = 𝒙5

𝒙m/𝒙n = 𝒙m-n 𝒙6/𝒙2 = 𝒙6-2 = 𝒙4
(𝒙m)n = 𝒙mn (𝒙2)3 = 𝒙2×3 = 𝒙6
(𝒙y)n = 𝒙nyn (𝒙y)3 = 𝒙3y3
(𝒙/y)n = 𝒙n/yn (𝒙/y)2 = 𝒙2 / y2
𝒙-n = 1/𝒙n 𝒙-3 = 1/𝒙3
 Examples
• y2 y3 = y2+3 = y5

• (𝑥3y5) (𝒙 2yz) = 𝒙3+2y5+1z = 𝒙5y6z

• (2𝒙y)(4y) = 8𝒙y2

• (3𝒙 2y2) (4𝒙2) = 3.4𝒙2+2y2 = 12𝒙 4y2

 Examples
𝑦3
• = y3.y-2 = y3-2 = y1 = y
𝑦2

𝑥3𝑦 𝑥 3 𝑦𝑧 2 𝑥2
• = = 𝑥3-1y1-2 = 𝑥2y-1 =
𝑦2 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 2 𝑦
• (Note that the 𝑧2s cancelled out)
• When we multiply or divide by a number with
a negative power, the same rules apply.
• Example 1: 92.9-2 = 9(2+(-2)) = 90 = ____?
2 1
This is the same as 9. = 90
92

• Example 2: 45 ÷ 4-2 = 4(5-(-2)) = 47 = 16,384

This is the same as 45. 42 = 47
• A fraction might have a power applied to it. In
this situation, the main point to remember is
that the power must be applied to both the
top and the bottom of the fraction.

7 2 72 49
( ) =
3 32
=
9
Logarithms
 Logarithms
• Exponents and Logarithms are related, let's
find out how ...

• A logarithm answers a question like this:

in this way:

• So the logarithm answers the question:

• What exponent do we need so that the left
hand side equals the right hand side?
• In the example the "base" is 2 and the
"exponent" is 3:

• So the logarithm answers the question:

• What exponent do we need
(for one number to become another number) ?
• The general case
𝑒𝑥𝑝
𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 = 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡 means
log 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡 = e𝑥𝑝
• We will use common logs since log10 is used
very frequently. log = log10

• Notice Common logs use the Base 10

• This is the log key that appears on your

calculator.

• You should find that log 10 = 1, log 100= 2, log

34.2 = 1.534026
• We saw earlier that the general case is

𝑒𝑥𝑝
𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 = 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡 means
log 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡 = e𝑥𝑝
• Therefore, using the common log, where the
base is 10,
𝒆𝒙𝒑
𝟏𝟎 = 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕 means
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕 = 𝐞𝒙𝒑
 Natural Logarithms: Base "e"
• Another base that is often used is e (Euler's
Number) which is approximately 2.71828.
• This is called a "natural logarithm".
Mathematicians use this one a lot.
• On a calculator it is the "ln" button.
• Example: ln(7.389) = loge(7.389) ≈ 2
 Laws of Logarithms
• 𝑙𝑜𝑔 1 = 0 (since 100 = 1)
• log 𝑎 + log 𝑏 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑎𝑏 (or vice versa)
Eg., 𝑙𝑜𝑔 2 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔 5 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 10
𝑎
• 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑎 - 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑏 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 (or vice versa)
𝑏
54
Eg., 𝑙𝑜𝑔 54 - 𝑙𝑜𝑔 9 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 6
9
• 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑎𝑛 = n 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑎 Eg., 𝑙𝑜𝑔 5 = 3 𝑙𝑜𝑔 5
3
 Solving equations using Logs
• Solve 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥 = 2
• We know that 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡 = e𝑥𝑝
means 10𝑒𝑥𝑝 = 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡
• Writing the original equation in exponent
form,
102 = 𝑥
Hence, 𝑥 = 100
 Solving equations using Logs
1
• Solve 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥 =
2
• We know that 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡 = e𝑥𝑝
means 10𝑒𝑥𝑝 = 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡
Writing the original equation in exponent form,
1
10 = 𝑥
2

Hence, 𝑥 = 10
= 3.16 rounded to 2 dp.
 Solving equations using Logs
• Solve 2𝑥 = 15
• We would have no problem solving this equation if the
question was 2𝑥 = 16

• We know that 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑎𝑛 = n 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑎

• Taking logs on both sides of our original equation,
• log(2𝑥 ) = log 15
• 𝑥 log 2 = log 15
log 15
• 𝑥= (use your calculator to find log 15 and log 2)
log 2
• = 3.91 to 2dp.
Some Applications of Logs in Business
• Calculating the time required for compound
interest to accrue to a certain amount
• Calculating the interest rate required for the
Principal to accrue to a certain amount
• Calculating the number of years required to
pay off a mortgage