Lesson 4.

A: Defining of Logarithmic Function, Equations and

Inequalities
Time frame: (8 hours)

Performance standard:
 Apply the concepts of logarithmic function

Specific Objectives:
At the end of the lesson the learners are expected to:
 Distinguish between exponential function, exponential
equation and exponential inequality
 Solve exponential equations and in equalities

“The Scottish mathematician John Napier published his discovery of

logarithms in 1614. His purpose was to assist in the multiplication of
quantities that were then called sines.”

LOGARITHMIC FUNCTION

Definition of Logarithmic Function

A logarithmic function is a function defined by
𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑥, 𝑖𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑏 𝑦
for all positive real numbers x and b, and 𝑏 ≠ 1.

The strength of an earthquake is estimate

d on a logarithmic scale called Richter Scale which is based on the

equation
𝐼
𝑟 = log
𝐼0
Where:
r= is the Richter scale number
I=is the intensity of the earthquake
𝐼0 =is the standard minimum intensity used to measure earth
vibriations

Logarithms are used widely in problems involving real-life situations. The

following are the real-life relationships by logarithmic function.

 The height H (in meters) above sea level, the air temperature t (in ℃), the
atmospheric pressure p (in cm of Hg) at height H, and the atmospheric
pressure c at sea level are related by the function:

𝑐
𝐻 = (30𝑡 + 8,000)𝑙𝑛 ( )
𝑝

 A certain type of radioactive substance decomposes according to the

relation:

𝑔
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 = −0.04𝑡
𝑔0

Where:
𝑔0 = the initial amount (in grams) of the substance reduce to
g (in grams) in t centuries.
 The Shanon Formula for measuring information I is:
𝐼 = −𝑝1 (𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑝1 ) − 𝑝2 (𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑝2 ) − 𝑝3 (𝑙𝑜𝑔3 𝑝3 )−. . . −𝑝𝑛 (𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑛 𝑝𝑛 )
Where 𝑝1 , 𝑝2 , 𝑝3 , … are numbers from 0 to 1 with 1 as sum.
 An anthropological study on Ecuador’s rice terraces makes use of
equation:
1 𝑥2
𝐴 = [ 𝑊𝐻] [log ( 2 + 1)]
2 𝑊
Where W and H represents the width and the height, respectively.

(Next Century Mathematics, 2016)

Logarithmic Equation
This is an equation that includes the logarithm of an expression that
contains variable.
Below is the conversion of exponential equation into logarithmic equation.
Observe how it will be converted.

Exponential Equation Logarithmic Equation

34 = 81 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 81 = 4

53 = 125 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 125 = 3

1 1
252 = 5 𝑙𝑜𝑔25 5 =
2
4𝑥+2 = 32 𝑙𝑜𝑔4 32 = 𝑥 + 2

6𝑥−3 = 36 𝑙𝑜𝑔6 36 = 𝑥 − 3

As you notice, the base of the exponential equation becomes the

subscript of the logarithmic equation; the exponent of the exponential
equation becomes the answer in logarithmic equation; and the answer in
the exponential equation becomes the variable in the logarithmic
equation.

Example 1: Express the exponential equation into logarithmic

equation.

1. 2𝑥+3 = 4
2. 7𝑥 = 343
3. 8𝑥+2 = 64
4. 93 = 729
5. 52 = 25

Solutions:

1. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 4 = 𝑥 + 3
2. 𝑙𝑜𝑔7 343 = 𝑥
3. 𝑙𝑜𝑔8 64 = 𝑥 + 2
4. 𝑙𝑜𝑔9 729 = 3
5. 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 25 = 2

Example 2: Express the logarithmic equation into exponential

equation.

a. 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑦
 b. 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 27 = 3
c. 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 25 = 𝑥 + 2
d. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 16 = 4

Solutions:

a. 𝑏𝑦 = 𝑥
b. 33 = 27
c. 5𝑥+2 = 25
d. 24 = 16

CONCEPT CHECK:

 log 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝑥
 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 𝑥 = 𝑛𝑥 (natural logarithm)
log 𝑥
 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑥 = log 𝑎 (change of base formula) or
ln 𝑥
 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑥 = ln 𝑎
 If 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑦, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑎 𝑦 = 𝑥

Logarithmic rules: For a ≠ 1, a > 0 y ∈ R and x > 0

 log b(mn ) = log b m + log b n

𝑚
 log b 𝑛 = log b m + log b n
 log bmn = n log b m
 If log a m= log b n, then m= n.

The following are the steps in solving logarithmic equations:

 1. Use the properties of logarithms to combine terms containing
logarithmic expressions into a single term.
2. Write the equation formed in step 1 in exponential form.
3. Solve for the indicated variable. Check your solutions to make sure
that possible solutions do not result in the logarithms of negative
numbers or zero.

Example 1. 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 81
Solution:
Evaluating a logarithmic expression can be done using the
“change of base formula”

Using the common logarithm we have,

log 81 1.908485019
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 81 = ≈ =4
log 3 0.4771212547

Using natural logarithm,

ln 81 4.394449155
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 81 = = =4
ln 3 1.098612289

Either of the two methods can be used to solve this logarithmic

expression.
That is 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟑 𝟖𝟏 = 𝟒.

Example 2: 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 64
Solution:
Using the common logarithm we have,

log 64 1.806179974
𝑙𝑜𝑔2 64 = ≈ =6
log 2 0.3010299957

Using natural logarithm,

ln 64 4.158883083
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 81 = = =6
ln 2 0.6931471806

That is 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 64 = 6
Example 3: 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 125
Solution:
Let 𝑎 = 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 125
Then look for the value of y in the equation 5𝑦 = 125
5𝑦 = 53
𝑦=3
That is 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟓 𝟏𝟐𝟓 = 𝟑.

1
Example 4: 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 32
Solution:

1
2𝑦 =
32
2𝑦 = 2−5
𝑦 = (−5)
𝟏
That is 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟐 𝟑𝟐 = (−𝟓).

Rewrite the following logarithmic equations into exponential form. Recall

that 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑦, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑎 𝑦 = 𝑥.

1
Example 5:𝑙𝑜𝑔36 6 = 2
Solution:

Identify the values of a, x, y

1
𝑎 = 36, 𝑥 = 6, 𝑦 =
2
𝟏
𝟏
We get 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟑𝟔 𝟔 = 𝟐 is equivalent to 𝟑𝟔𝟐 = 𝟔.

1
Example 6:𝑙𝑜𝑔5 125 = (−3)
Solution:

Identify the values of a, x, y

 1
𝑎 = 5, 𝑥 = , 𝑦 = (−3)
8
1
We get 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 125 = (−3) is equivalent to 5−3 = 125.

Expand the logarithmic expression.

Example 7: 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 8𝑥
Solution:
𝑙𝑜𝑔2 3𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 8 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥

25
Example 8: 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 𝑥 2
25
𝑙𝑜𝑔5 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 25 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 𝑥 2
𝑥2

Express the following as a single logarithmic expression

Example 9: 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 𝑥 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 5

Solution:
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 𝑥 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 5 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 5𝑥

Example 10: 3𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 3

Solution:
3𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 3 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥 3 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 3

Logarithmic Inequalities
This is an inequality that involves logarithmic expression or equations.

Example 1: Solve for each logarithmic inequality

a. 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 (3𝑥 + 2) < 2

b. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 16 > 2𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥
c. 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 𝑥 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 (𝑥 + 1) ≥ 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 (𝑥 + 9)

Solutions:

a. 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 (3𝑥 + 2) < 2

 32 < 3𝑥 + 2
9 < 3𝑥 + 2
−3𝑥 < −9 + 2
−3𝑥 < −7
7
𝑥<
3
7
Therefore, the value of 𝑥 < 3.

b. 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 16 > 2𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥

16 > 𝑥 2
16 > 𝑥
4>𝑥
Therefore, the value of 𝑥 > 4.

c. 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 𝑥 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 (𝑥 + 1) ≥ 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 (𝑥 + 9)

𝑙𝑜𝑔3 (𝑥)(𝑥 + 1) ≥ 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 (𝑥 + 9)
(𝑥)(𝑥 + 1) ≥ 𝑥 + 9
𝑥2 + 𝑥 ≥ 𝑥 + 9
2
𝑥 +𝑥−𝑥−9≥ 0
𝑥2 − 9 ≥ 0
(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 3) ≥ 0

𝑥+3≥0 𝑥−3≥0
𝑥 ≥ (−3) 𝑥≥3

Therefor there are two values of x, 𝑥 ≥ (−3) and 𝑥 ≥ 3.

Congratulations, you have made it this far. You can always review your answers
and see where you did wrong.
Let’s remember these:
 A logarithmic function is a function defined by

𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑥, 𝑖𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑏 𝑦

for all positive real numbers x and b, and 𝑏 ≠ 1.
 Logarithmic equation is an equation that includes the logarithm of an expression that
contains variable.

 Logarithmic Inequalities are inequalities that involves logarithmic expression or

equations.