Introducing Logarithms
Introducing Logarithms
21
Historical Context
( 16th and early 17th centuries)
• Enormous expansion in scientific knowledge, geography,
Physics and Astronomy
p q
Indices, powers, exponents
a a a
p q
a p q
a pq
p 1
a p
a
p
a a
q q p
𝒙 𝟐𝒙
0 1
1 2
2 4 What types of sequences are shown here?
3 8
A simple relation exists between the terms of the G.P.
4 16
and the corresponding indices or exponents of the
5 32 common ratio of the G.P.
6 64
This relation is the key idea behind Napier’s invention.
7 128
8 256
9 512
10 1024
11 2048
12 4096
A.P. G.P.
𝒙 𝟐𝒙 Calculate the following:
0 1
1 2
2 4
(a) 32 x 128
(b) 4096 512
3 8
4 16
5 32
6 64
7 128 (c) 84
8 256
Use the table and your knowledge of indices.
9 512
10 1024
11 2048
12 4096
A.P. G.P.
21
𝒙 𝟐𝒙 Calculate:
0 1
1 2 (i) 32 x 128
2 4
3 8 Multiplication reduced to addition!
4 16
5 32
6 64 Check out other examples.
7 128
8 256
9 512
10 1024
11 2048
12 4096
A.P. G.P.
21
𝒙 𝟐𝒙 Calculate:
0 1
LAPLACE
• What power do I put
x 2 x
on 2 to give me 256? 0 1 1
8
1
1 2 4
1
2 4 2
• What power do I put
3 8
on 2 to give me 1024?
4 16
5 32
6 64
7 128
8 256
9 512
10 1024
11 2048
12 4096
2 y log 2 ( y) x
x x 2 x
The inputs for y= 2x
0 1 1 are “logs2”.
Exercise in booklet: 1
8
1 2 4
switching between
1
exponential and log forms 2 4 2
3 8
Power Logs reduce a big
of 2 4 16 range of numbers to
5 32 a more manageable
range.
logarithms2 (2x) 6 64
2 7 128
log2 256 8 8 256
Increase of 1 in
the log2 scale
log2 1024 10
9 512 means a
log2 1 0
10 1024 ……………. in the
original scale.
11 2048
log 2 1
2 12 4096
23
𝒙 𝟐𝒙
0 1
1 2
2 4
3 8
4 16
5 32 For what values of x is
6
7
64
128
log 2(x) < 0?
8 256
9 512
10 1024
11 2048
12 4096
Log 2 (numbers between 0 and 1)
1
Compare log2 x and log2
x
1
log 2 log 2 x
x
Logs expand
small variation
Other Bases………..
Logs put numbers on a human friendly scale. Millions , billions and trillions are really big but
written as powers of 10 they become tame! Just plain old 6 and 9 and 12!
The bigger the base the smaller the log of the number to that base.
Bases are always positive! 22
Base e and natural logs (ln)
loge(x)=ln(x)
23
24 = 16 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 25 = 2
1 1
2−4= 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 = −2
64 25
20 = 1
𝑙𝑜𝑔10 10 = 1
1 1
2−3 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔9 3 =
8 2
𝑒1 = 𝑒 1
𝑙𝑜𝑔27 3 =
3
𝑁𝑜𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 1 = 0
6 5 1 6
5 3 2 5
3 2 1 3
0 4 -4 0
4 6 2 2
2 3 1 2
2 3 -1
-1
0 1 1
9 3 9
4 8 4
4 1 4
6 3 6
Use the graph of y=2x to estimate (i) log226 (ii) log239.4?
2 x 39.4
2 x 26.0
f ( x) 2 x, xR
Logs
Answer: 4 years
𝒕 = 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏.𝟐 𝟐
What power do I put on 1.2, to get 2?
Logs
Answer: 4 years
Fill in the table and hence draw 𝒙 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 (𝒙, 𝒚)
1
the graph of 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓 −1 𝑥
1
-2 −2,
4 4
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 1 1
-1 −1,
2 2
0 1 0,1
1 2 1,2
𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥
2 4 2,4
3 8 3,8
𝒙 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥 (𝒙, 𝒚)
1 1
−2 , −2
(b) What is the relationship between 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 4 4
and 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥 1 1
-1 , −1
2 2
(c) Explain why the relation 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ+
1 0 1,0
is a function
2 1 1,2
4 2 4,2
8 3 8,3
26
(d) For𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟐 𝒙
(i) Identify the base of 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥
(ii) What is varying for the function 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥
(iii) What is constant for the function 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑥
(iv) What is constant in the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙
28
Graphs of f(x) = 2x and f -1(x) = log2(x)
Pg. 21
f 1( x) logb( x), xR
x logb x
logb b ? b ?
Concept of logarithms is everywhere
order of magnitude
seismometer
Logs
Charles Richter
1900 -1985
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/people/int_richter.php
Richter Magnitude Scale (1934)
An earthquake rated 6.3 Richter magnitude
in Iran on 26 Dec 2003 killed 40,000 people.
Solution:
A1 10000
9.0 M 2 log10 log10
A2 1
9.0 M 2 4
M2 5
http://quakes.globalincidentmap.com/
Richter Magnitude Scale (1934)
Charles Richter
Richter’s definition of earthquake magnitude 1900 -1985
• The most important feature of the log which makes it so useful is that it moves big values
closer together and small values farther apart.
Hence logs increase the range over which numbers can be seen in a meaningful way.
• Logs “tame” big numbers. They reduce a wide range to a more manageable size.
• Logs make very big numbers and very small numbers more human-friendly.
• Log 2: A one unit increase in the log scale is equivalent to multiplying by 2 in the original scale
• Log 10 : A one unit increase in the log scale is equivalent to multiplying by 10 in the original
scale
• There is a constant ratio (the base) between consecutive numbers on a log scale.
F 140, 000e
0.0676586485 t
140, 000 14 20
ln t (0.0676586485)
20 14
log log(1.07) t t log(1.07)
14 20
ln
20 t 14 5.27168 years
log
14 5.27168... years 0.0676586485
log(1.07)
Justifying Comment
The two models are equivalent
F 140, 000 1 i
t
and are interchangeable.
We know that ln e x x e ln( x )
However only a whole number
1 i e
t ln 1 i
t
e t ln1 i of years makes sense in a
compound interest formula if
F 140, 000 1 i 140, 000e t ln 1.07 140, 000e t (0.0676586485)
t the interest is compounded
annually.
Note: ln(1.07) 0.0676586485 0.07
ln(1 i ) i for small i
Measuring acidity
In an aqueous solution, at 25o C,
no matter what it contains,
pH scale
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
pH= - log H
Solution:
pH log H
log 2.7 105
4.6
Hence the substance is an acid.
DECIBEL LEVEL AT KATIE’S MATCH HIT 113.7
The decibel level at Katie’s
Olympic semi final was 113.7 dB
A jackhammer operates at
sound level of 92 dB
Difference in dB = 113.7 – 92
Difference in B = 21.7
Difference in B=
Normal 60 dB
conversation
A lawnmower 90 dB
A car horn 110 dB
A rock concert or a 120 dB
jet engine
Show that an increase of 3 dB represents a doubling of sound intensity.
The loudest concert
log y
3 135 600000
3 500000
y 400000
4 405 2.607455 2
300000
1 200000 y = 0.4771x + 0.699
5 1215 3.084576 0
100000
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
6 3645 3.561698
x x
4.038819
y 5 3
7 10935
x
8 32805 4.51594
10
98415
295245
4.993061
5.470183
y ab x
a 100.699 5 Y c x m
b 100.4771 3 Y 0.699 x (0.4771)
Transforming exponential graphs into linear
graphs using logarithms.
Consider the function y 5(3) x .
y 5(3) x
log y log(5) x log(3)
Y = C X M
This is a line with slope = log (3) and
y- intercept = log (5)
• Computer Science
Base 2 • Information Theory
• Mathematics
• Mathematical Analysis
• Physics and Chemistry
Base e • Statistics
• Economics
• Engineering fields
x 2 x Your turn….
Exponential form Equivalent log form
52 25 log5 25 2
A base is
1 2
log5 25
always a (5)2 1
25
base
101 10 log1010 1
A log is a
1
9 3
2 log9 3 1
2
power for
a base 1
273 3 log 27 3 13
b0 1 logb10
The input for the log is the output for the exponential.
log2 a c 2c a
Your turn….
Evaluate Equivalent exponential form
log216 4 24 16
A base is
always a log2 8 3 23 8
base
log21 0 20 1
log2 a c 2c a
log2 a c 2c a
Adapt
Q7 b 2012 Paper 1 LCFL Phase 3 for OL
and HL
Cut out the equilateral triangles and line up sides
Solution for
havingversion
simplified equivalent expressions, to make a hexagon.
Simplified version
Table solution Jigsaw Solution
Sheets for students
Adapt
Q7 b 2012 Paper 1 LCFL Phase 3 for OL
and HL
We started here……. A new function is born whose input ………
f ( x) 2 x
g x log 2 ( x) f 1
x
x 6 x
in in
2 64
6
log 2 64 log 2 26 6
out out
64
26 6
• What type of function is f(x) = 2x? log 2 (64) log 2 (2) 6 6
Justify.
y log a ( x )
ay x
y
1
x
a
log 1 x y
a
y log 1 x
a
Hence the graph of y log 1 x is the image of y log a ( x ) by reflection in the x-axis
a
http://www.mmlsoft.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=12
Link to oodles more Tarsias: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/jigsaw.htm
True or false discussion
Equation Equivalent form True Correct equation
/False (if false)
log381 4 34 81 True
log10 5 log1010 log1015 510 15 False log2 8 log2 32 log2 256
log2 64
log216
log2 4
log2 64
log2 64 16
log216
logb a c logb a
c
Give possible numbers or variables for
the blanks in the equations below
log 3
log log 8
log log
log log 6
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Egyptian-Graph-Dancing-6020550/