Hisar School

12th Grade Mathematics

Chapter #1 – Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Class Note #3 – Logarithmic Functions
Name-Surname:
1. Logarithmic Functions

Reminder:
Let 𝑓: 𝐴 → 𝐵
𝑓 is said to be invertible if and only if 𝑓 is 1-1 and onto.

Every exponential function 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒂𝒙 , where 𝒂 > 𝟎 and 𝒂 ≠ 𝟏, is one-to-one

and onto and therefore must have an inverse function.
Since 𝒇 is defined as 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙
𝒇"𝟏 is defined by 𝒙 = 𝒂𝒚 {𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝒙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝒚}

This inverse function 𝒇"𝟏 is called the logarithmic function with base 𝒂,
denoted by log % 𝑥, is defined by

Note: Graph of a function and it’s inverse

So 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂 𝒙 is the exponent to which the base 𝒂 must be raised to give x. are symmetric with respect to the line
𝒚 = 𝒙. Therefore, the graph of
𝒇"𝟏 (𝒙) = log % 𝑥 is the reflection of the
The domain of a logarithmic function with base a is (𝟎, ∞) and the range is ℝ. graph of 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒂𝒙 with respect to the
That is, 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂 𝒙: (𝟎, ∞) → ℝ, where 𝒂 > 𝟎 and 𝒂 ≠ 𝟏. line 𝒚 = 𝒙.

Above definition states that a logarithm is an exponent. We can use this definition to switch back and forth between the
logarithmic form and the exponential form.

Example: Logarithmic and exponential forms.

a) log ' 8 = 3 because b) log ( 81 = 4 because

)
c) log " 5 = −1 because d) log)* K)**L = −2 because
#
Exercises:
1) Use the definition of logarithmic function (𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂 𝒙 = 𝒚 ⟺ 𝒙 = 𝒂𝒚 ) to write each of the following as a logarithmic
expression.

a) 3+ = 243 b) 10( = 1000 c) 12* = 1

) ) "-
d) 7"' = e) K ( L = 81 f) 𝑎/ = 𝑐
-.

) 0
g) 50 = 9 h) 301) = 5 i)K'L = 6

2) Evaluate the following logarithmic expressions.

a) log - 4 b) log ' 32 c) log ( 27

d) log)* 10 000 e) log + 5- f) log 2 1

) $ $
g) log)* h)log + √25 i) log)* √10
)**
The Common Logarithm Function
The inverse function of 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟏𝟎𝒙 is the common logarithm function 𝒇"𝟏 (𝒙) = log)* 𝑥.
We simply write 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟏𝟎 𝒙 as 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙.
That is, If no base is indicated we assume it means base 10. For example, 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟏𝟎 𝟕 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟕.

Exercise: Use 𝒚 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 ⟺ 𝒙 = 𝟏𝟎𝒚 to find the value of 𝒙.

a) log 𝑥 = 0 b) log 𝑥 = 2

c) log 𝑥 = −1 d) log 0.001 = 𝑥

The Natural Logarithm Function

The inverse function of 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒆𝒙 is the common logarithm function 𝒇"𝟏 (𝒙) = log 4 𝑥.
We simply write 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒆 𝒙 as 𝐥𝐧 𝒙. For example, 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒆 𝟓 = 𝐥𝐧 𝟓

Exercise: Use 𝒚 = 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 ⟺ 𝒙 = 𝒆𝒚 to find the value of 𝒙.

#
a) ln 𝑒 ( = 𝑥 b) ln √𝑒 = 𝑥

c) ln 𝑥 = 0 d) ln 𝑒 = 𝑥

Exercises:
1) Use 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂 𝒙 = 𝒚 ⟺ 𝒙 = 𝒂𝒚 to write each of the following as an exponential expression. Find the value of 𝑥 is possible.
a) log % 𝑥 = 2 b) log)* 𝑥 = 1

c) log ( (𝑥 − 3) = 0 d) log + (𝑥 + 1) = 2

)
e) log ' 4 = 𝑥 f) log ( K . L = 𝑥

g) log 4 (𝑒 + ) = 𝑥 h) log 0 16 = 2
 Reminder:
2) Find the largest domain of the following functions.
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = log ( (4𝑥 − 3) b) 𝑓(𝑥) = log + (𝑥 ' − 3𝑥 − 4) 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂 𝒙: (𝟎, ∞) → ℝ,
where 𝒂 > 𝟎 and 𝒂 ≠ 𝟏.

0"(
c) 𝑓(𝑥) = ln K+"0L d) 𝑓(𝑥) = log (("0) (𝑥 ' − 3𝑥 − 4)

2. Laws of Logarithms

Since the logarithmic function 𝒚 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂 𝒙 is the inverse of the exponential function Laws of Exponents
𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙 , it is not surprising that the laws of logarithms are very closely related to the 1) 𝑎 0 ∙ 𝑎 8 = 𝑎 018
laws of exponents. %&
2) = 𝑎 0"8 (𝑎 ≠ 0)
%'
What have we learned so far?
3) (𝑎𝑏)0 = 𝑎 0 ∙ 𝑏 0

1) log % 1 = 0 because 𝑎* = 1 % 0 %&

4) K/L = /& (𝑏 ≠ 0)

2) log % 𝑎 = 1 because 𝑎) = 𝑎 5) 𝑎 0 = 𝑎 8 ⟺ 𝑥 = 𝑦
where 𝑎 ≠ 0,1, -1

6) 𝑎 0 = 𝑏 0 ⟺ 𝑎 = 𝑏
3) If 𝑦 = 𝑎 0 then 𝑥 = log % 𝑦, so 𝑥 = log % 𝑎 0 .
where 𝑎 > 0, b > 0
and 𝑥 ≠ 0
For example, log + 5( = 3

Now, let’s discover another property which is related to 3rd property listed above.

If 𝑥 = 𝑎 8 then 𝑦 = log % 𝑥, so 𝑥 = 𝑎𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂 𝒙 where 𝑥 > 0.

For example, 5<=># '+ = 25

Exercises: Evaluate each logarithm.

a) log ( 1 b) ln 1 c) log ? 7

d) log 10 e) log ' 2@ f) log ( 243

g) log 100 000 h) log - 2 i) ln √𝑒 (

j) 2<=>( )2 k) 10<=> + i) 𝑒 <A (

4) log % (𝑀 ∙ 𝑁) = log % 𝑀 + log % 𝑁

For example:

B
5) log % K C L = log % 𝑀 − log % 𝑁

For example:

6) log % 𝑀D = 𝐾 log % 𝑀

For example:
Exercises:
Evaluate each expression using the laws of logarithms.
a) log 4 + log 25 b) log ' 160 − log ' 5 c) log @ 192 − log @ 3

d) log . 3- e) log)' 9 + log)' 16 f) log ' 6 − log ' 15 + log ' 20

Use the laws of logarithms to express each of the following as a single logarithm.
a) log ' 5 + log ' 𝑥 b) log ( 𝑥 + log ( 𝑦 c) 2 log + 𝑥 + log + 𝑦

d) ln 4 + 2 ln 3 e) 3 ln 𝑥 − ln(𝑥 + 1) f) log 𝑀 − 3 log 𝑁

)
g) log % 𝑀 + log % 𝑁 − 3 log % 𝑃 h) 2 log 𝑀 − (
log 𝑁
If log ' 𝑃 = 𝑎, log ' 𝑄 = 𝑏, and log ' 𝑅 = 𝑐 write each of the following logarithms in term of 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐.
EF
a) log ' (𝑃𝑅) b) log ' (𝑃𝑄' ) c) log ' K L
G

G$
d) log ' (𝑃' h𝑄) e) log ' K L
√F

7) Let a be a positive number, with 𝑎 ≠ 1. Let M be positive real numbers, K Laws of Logarithms
1) log % (𝑀 ∙ 𝑁) = log % 𝑀 + log % 𝑁
and L be any real number
B
2) A log % K C L = log % 𝑀 − log % 𝑁
𝐾
log %) 𝑀D = log % 𝑀
𝐿 3) log % 𝑀D = 𝐾 log % 𝑀

Exercises:
1) Simplify following logarithms using the laws of logarithms. Evaluate if possible.
a) log ( 𝑥 + b) log '$ 8'

c) log . 243 d) log √( y '

 8) Change of Base
Let a,b and x be positive real numbers, where a and b are different from 1.
<=>* 0
Then, log % 𝑥 can be written at any base b as <=>* %
.

<=>* 0
That is, log % 𝑥 = <=>* %

Exercises:
1) Use change of base formula to write each expression as a single logarithm and evaluate.
<=># )** <=> '? ( <A '
a) b) c)
<=># )* <=> . <A -

2) Let log ' 5 = 𝑎. Use change of base formula and laws of logarithms to write following logarithms in terms of a.
a) log 5 b) log @ 20

3) Let ln 2 = 𝑎 and ln 3 = 𝑏. Use change of base formula and laws of logarithms to write following logarithms in terms of a
and b.
a) log 2 24 b) log -@ 12
4) Let a and b be positive real numbers. Use change of the base formula to show that
)
log % 𝑏 = OR log % 𝑏 ∙ log / 𝑎 = 1
<=>* %

5) Evaluate.
) ) ) ) )
a) <=> + <=> b) <=> + <=> − <=>
(2 $2 +, )' +- )' # )'

6) Solve each equation for x.

a) log(3𝑥 + 4) = 1 b) ln(2𝑥 + 3) = 0

c) log(log ( (𝑥 − 2)) = 0 d) log ( 𝑥 + log ( (𝑥 − 2) = 1

e) log ( (𝑥 ' − 2𝑥) = 1

 3. Graphs of Logarithmic Functions
Reminder: Graph of a function and it’s inverse are symmetric with respect to the line 𝒚 = 𝒙. Therefore, the graph of
𝒇"𝟏 (𝒙) = log % 𝑥 is the reflection of the graph of 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒂𝒙 with respect to the line 𝒚 = 𝒙.

1) Consider the functions 𝑓(𝑥) = 20 and 𝑔(𝑥) = log ' 𝑥.

a) Sketch the graph of both functions.
𝑥 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)

b) Fill in the following table.

Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Function 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 𝒇"𝟏 (𝒙) = log ' 𝑥

Domain
Range
Asymptote

2) Sketch the graph of the following functions.

a) 𝑓(𝑥) = log 𝑥 b) 𝑓(𝑥) = ln 𝑥

𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
3) For the following functions 𝑓(𝑥) = log % 𝑥, find
the value of 𝑎.

EXERCISES
1) Solve each of the following equations for 𝑥.
a) 𝑒 '0 = 18 b) log + (𝑥 ' − 4𝑥) = 1

c) log + (2 + log ( (𝑥 + 2)) = 1 d) log(𝑥 + 2) + log(𝑥 − 1) = 1

2) Solve each of the following equations for 𝑥 and write the solution set.
a) 2'0"- = 3 b) 60") = 201)
 c) 90 − 7 ∙ 30 + 12 = 0 d) 𝑒 0 + 7 ∙ 𝑒 "0 − 8 = 0

3) Solve each of the following logarithmic equations for 𝑥 and write the solution set.

a) log(𝑥 + 2) − log(𝑥 − 3) = 1 b) (log ( 𝑥)' − log ( 9𝑥 = 0

?
c) log ' 𝑥 + log - 𝑥 − log @ 𝑥 = ' d) log 0 (30 + 𝑥) = 2

e) log 2 (35 + log ( (2 + log - (6 − 𝑥))) = 2 f) log ' (𝑥 + 2) + 5 log (01') 2 = 6

4) Find the value of log ' l52 + 24 log (2 h33 + log ( 27

𝑙𝑛𝑥 + 𝑙𝑛𝑦 = 5
5) Find the solution set of the system n
𝑙𝑛𝑥 ' + 𝑙𝑛𝑦 ( = 12

6) log '? 𝑚 = log . 𝑛 is given. Find the relationship between 𝑚 and 𝑛.

7) Determine what two consecutive integer log 23 is between.

8) Arrange the following logarithmic functions, log ( 10 , log ' 40 , log + 150 in ascending order.
9) Find the solution set of the following inequalities.
𝟑 𝟐𝒙"𝟏 𝟗 "𝟑𝒙"𝟒
a) 3I − 27 > 0 b) K𝟒L ≥ K𝟏𝟔L

c) (x ' − 9)(3I"' − 9) ≥ 0 d) log " (3𝑥 − 4) > −1

(

e) log(𝑥 − 5) > 2 f) log ' (𝑥 ' − 3𝑥 + 8) − log ' (𝑥 + 1) > 1

g) log ' ( log ( (𝑥 − 4)) < 1 h) 2 < log ' (𝑥 + 3) ≤ 3

01'
i) log ' 0"( < 1
 4. Exponential and Logarithmic Models
Logarithmic and exponential functions can be used to model real-world situations. Logarithmic functions are very
helpful when working with phenomena that have a very wide range of values, because they allow you to keep the values
you actually work with in a smaller range. Exponential functions are helpful with phenomena that change very quickly, or
that grow or decay by a percentage over a particular time period.
Much of the power of logarithms is their usefulness in solving exponential equations. Some examples of this include
sound (decibel measures), earthquakes (Richter scale), the brightness of stars, and chemistry (pH balance, a measure of
acidity and alkalinity).

Ex: The mass 𝑀O of radioactive substance remaining after 𝑡 years is given by 𝑀O = 1000 ∙ 𝑒 "*.*-O grams. Find the time
taken for the mass to:
a) halve

b) reach 25 grams

c) reach 1% of its original value.

Ex: Suppose you’re driving your car on a cold winter day (−7℃) and the engine overheats (at about 105℃). When you
park, the engine begins to cool down. The temperature T of the engine 𝑡 minutes after you park satisfies the equation.
𝑇+7
ln u w = −0.11𝑡
112
a) Solve the equation for 𝑇.

b) Use part (a) to find the temperature of the engine after 20 minutes. (𝑡 = 20).

Ex:
The Richter Scale: In 1935 the American geologist Charles Richter (1900-1984) defined the magnitude 𝑀 of an earthquake
to be
𝐼
𝑀 = log u w
𝑆
where 𝐼 is the intensity of the earthquake (measured by the amplitude of a seismograph reading taken 100 km from the
epicenter of the earthquake) and S is the intensity of a “standard” earthquake (whose amplitude is 1 micron = 10"- cm).
The magnitude of a standard earthquake is
𝑆
𝑀 = log u w = log 1 = 0
𝑆

If one earthquake is 20 times as intense as another, how much larger its magnitude on the Richter scale?
Ex: The 1906 earthquake is San Francisco had an estimated magnitude of 8.3 on the Richter scale. In the same year a
powerful earthquake occurred on the Colombia-Ecuador border that was four times as intense. What was the magnitude
of the Colombia-Ecuador earthquake on the Richter scale?

Ex: If a task is learned at a performance level 𝑃* , then after a time interval 𝑡 the performance level 𝑃 satisfies
log 𝑃 = log 𝑃* − 𝑐 log(𝑡 + 1)
where 𝑐 is a constant that depends on the type of task and 𝑡 is measured in months.
a) Solve above equation for P.

b) If your score on a history test is 90, what score would you expect to get on a similar test after two months? After a year?
(assume 𝑐 = 0.2)