CHAPTER 8:

LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

NAME: ___________________________

Chapter 8 Study Guide

This study guide is based on questions from the Chapter 8 Practice Test in the student resource.
Question I can … Help Needed Refer to
#1 sketch and determine the characteristics of the graph  some Section 8.1
of y = logc x, c > 0, c ≠ 1  none Example 3
#2 express a logarithmic function as an exponential  some Section 8.1
function and vice versa  none Link the Ideas
#3 explain the effects of the parameters a, b, h, and k in  some Section 8.2
y = a logc (b(x – h)) + k on the graph of y = logc x,  none Examples 1, 2
where c > 1
#4 determine an equivalent form of a logarithmic  some Section 8.3
expression using the laws of logarithms  none Example 1
#5 determine an equivalent form of a logarithmic  some Section 8.3
expression using the laws of logarithms  none Example 1
#6 solve a problem by applying the laws of logarithms to  some Section 8.3
logarithmic scales  none Example 4
#7 solve a logarithmic equation and verify the solution  some Section 8.4
 none Example 1
#8 evaluate logarithms using a variety of methods  some Section 8.1
 none Example 2
#9 explain the effects of the parameters a, b, h, and k in  some Section 8.2
y = a logc (b(x – h)) + k on the graph of y = logc x,  none Examples 1, 2
where c > 1
#10 sketch the graph of a logarithmic function by applying  some Section 8.2
a set of transformations to the graph of y = logc x,  none Examples 1, 2
where c > 1, and state the characteristics of the graph
#11 solve a logarithmic equation and verify the solution  some Section 8.4
 none Example 1
#12 solve an exponential equation in which the bases are  some Section 8.4
not powers of one another  none Example 2
#13 solve a problem that involves the application of  some Section 8.4
exponential equations to loans, mortgages, and  none Example 4
investments
#14 solve a problem by applying the laws of logarithms to  some Section 8.3
logarithmic scales  none Example 4
#15 solve a problem by applying the laws of logarithms to  some Section 8.3
logarithmic scales  none Example 4
#16 solve a problem involving exponential growth or  some Section 8.4
decay  none Example 4
#17 solve a problem by modelling a situation with an  some Section 8.4
exponential or logarithmic equation  none Example 3
(Checklist taken from MHR Teacher Resource DVD)

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 Assignment: 8.1 p.380: 1, 2 – 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17 – 20
Ma 30-1 NOTES (graphs on grid paper)

8.1 Understanding Logarithms

Recall the Definition of Inverse

y  f ( x)  x  f ( y )

Write the inverse Isolate the y-variable

x 1
y  2x 1 x  2 y 1  y
2

y  2x x  2y

Understanding Logarithms
Multiplication is the shortcut for addition: 3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  8 3
Exponents are a shortcut for multiplication: 3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  38
Logarithms are a shortcut of exponents: 62  36  log6 36  2

Index “10 raised to the power 2 gives 100”

Power
Exponent
“The power to which the base 10 must be raised to give 100 is 2”
Logarithm

2
Base
10 = 100 Number

“The logarithm to the base 10 of 100 is 2” To what exponent must 10 be

raised to get 100?

Log10100 = 2
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 Logarithmic Function
A function of the form y  logc x , where c  0 and c  1 , that is the inverse of the exponential function y  c x .

Logarithm
Is an exponent: In x  c y , y is called the logarithm to base c of x.

Conversions

Logarithm

Base
Logarithm
2
Base
10 = 100 Number
Log10100 = 2

Number
In log y = x,
b
x is the exponent to the
base b that equals to y.

The logarithm answer tells us the exponent to which a given base must be raised to achieve a certain value.

If there is no base b written in the log expression, the base is assumed to be 10, called a common log.

log x  log10 x log100  2

You Try

Logarithm Form Exponential Form

10  1000
3
log 4 64  3
1
24  16 log36 6 
2
p  q2 log12 1  0

102  0.01 log a b  c

xy  2 log x 5  y

33  27 p  log n m

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What is the Value of Each Logarithm?
a. log3 81  e. logb 1  i. log3 50 

b. log 2 32  f. logb 0 

c. log5 125  g. logb bm 

d. log10000  h. log 2  4  

Determine the Unknown Value in each Expression

1 2
a. log 4 x  2 b. log16 x   c. log x 9 
4 3

The Logarithmic Form of y  ab x

We have seen how to change forms between the exponential form y  b x and the logarithmic form
x  logb y .

How do you write the exponential form y  ab x in logarithmic form?

y
1. Write the exponential form y  ab x as  bx .
a
y
2. Change  b x to logarithmic form.
a

y
Therefore, the logarithmic form of y  ab x OR  b x is ______________________________.
a

You Try
1. Change each of the following from exponential form to logarithmic form.
4 n
a. y  4  5 b. y   6 
x

2. Change each of the following from logarithmic form to the exponential form y  ab x .
m
a. x  log 2   b. x  logb  6 y 
3

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Graphing Logarithmic Functions
NOTE: To Graph on the Ti-83/84 Calculator:
The logarithmic function is the inverse of an exponential function: Use change of base formula.
 x, y    y, x  log c b
log a b 
a. What is the inverse of f  x   3x ?
log c a

b. Sketch the graph of the original function and the

inverse accurately on the grid provided.

f  x   3x f 1  x 
x y x y
1
–3 /27
1
–2 /9
1
–1 /3

0 1

1 3

2 9

3 27

c. Identify the following characteristics:

Domain Range x-intercept y-intercept Equations of Asymptotes

f  x  3 x

f 1  x 

The Characteristics of the Logarithmic Function y  logb x

 The x-intercept is ____.

 There is _____ y-intercept.
 The y -axis is a vertical asymptote with equation x = _____.
 Domain = ____________
 Range = ____________
 y  logb x is equivalent to ______________, where x  0 and b  0, b  0 .
 b is the _____________ of both the logarithmic function and the exponential function.

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Applications of Logarithms

 The intensity of sound is measured in decibels (dB). The level of sound, L, in decibels, is given by
 I 
L  10 log   , where I is the intensity of the sound and I0 is the faintest sound detectable to humans. The
 I0 
sound level inside a particular car is 39 dB when it is idling, and 80 dB at full throttle. How many times more
intense is the sound at full throttle?

 In 1935, American seismologist Charles R. Richter developed a scale formula for measuring the magnitude of
A
earthquakes. The Richter magnitude, M, of an earthquake is defined as M  log , where A is the
A0
amplitude of the ground motion, usually in microns, measured by a sensitive seismometer, and A0 is the
amplitude, corrected for the distance to the actual earthquake, that would be expected for a “standard”
earthquake.
The largest measured earthquake struck Chile in 1960. It measured 9.5 on the Richter scale.
The strongest recorded earthquake in Canada struck Haida Gwaii, off the coast of BC, in 1949.

How many times as great was the seismic shaking of the Chilean earthquake than the 1949 Haida Gwaii
earthquake, which measured 8.1 on the Richter scale?

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 Assignment: 8.2 p.389: 1c, 2, 4c, 5bd, 6, 7b, 8c, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16a
(accurate graphs on grid paper)
Ma 30-1 NOTES
8.2 Transformations of Logarithmic Functions

y  a logc b  x  h   k

Parameter Description of Transformation Mapping Notation

a Vertical stretch by a factor of a about the x-axis x, y   x, ay 

x, y    x , 
b 1
Horizontal stretch by a factor of
b
about the y-axis y
b 

h Horizontal translation h units right or left x, y   x  h, y 

k Vertical translation k units up or down x, y   x, y  k 

What are the key characteristics from the basic graph: y  logc b ?

Describe Transformations for a Given Graph

a. Describe the transformations on the graph of y  log 2 x to become y  log 2 5  x  2   3 .

y  log 2 5  x  2   3

y  log 2 x

b. Where did the point (1, 0) on the original graph map to on the transformed graph?

c. What is the equation of the vertical asymptote on y  log 2 5  x  2   3 ?

d. What is the domain of the transformed graph?

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 Translations of a Logarithmic Function
a. Accurately sketch the graph of y  log3 x .

b. Use transformations to accurately sketch the graph of the

function y  log3  x  5  4 on the same grid.

y  log3 x y  log3  x  5  4

(1, 0)

(3, 1)

(9, 2)

c. Identify the following characteristics:

Domain Range x-intercept y-intercept Equation of Asymptote

y  log3 x

y  log3  x  5  4

Reflections, Stretches and Translations of a Logarithmic Function

a. Use transformations to accurately sketch the graph of the function y  2 log 2   x  1 .

y  log 2 x y  2 log 2 x y  2 log 2   x  y  2 log 2   x  1

(1, 0)

(2, 1)

(4, 2)

(8, 3)

c. Identify the following characteristics:

Domain Range x-intercept y-intercept Equation of Asymptote

y  2 log 2   x  1

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Determine the Equation of a Logarithmic Function Given Its Graph

a. The red graph can be generated by stretching the blue graph of

y  log 4 x . Write the equation that describes the red graph.

b. The red graph can be generated by stretching and

reflecting the blue graph of y  log 4 x . Write the
equation that describes the red graph.

c. The solid graph can be generated by translating the dashed

graph of y  log 4 x . Write the equation that describes
the solid graph.

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An Application Involving a Logarithmic Function
There is a logarithmic relationship between butterflies and flowers. In one study, scientists found that the
relationship between the number, F, of flower species that a butterfly feeds on and the number, B, of butterflies
observed can be modeled by the function F  2.641  8.958 log B .
Predict the number of butterfly observations in a region with 25 flower species.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. The graph of y  log x is transformed into the graph of y  3  log  x  6  by a translation of 6 units
___i____ and 3 units ___ii____.

The statement above is completed by the information in row ______

Row i ii

A right up

B left up
C right down
D left down

2. For the graph of y  logb  4 x  20  , where 0  b  1 , the domain is __________________.

3. If the graph of y  log5 x is reflected in the x-axis, the equation of the image can be
written in the form y  logc x . The value of c, to the nearest hundredth, is _______.

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 Assignment: 8.3 Part 1 p.400: 1bd, 2 – 3, 4a, 5 – 12
Ma 30-1 NOTES
8.3 Laws of Logarithms Part 1

PRODUCT LAW OF LOGARITHMS

logc MN  log c M  log c N

Proof
Let logc M  x and logc N  y , where M, N and c are positive real numbers and c  1.
Write the equations in exponential form as M  c x and N  c y :
 MN  c x   c  y
 logc MN  x  y
 MN  c x  y  logc MN  logc M  logc N

QUOTIENT LAW OF LOGARITHMS

M
log c  log c M  log c N
N

Proof
Let logc M  x and logc N  y , where M, N and c are positive real numbers and c  1.
Write the equations in exponential form as M  c x and N  c y :
M cx M
   log c  x y
N cy N
M M
  c x y  log c  log c M  log c N
N N

POWER LAW OF LOGARITHMS

log c M P  P log c M

Proof
Let logc M  x and logc N  y , where M and c are positive real numbers, c  1 and P is a real number.
Write the equation in exponential form as M  c x :
 M  cx  logc M P  xP

   logc M P   log c M  P
P
 M P  cx
 M P  cxP  logc M P  P logc M

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Using the Laws of Logarithms

 Write each expression in terms of individual logarithms of x, y and z.

x 9
a. log 6 c. log 3
y 3
x2

x5 y
b. log5 xy d. log 7
z

 Use the laws of logarithms to simplify and evaluate each expression.

1
a. log3 9 3 c. 2 log3 6  log3 64  log3 2
2

b. log5 1000  log5 4  log5 2

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 Write each expression as a single logarithm in simplest form. State the restrictions on the variable.

1
a. 4 log3 x   log3 x  5 log3 x 
2

b. log 2  x 2  9   log 2  x 2  x  6 

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CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1
1. The expression 3log x 4  log x 8  log x 16 , where x  0 , is equal to _________
4

A. log x 384 C. log x 256

3 1 1
B. log x 512 D. log x  
4 4 2

   
2. log p p6 q 2  log p p 2 q 2 is equivalent to _________

A. 3 C. 4 p
B. 4 D. p 4

3. If log3 A  t , then log3 27A3 _________

A. 3  3t C. 9t 2
B. 3  t 3 D. 3t 3

 
4. log x 2  4  log  x  2  is equivalent to _________

A. log  x  2  C. log  x  2 


log x 2  4 

B. log x  x  2
2
 D.
log  x  2 

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 Assignment: 8.4 Part 1 p.412: 1 – 8
Ma 30-1 NOTES
8.4 Logarithmic and Exponential Equations Part 1

LAWS OF LOGARITHMS
logc MN  logc M  logc N logc M P  P logc M logb b  1

M log a c
log c  log c M  log c N logb c  logb 1  0
N log a b

1
logb bn  n logb a 
log a b

USEFUL PROPERTIES OF LOGARITHMS

Where c, M, N > 0 and c ≠ 1, then

❶ If log c M  log c N then M  N .

❷ The equation log c M  N can be written with logarithms on both sides of the equation: log c M  log c c N .

❸ The equation log c M  N can be written in exponential form: c N  M .

SOLVING LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS

 ALGEBRAICALLY:
(i) Apply the laws and properties of logarithms to express each side of the equation as a single logarithm.
(ii) Write as a single logarithm and convert to exponential form.
 Remember: the logarithm of zero or a negative number is undefined. To identify if a root is extraneous,
substitute the root into the original equation and check whether all of the logarithms are defined.

 GRAPHICALLY:
(i) Write each side of the equation as a single logarithm. Enter left side in Y1 = and the right side in Y2 = . Find
the intersection point.
(ii) Write as a single logarithm on the left side of the = sign with zero on the right side. Enter the equation in
Y1 = and find the x-intercept.

SOLVING EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS USING LOGARITHMS

 Method 1: Take common logarithms of each side. Apply the rules of logarithms to isolate your variable.
 Method 2: Convert to logarithmic form.

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Example 1: Solve Logarithmic Equations
Solve. Round your answers to two decimal places.

a. log 4  5x  1  log 4  x  17 

b. log 2  x  6   3  log 2  x  4 

 
5
c. log3 x 2  8 x  10

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 Used when you cannot
Example 2: Solve Exponential Equations Using Logarithms find the same base to
Solve. Round your answers to two decimal places. solve algebraically.

a. 2x  2500

b. 5x3  1700

c. 63 x1  8x3

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CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. Solve for x in the equation log7 x  log7 4  log7 12 .

2. Solve for x in the equation given below to the nearest hundredth.

82 x3  15 109

3. If log3 y  c  log3 x , where y > 0 and x > 0, then y is equal to _______

c c3 3c
A. c  x B. C. D.
x x x

4. a. Find the exact value of 2  5

4 x 1
 6x2 .

b. Find the decimal approximation to the nearest hundredth.

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 Assignment: 8.3 Part 2 p.401: 13, 14, 16, 17
Ma 30-1 NOTES
8.3 Laws of Logarithms Part 2

Application: Solving Problems Involving a Logarithmic Scale

 The pH scale is used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

The pH of a solution is defined as pH = – log [H+], where [H+] is the
hydrogen ion concentration in moles per litre (mol/L). A neutral solution,
such as pure water, has a pH of 7. Solutions with a pH of less than 7 are
acidic and solutions with a pH of greater than 7 are basic or alkaline. The
closer the pH is to 0, the more acidic the solution is.

a. A common ingredient in cola drinks is phosphoric acid, the same

ingredient found in many rust removers. A cola drink has a pH of 2.5.
Milk has a pH of 6.6. How many times as acidic as milk is a cola drink?

b. An apple is 5 times as acidic as a pear. If a pear has a pH of 3.8, then what is the pH of an apple?

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 Solution A has a pH of 9.2. Solution B is twenty times more alkaline than solution A. The pH of solution B is

A. 7.2
B. 7.9
C. 10.5
D. 11.2

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 Assignment: 8.4 Part 2 p.413: 9 – 11, 13, 14, 16, 17
Ma 30-1 NOTES
8.4 Logarithmic and Exponential Equations Part 2

APPLICATION EXAMPLES
 Paleontologists can estimate the size of a dinosaur from incomplete skeletal remains. For a carnivorous
dinosaur, the relationship between the length, s, in metres, of the skull and the body mass, m, in kilograms,
can be expressed using the logarithmic equation 3.6022 log s  log m  3.4444 . To the nearest hundredth
of a meter, what was the skull length of a Tyrannosaurus Rex with an estimated body mass of 5500 kg? Solve
algebraically.

 When an animal dies, the amount of radioactive carbon-14 (C-14) in its bones decreases. Archaeologists use
this fact to determine the age of a fossil based on the amount of C-14 remaining. The half-life of C-14 is 5730
years.
Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump in southwestern Alberta is recognized as the best example of a buffalo jump
in North America. The oldest bones unearthed at the site had 49.5% of the C-14 left. How old were the
bones when they were found? Solve algebraically.

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CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. Algebraically determine the time period required for $7000 invested at 10% ________
per annum compounded semi-annually to grow to $10 000.

A. 3 years
B. 4 years
C. 7 years
D. 8 years

2. For every meter below the water surface, light intensity is reduced by 5%.
At what depth, to the nearest tenth of a metre, is light intensity 40% of that
at the surface?

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