Logarithms
If 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑛 , then 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑛, which means log base 𝑎 of 𝑥 equals 𝑛.
Examples:
33 = 27 ⟺ 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 27 = 3
53 = 125 ⟺ 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 125 = 3
82 = 64 ⟺ 𝑙𝑜𝑔8 64 = 2
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑎 = 1, 𝑙𝑜𝑔 1 = 0, 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 (−𝑥) = ∞, 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 (0) = ∞
𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝑥 = lg 𝑥 = log 𝑥 ⟹ 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 10 (𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑚)
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 𝑥 = ln 𝑥, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑒 = 2.718281 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑚.
Logarithm Laws
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 (𝑥𝑦) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑥 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑦
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 (𝑥 𝑚 ) = 𝑚𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑥
𝑥
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 ( ) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑥 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑦
𝑦
1
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑏 =
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑎
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑥
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑥 =
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑎
Where 𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ 1, 𝑚 ≠ 0, 𝑥 > 0, 𝑦 > 0, 𝑚 ∈ ℝ.
Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020
Examples:
i) 𝑙𝑜𝑔 3 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔 5 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 (3 × 5) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 15
9
ii) 2 𝑙𝑜𝑔 3 − 3𝑙𝑜𝑔 2 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 32 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔 23 = log 9 − log 8 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 ( )
8
1
iii) 𝑙𝑜𝑔25 5 =
𝑙𝑜𝑔5 25
iv) 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 9 × 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 7 × 𝑙𝑜𝑔7 2 × 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 25
lg 9 lg 7 lg 2 lg 25
= × × ×
lg 5 lg 3 lg 7 lg 2
lg 32 lg 52
= ×
lg 5 lg 3
2 lg 3 2 lg 5
= × =2×2=4
lg 5 lg 3
Logarithmic Equations
i) Solve for 𝑥 in 32 = 22
Take lg on both sides of the equation
lg 3𝑥 = lg 22
𝑥 lg 3 = lg 22
lg 22
𝑥= = 2.814 (3 𝑑. 𝑝. )
lg 3
ii) Solve for 𝑥 in 𝑒 5𝑥−1 = 17
Take ln on both sides of the equation
ln 𝑒 5𝑥−1 = ln 17
(5𝑥 − 1) ln 𝑒 = ln 17
5𝑥 − 1 = ln 17
5𝑥 = ln 17 + 1
ln 17 + 1
𝑥= = 0.767 (3 𝑑. 𝑝. )
5
Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020
iii) Solve for x in log(4𝑥 + 1) = log(2𝑥 − 5)
Since the logs have the same base, we can just equate the inside
expressions:
⟹ 4𝑥 + 1 = 2𝑥 − 5
⟹ 4𝑥 − 2𝑥 = −5 − 1
⟹ 2𝑥 = −6
6
⟹ 𝑥 = − = −3
2
iv) 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 64 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 128 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 32
= 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 26 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 27 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 25
=6−7+5
=4
𝑙𝑜𝑔4 64 𝑙𝑜𝑔4 43 3
v) = =
𝑙𝑜𝑔7 49 𝑙𝑜𝑔7 72 2
vi) 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 (𝑥 + 2) + 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 3 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 27
⟹ 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 [3(𝑥 + 2)] = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 27
⟹ 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 (3𝑥 + 6) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 27
⟹ 3𝑥 + 6 = 27
⟹𝑥=7 OR
vii) 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 (𝑥 + 2) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 27 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 3
27
⟹ 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 (𝑥 + 2) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 ( )
3
⟹ 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 (𝑥 + 2) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 (9)
⟹𝑥+2=9
⟹𝑥=7
Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020
Application of Logarithms
1. Noting that 𝑝𝐻 = −𝑙𝑜𝑔10 [𝐻+ ], find the 𝑝𝐻 of a solution whose Hydrogen
ion concentration is given by [𝐻+ ] = 1.3 × 10−5 𝑀. Is the solution acidic or
alkaline?
𝑝𝐻 = −𝑙𝑜𝑔10 [1.3 × 10−5 ]
= −(−4.886)
= 4.886 (< 7, solution is acidic)
2. Find the 𝑝𝑂𝐻 of a solution whose Hydrogen ion concentration is given as
[𝑂𝐻− ] = 0.00054𝑀.
𝑝𝑂𝐻 = −𝑙𝑜𝑔10 [𝑂𝐻− ], 𝑝𝐻 + 𝑝𝑂𝐻 = 14
Given [𝑂𝐻 − ] = 0.00054𝑀
Then 𝑝𝑂𝐻=−𝑙𝑜𝑔10 [0.00054] = −(−3.268) = 3.268
3. What is the [𝐻+ ] of a solution that has a 𝑝𝐻 of 5.2?
−𝑙𝑜𝑔10 [𝐻+ ]=5.2
𝑙𝑜𝑔10 [𝐻+ ] = −5.2
[𝐻+ ] = 10−5.2
[𝐻+ ] = 6.3 × 10−6 𝑀
Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020