LOGARITHMS: DEFINITIONS,
PROPERTIES, AND APPLICATIONS
1 Definition of Logarithms
A logarithm is the inverse operation of exponentiation. If:
ab = c
then:
loga (c) = b
This means the logarithm answers the question: ”To what exponent must the base
be raised to obtain the given number?”
Example
If 23 = 8, then log2 (8) = 3.
2 Properties of Logarithms
loga (1) = 0 (Any number raised to the power of 0 is 1).
loga (a) = 1 (The logarithm of a base to itself is always 1).
loga (xy) = loga (x) + loga (y) (Product Rule).
loga (x/y) = loga (x) − loga (y) (Quotient Rule).
loga (xn ) = n loga (x) (Power Rule).
Change of Base Formula:
logb (x)
loga (x) =
logb (a)
3 Laws of Logarithms with Solved Examples
3.1 1. Product Rule
loga (xy) = loga (x) + loga (y)
Example:
log2 (8) + log2 (4) = log2 (8 × 4) = log2 (32) = 5
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3.2 2. Quotient Rule
loga (x/y) = loga (x) − loga (y)
Example:
log3 (81) − log3 (9) = log3 (81/9) = log3 (9) = 2
3.3 3. Power Rule
loga (xn ) = n loga (x)
Example:
log5 (253 ) = 3 log5 (25) = 3 × 2 = 6
3.4 4. Change of Base Formula
logb (x)
loga (x) =
logb (a)
Example:
log10 (10)
log2 (10) = ≈ 3.32
log10 (2)
3.5 5. Logarithm of 1
loga (1) = 0
Example:
log7 (1) = 0
3.6 6. Logarithm of the Base
loga (a) = 1
Example:
log9 (9) = 1
4 Applications of Logarithms
Used in exponential growth and decay problems.
Used in measuring sound intensity (decibels) and earthquake magnitude (Richter
scale).
Applied in finance for compound interest.
Used in computational sciences for complexity analysis.
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5 Advanced Exercises with Solutions
5.1 1. Solve for x:
log2 (x) + log2 (x − 2) = 3
Solution:
log2 [x(x − 2)] = 3
x(x − 2) = 23
x2 − 2x = 8
x2 − 2x − 8 = 0
Factorizing:
(x − 4)(x + 2) = 0
Since logarithms are undefined for negative numbers, the solution is:
x=4
5.2 2. Solve:
log5 (125) − log5 (25) + log5 (5)
Solution:
3−2+1=2
5.3 3. Convert log3 (27) to base 10 logarithm using the change
of base formula.
Solution:
log10 (27)
log3 (27) =
log10 (3)
1.431
= =3
0.477
5.4 4. If log4 (2) = x, express log8 (16) in terms of x.
Solution:
4 2
log8 (16) = =
3 x
5.5 5. The pH of a solution is given by:
pH = − log10 (H+ )
If H+ = 10−3 , find the pH. Solution:
pH = −(−3) = 3
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6 Quizlet (Objective Questions)
1. What is log10 (1000)?
2. If log2 (x) = 5, what is x?
3. What is the logarithm of 1 in any base?
4. Which property states that loga (xn ) = n loga (x)?
5. The logarithmic scale is used in measuring which of the following?
(a) Sound
(b) Earthquakes
(c) Population Growth
(d) All of the above
TUTORIAL MATERIAL FROM SEQUENCE TUTORIAL WRITTEN BY EJIDEAKU
SAMUEL INNOCENT
