Exponents and Logarithms
Exponents
• Definition - Any expression written as an is defined as the
variable a raised to the power of the number n
• n is called a power, an index or an exponent of a
• Example - where n is a positive whole number,
a1 = a
a2 = a a
a3 = a a a
an = a a a a……n times
Exponent satisfy the following rules:
1) where n is positive whole number
an = a a a a……n times
• e.g. 23 = 2 2 2 = 8
2) Negative powers
a-n =
1
an
e.g. a-2 = 1
a2
1 1 1
2-1 = or 2-2 = =
2 2 2 4
• 3) A Zero power
a0 = 1
e.g. 80 = 1
1
• 4) A Fractional power a = a
n n
1
e.g. 9 =2 9 = 9 =3
2
1
83 =38=2
All indices satisfy the following rules in
mathematical applications
Rule 1 am. an = am+n
e.g. 22 . 23 = 25 = 32
e.g. 51 . 51 = 52 = 25
e.g. 51 . 50 = 51 = 5
Rule 2 am
n
=a m −n
e . g .1
23
= 2 3− 2
= 21
=2
a 2 2
23
e . g .2 0
= 2 3− 0
= 2 3
=8
2
Rule 2 note
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note: if m = n, 2 3
a m e .g . = 2 3− 3
= 2 0
=1
m–n 0 2 3
then a n = a =a =1
________________________________
m
a 23
e.g. −2 = 23−( −2 ) = 25 = 32
note: a
−n = am – (-n) = am+n 2
________________________________
−m
a 1
-m – n 2−3 1 1
note: a
n = am+n
= a e.g. = 2 − 3− 2
= 2 −5
= =
22 25 32
_________________________________
Rule 3
(am)n = am.n
e.g. (23)2 = 26 = 64
Rule 4
an. bn = (ab)n
e.g. 32 42 = (34)2 = 122 = 144
Likewise,
n
an a
=
bn b if b0
e.g.
2
62 6
= = 22 = 4
32 3
Logarithms
logarithms are the other way of writing the exponents. A logarithm of a
number with a base is equal to another number. A logarithm is just the opposite
function of exponentiation.
For example, if 102 = 100 then log10 100 = 2.
•a and b are two positive real numbers.
•x is a real number.
•a, which is inside the log is called the "argument".
•b, which is at the bottom of the log is called the "base“
•Lod base b of a
The above equation has two things to understand (from the symbol ⇔):
•bx = a ⇒ logb a = x. This is called "exponential to log form"
•logb a = x ⇒ bx = a . This is called "log to exponential form"
Here is a table to understand the conversions from one form to the other form.
“How many times a number is
multiplied to get the other number?”
Example, how many 3’s are multiplied to get the answer 27?
If we multiply 3 for 3 times, we get the answer 27.
Therefore, the logarithm is 3.
The logarithm form is written as follows:
Log3 (27) = 3 ….(1)
Therefore, the base 3 logarithm of 27 is 3.
The above logarithm form can also be written as:
3x3x3 = 27
33 = 27 …..(2)
Logarithm Types
In most cases, we always deal with two different types of logarithms,
namely
1. Common Logarithm
2. Natural Logarithm
Common Logarithm
The common logarithm is also called the base 10 logarithms.
It is represented as log10 or simply log.
For example, the common logarithm of 1000 is written as a log (1000).
The common logarithm defines how many times we have to multiply the
number 10, to get the required output.
For example, log (100) = 2
If we multiply the number 10 twice, we get the result 100.
Natural Logarithm
The natural logarithm is called the base e logarithm. The
natural logarithm is represented as ln.
Here, “e” represents the Euler’s constant which is approximately equal
to 2.71828. For example, the natural logarithm of 78 is written as ln 78.
The natural logarithm defines how many we have to multiply “e” to get
the required output.
For example, ln (78) = 4.357.
Thus, the base e logarithm of 78 is equal to 4.357.
Log 1
The value of log 1 irrespective of the base is 0. Because from the
properties of exponents, we know that, a0 = 1, for any 'a’.
Converting this into log form, loga 1 = 0, for any 'a'. Obviously, when a = 10,
log10 1 = 0 (or) simply log 1 = 0.
When we extend this to the natural logarithm, we have, since e0 = 1 ⇒ ln 1 = 0.
Loga a
Since a1 = a, for any 'a', converting this equation into log form, loga a =
1. Thus, the logarithm of any number to the same base is always 1.
For example:
•log2 2 = 1
•log3 3 = 1
•log 10 = 1
•ln e = 1
Product Rule of Log
The logarithm of a product of two numbers is the sum of the logarithms of the
individual numbers, i.e.,
loga mn = loga m + loga n
Note that the bases of all logs must be the same here. This resembles/is derived
from the product rule of exponents: xm ⋅ xn = x m+n.
Examples:
•log 6 = log (3 x 2) = log 3 + log 2
•log (5x) = log 5 + log x
Quotient Rule of Log
The logarithm of a quotient of two numbers is the difference between the
logarithms of the individual numbers, i.e.,
loga (m/n) = loga m - loga n
Note that the bases of all logs must be the same here as well. This resembles/is derived
from the quotient rule of exponents: xm / xn = x m-n.
Examples:
•log 4 = log (8/2) = log 8 - log 2
•log (x/2) = log x - log 2
Power Rule of Log
The exponent of the argument of a logarithm can be brought in
front of the logarithm, i.e.,
loga mn = n loga m
Here, the bases must be the same on both sides. This resembles/is derived
from the power of power rule of exponents: (xm)n = xmn.
Change of Base Rule
The base of a logarithm can be changed using this property. It says:
logb a = (log a) / (log b)
Another way of writing this rule is logb a · log b = log a
Using this property, we can change the base to any other number.
Hence we can change the base to 10 as well.
Then we get: logb a = (log a) / (log b).
Thus:
•log2 3 = (log 3) / (log 2)
•log3 2 = (log 2) / (log 3)
Equality Rule of Logarithms
This rule is used while solving the equations involving logarithms. i.e.,
logb a = logb c ⇒ a = c
Number Raised to Log Property
When a number is raised to log whose base is same as the number, then the result is
just the argument of the logarithm. i.e.,
aloga x = x
Here are some examples of this property.
•2log2 5 = 5
•10log 6 = 6
•eln 3 = 3
EXAMPLE
1.log3(9)
2.log5(25)
3.log2(8)
4.log10(100)
5.log4(64)
6.log2(1)
7.log5(125)
8.log10(1000)
9.log3(1/9)
10. log5(t) ; t?
11. log2(X) ; X?
Example Find the value of log5 (1/25).
Solution:
We will simplify the given expression using the rules of
logarithms.
log5 (1/25)
= log5 (1/52)
= log5 (5-2)
= -2 log5 5
= -2(1)
= -2
log5 (1/25) = -2
THANK YOU
