Logarithms and
Exponentials
1
Modelling exponential
growth/data
Modelling logarithmic
growth/data
Connected to further topics:
What for? differentiation, integration
etc.
Simplifying calculation
(multiplication to addition,
division to subtraction)
Measure of decibel,
magnitude, pH etc.
2
Outline
1. Logarithms to base 10 and base
2. The laws of logarithms
3. Logarithmic equations and
exponential equations
4. Change of base logarithms
5. Natural logarithms
6. Practical applications of
exponential functions
7. Graphs of logarithmic and
exponential functions
8. The inverse of logarithmic and
exponential functions
3
Learning Objectives
• Explain what logarithms represent in relation to exponentials
• Describe properties and laws of logarithm (definition,
addition, subtraction, power and change of base)
• Solve exponential equations by using indices law
• Solve logarithmic equations by using logarithm laws
• Identify the characteristics of any given logarithmic functions
• Identify the characteristics of any given exponential functions
• Sketch the graph of a logarithmic function
• Sketch the graph of an exponential function
• Find the inverse of the given logarithmic or exponential
function
4
Logarithms - By its name
• Logarithm of a given number is the
index/exponent/power to which another fixed number
(the base) is raised to produce that given number
Base =2
Logarithm =3
Product =8
5
Logarithms - Background
What is ?
• We could use the idea of logarithm. Below is the
list of logarithms for base 2 (it’s like a geometric
sequence)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512 1024
6
Logarithms - Background
When we solve the problem above, we do these
steps:
1. Find the index form of the given numbers (the
logarithms and base)
2. Add the logarithms/exponents
3. Find the final value by converting it back using
the base and logarithms
7
Logarithms - Background
This background leads to:
which then leads to the formulation of the formula/law
of logarithms, such as:
•
•
8
Does it work for all numbers?
How about, for example,
We can’t find the easy base numbers for these.
So… wouldn’t it be easier to do the long
multiplication?
9
Logarithms table
John Napier was the one
creating this table, and it took
him 20 years to complete the
table.
It was simply because he was
fascinated to the idea of
simplifying calculations.
10
Logarithms and Antilogarithms tables
John Napier was the one creating this table, and it
took him 20 years to complete the table.
It was simply because he was fascinated to the
idea of simplifying calculations.
11
Logarithms – Definition
works as long as
e.g.
12
Subtopic
6.3
Logarithms – the laws and properties
Definition
General
Power zero because
To its own base
Multiplication
Division
Indices/power for
Roots for
Reciprocals
13
Subtopic
6.3
Logarithms – the laws (examples)
14
Subtopic
6.3
Logarithms – the laws (examples)
15
Subtopic
6.3
Logarithms – the laws (examples)
16
Subtopic
6.4
Logarithms – solving equations
Equations
17
Subtopic
6.4
Logarithms – solving equations (examples)
18
Subtopic
6.4
Logarithms – solving equations (examples)
19
Subtopic
6.4
Logarithms – solving equations (examples)
or
20
Subtopic
6.4
Logarithms – solving equations (examples)
or
Note: must be positive, so
So, only.
21
Subtopic
6.4
Logarithms – solving equations (examples)
22
Subtopic
6.6
Logarithms – change of base
Change of base
Note: the value of () can be anything to suit the
context
23
Subtopic
6.6
Logarithms – change of base (examples)
24
Logarithms – the laws
The bright side is that the laws are connected one
and another.
To be aware of this, we need to proof the law by
using the other law(s).
Examples:
•
25
Subtopic
6.5
Solving exponential equations (examples)
26
Subtopic
6.5
Solving exponential equations (examples)
(note: )
or
or
(no solution)
Thus,
27
The Natural Logarithm
When a logarithmic function has base of
This function is called the natural logarithmic
function.
The number is called Euler’s (read: ‘oiler’)
number, an irrational number (just like which has
no end).
For further study regarding the background of the Euler’s number , you can visit
https://youtu.be/pg827uDPFqA 28
The Natural Logarithm
Examples:
Note: all the laws of logarithm are applicable for .
29
The Natural Logarithms – examples
30
The Natural Logarithms – examples
31
Graph of logarithms
𝑦 =log 2 𝑥
32
Graph of logarithms
33
Graph of logarithms
For any value of , the graph of has the following
properties:
The curve crosses the -axis at .
The curve only exists for positive values of .
The line is an asymptote and for values of
between 0 and 1 the curve lies below the -
axis.
There is no limit to the height of the curve for
large values of , but its gradient progressively
decreases.
The curve passes through the point .
34
Graph of logarithms
𝑦 =log 2 𝑥
𝑦 =ln 𝑥
𝑦 =log 10 𝑥
35
Graph of logarithms
𝑦 =2 ln ( 𝑥+ 3 )
𝑦 =2 ln 𝑥
𝑦 =ln 𝑥
𝑦 =2 ln ( 2 𝑥 −3 )
36
Logarithms - Domain & Range
In general, logarithm function is:
Domain : or
Range :
When ,
Asymptote to (when )
When if then
When if then
37
Case Study
During growth or reproduction in the human
body, a cell divides into two new cells roughly
every 24 hours.
Assuming that this process takes exactly 1 day,
and that none of the cells die off.
Starting with one cell, how many cells will there
be after
(i) 5 days?
(ii) 10 days?
Approximately how many days would it take to
create one million cells from a single cell?
38
Exponential functions
If you notice the case study presented on the
previous slide, it was an example of case/problem
that can be solved by using an exponential
function.
In the case of that example, we need to use
powers (exponents) of 2, or an exponential
function which involve .
39
Exponential functions – graphs
1 𝑥
−𝑥 𝑥 𝑦= 𝑥 𝑦 =4
𝑦 =2 𝑦 =2 8
𝑥
𝑦 =3
1
𝑦= 𝑥
4
1
𝑦=
2𝑥
𝑥
𝑦 =2
40
Exponential functions – graphs
𝑥
𝑦 =e
1
𝑦= 𝑥
e
𝑥
𝑦 =− e
41
Exponential functions – graphs
3𝑥
𝑦 =e
𝑥
𝑦 =e
−𝑥
𝑦 =3 e +2
𝑥
𝑦 =3 e
−𝑥
𝑦 =3 e
−𝑥
𝑦 =e
𝑥
𝑦 =3 e − 2
42
Exponential functions – graphs
What are the patterns that you observe from the
graphs of the exponential functions ?
• When the graph is increasing (is used to model
exponential growth).
• When , the graph is decreasing (is used to model
exponential decay).
• The speed of the increment (the acceleration) of
the values) is so much faster compared to the
quadratic functions
43
Exponential functions – Domain & Range
For any function ,
Domain :
Range :
Asymptote in
When
• If , then
• If , then
When
• If , then
• If , then
44
Exponential functions – Example
The cost, , of a machine years after initial
production is given by .
(i) Initial cost of the machine,
(ii) As becomes large (),
, thus .
(iii)See the graph note that
the line is a horizontal asymptote.
45
Logarithms vs Exponentials
Domain 𝑦 =𝑥
Range 𝑦 =2
𝑥
Domain
Range 𝑦 =log 2 𝑥
46
Logarithms vs Exponentials
What do you notice from
the graph of curves on 𝑦 =𝑥
the right?
𝑦 =2 𝑥
is the inverse function
of , and vice versa,
regardless of the base .
𝑦 =log 2 𝑥
You can try different
functions on GeoGebra
or Desmos
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