Logarithms Systems of Logarithms Common Logarithms Natural Logarithms Laws of Logarithms Properties of Logarithms Change of Base
Logarithms
An exponential number is a function of the form 𝑏𝑛 where 𝑏 is known as the base and 𝑛 is the exponent, power, or index of the exponentiation.
In general, logarithms are exponents. If a number, 𝑥, is expressed in form of exponential number, 𝑏𝑦, then the logarithm with base 𝑏 of the number, 𝑥, is equal to 𝑦, the exponent of the exponential number, 𝑥.
𝑥=𝑏𝑦⇒log𝑏𝑥=𝑦
The definition of logarithm is
Definiton (Logarithm)
Logarithm is a function. The logarithm of a numebr, 𝑥, is defined as the power to which a given base, 𝑏, must be raised in order to produce that number. Provided that 𝑥>0, and 𝑏 is any number such that 𝑏>0 and 𝑏≠1.
𝑦=log𝑏𝑥⇒𝑥=𝑏𝑦
Systems of Logarithms
A system of logarithms can be produced for a specific base by raising to various powers. The two most common logarithm systems are common logarithms and natural logarithems.
Common Logarithms
Logarithms having a base of 10 are called common logarithms. The common logarithm function is usually denoted by log10 and is usually abbreviated to lg or log. For example, log10 10=lg 10=log 10=1.
Natural Logarithms
Logarithms having a base of ℯ are called natural, hyperbolic, or Napierian logarithms. The natural logarithm function is usually denoted by logℯ and is usually abbreviated to ln. For example, logℯ ℯ=ln ℯ=1.
Laws of Logarithms
Logarithms aid in multiplying, dividing, and raising numbers to higher powers.
There are three laws of logarithms, which apply to any base:
Law of Multiplication: Product Rule
log (𝐴×𝐵)=log 𝐴+log 𝐵
To multiply 𝐴 by 𝐵, the log of 𝐵 is added to the log of 𝐴.
Law of Division: Quotient Rule
log𝐴𝐵=log 𝐴−log 𝐵
To divide 𝐴 by 𝐵, the log of 𝐵 is subtracted from the log of 𝐴.
Law of Raising Power: Power Rule
log 𝐴𝑛=𝑛log 𝐴
To raise a number to a higher power, the log is multiplied by the power indicator. To extract the root of a number, the log is divided by the root indicator.
Properties of Logarithms
log𝑏1=0.
∵𝑏0=1⇒0=log𝑏1
log𝑏𝑏=1.
∵𝑏1=𝑏⇒1=log𝑏𝑏
log𝑏𝑏𝑥=𝑥.
Let 𝑏𝑦=𝑏𝑥⇒𝑦=𝑥∴𝑦=log𝑏𝑏𝑥⇒𝑥=log𝑏𝑏𝑥
generalized to ⇒log𝑏𝑏𝑓(𝑥)=𝑓(𝑥)
Let 𝑓(𝑝)=𝑏𝑝; 𝑔(𝑞)=log𝑏𝑞(𝑔∘𝑓)(𝑝)=𝑔(𝑓(𝑝))=𝑔(𝑏𝑝)=log𝑏𝑏𝑝=𝑝
𝑏log𝑏𝑥=𝑥.
Let 𝑏𝑦=𝑥∴𝑦=log𝑏𝑥⇒𝑏log𝑏𝑥=𝑥
generalized to ⇒𝑏log𝑏𝑓(𝑥)=𝑓(𝑥)
Let 𝑓(𝑝)=𝑏𝑝; 𝑔(𝑞)=log𝑏𝑞(𝑓∘𝑔)(𝑞)=𝑓(𝑔(𝑞))=𝑓(log𝑏𝑥)=𝑏log𝑏𝑞=𝑞
Since (𝑔∘𝑓)(𝑝)=𝑝 and (𝑓∘𝑔)(𝑞)=𝑞, the exponential and logarithm functions are inverses of each other.
Let 𝑓(𝑝)=𝑏𝑝; 𝑔(𝑞)=log𝑏𝑞Assume 𝑓 is an inverse function for 𝑔.Let 𝑓(𝑝)=q, then 𝑔(𝑞)=𝑝⇒(𝑔∘𝑓)(𝑝)=𝑔(𝑓(𝑝))=𝑔(𝑞)=𝑝⇒(𝑓∘𝑔)(𝑞)=𝑓(𝑔(𝑞))=𝑓(𝑝)=𝑞Conversely, 𝑔(𝑞)=𝑔(𝑓(𝑝))=𝑝Conversely, 𝑓(𝑝)=𝑓(𝑔(𝑞))=𝑞
log𝑏(𝑥×𝑦)=log𝑏𝑥+log𝑏𝑦.
Let 𝑥=𝑏𝑝⇒log𝑏 𝑥=𝑝 and 𝑦=𝑏𝑞⇒log𝑏 𝑦=𝑞𝑥×𝑦=𝑏𝑝×𝑏𝑞=𝑏𝑝+𝑞log𝑏(𝑥×𝑦)=log𝑏𝑏𝑝+𝑞log𝑏(𝑥×𝑦)=(𝑝+𝑞)log𝑏𝑏log𝑏(𝑥×𝑦)=𝑝+𝑞log𝑏(𝑥×𝑦)=log𝑏𝑥+log𝑏𝑦
log𝑏𝑥𝑦=log𝑏𝑥−log𝑏𝑦
Let 𝑥=𝑏𝑝⇒log𝑏 𝑥=𝑝 and 𝑦=𝑏𝑞⇒log𝑏 𝑦=𝑞𝑥𝑦=𝑏𝑝𝑏𝑞=𝑏𝑝−𝑞log𝑏𝑥𝑦=log𝑏𝑏𝑝−𝑞log𝑏𝑥𝑦=𝑝−𝑞log𝑏𝑥𝑦=log𝑏 𝑥−log𝑏 𝑦
log𝑏𝑥𝑛=𝑛log𝑏𝑥
Let 𝑥=𝑏𝑝⇒log𝑏 𝑥=𝑝𝑥𝑛=(𝑏𝑝)𝑛=𝑏𝑝𝑛log𝑏𝑥𝑛=𝑝𝑛=𝑛𝑝log𝑏𝑥𝑛=𝑛log𝑏 𝑥
If log𝑏𝑥=log𝑏𝑦 then 𝑥=𝑦
Let 𝑝=log𝑏𝑥=log𝑏𝑦𝑏𝑝=𝑏log𝑏𝑥=𝑏log𝑏𝑦𝑏𝑝=𝑥=𝑦⇒𝑥=𝑦
Change of Base
Since most calculators are only capable of evaluating common logarithms and natural logarithms, method of change of base is needed to evaluate any other logarithms other than common logarithms and natural logarithms.
The change of base formula is
log𝑎𝑥=log𝑏𝑥log𝑏𝑎if 𝑥=𝑏⇒log𝑎𝑏=log𝑏𝑏log𝑏𝑎=1log𝑏𝑎
Proof:
Let 𝑝=log𝑎𝑥⇒𝑎𝑝=𝑎log𝑎𝑥=𝑥⇒logb𝑎𝑝=logb𝑥⇒𝑝logb𝑎=logb𝑥⇒𝑝=logb𝑥logb𝑎⇒log𝑎𝑥=logb𝑥logb𝑎if 𝑥=𝑏⇒log𝑎𝑥=logb𝑏logb𝑎⇒log𝑎𝑥=1logb𝑎