1.
5 FUNCTIONS AND LOGARITHMS Date:__________
To solve equation 2𝑥 = 10, we can graph 𝑦 = 2𝑥 and 𝑦 = 10 and find the 𝑥 − 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 of the points of
intersection of these two graphs. But how can we solve this equation without the help of a graphing calculator?
How can we get 𝑥 by itself in an exponential equation? The concept of a logarithm will help us with that!
Logarithmic functions and exponential functions are inverse functions. So, first, let’s review inverse functions!
Not all functions have inverse functions. Only ____________________ functions have inverse functions.
Inverse of a function 𝑓(𝑥), reverses (“undoes”) function 𝑓(𝑥).
Recall that in Algebra II, you followed these easy 2 steps to find an inverse of a function:
1)
2)
𝑓 −1 (𝑥) is the notation for the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥).
Inverse functions 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑓 −1 (𝑥):
1) Reverse (“undo”) each other
𝑓(𝑓 −1 (𝑥)) = 𝑥
𝑓 −1 (𝑓(𝑥)) = 𝑥
2) Their graphs are symmetric in line 𝑦 = 𝑥
𝑥+5
Ex1: Show that 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 5 and 𝑔(𝑥) = are inverses of each other both algebraically and graphically.
2
Ex2: Show that 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 is a one-to-one function. Find the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥). Sketch both.
Now back to exponential functions and exponential equations.
No arithmetic operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) will help us in getting 𝑥 by itself in the
equation 2𝑥 = 10. In this equation, we want to determine how many times 2 is multiplied by itself to reach 10.
The answer is not a whole number. The answer is a number between 3 (23 = 8) and 4 (24 = 16). However,
how do we proceed from here?
In the 17th century, Scottish mathematician John Napier (1550-1617) came up with concept of a logarithm. A
logarithm is a mathematical operation that determines how many times a certain number, called the base, is
multiplied by itself to reach another number. Napier coined the term logarithm from the Greek words for ratio
(logos) and number (arithmos).
If 𝒃𝒙 = 𝒂, then 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃 𝒂 = 𝒙.
Log allows you to get x by itself!
Ex3: Re-write in the logarithmic form:
a) 72 = 49 d) 2𝑥 = 10
b) 271/3 =3 e) 52 = 5𝑚
1 3
c) 41.2 = 5.278 f) ( )𝑛 =
2 5
Ex4: Re-write in the exponential form:
a) 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 81 = 4 d) log 10 = 1
b) 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 125 = 3 e) log 0.001 = −3
1
c) 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 = −2 f) ln 1 = 0
4
Ex5: Simplify:
a) 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 8 = c) 𝑙𝑜𝑔16 4 =
1
b) 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 27 = d) 𝑙𝑜𝑔10,000 =
Properties of Logarithms: Change of Base Formula:
𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒙 𝒍𝒏 𝒙
1) 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃 𝒙𝒚 = 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃 𝒙 + 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃 𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒃 = 𝒍𝒏 𝒃
𝒙
2) 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃 𝒚 = 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃 𝒙 − 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃 𝒚
3) 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃 𝒙𝒚 = 𝒚 ⋅ 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃 𝒙
4) 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃𝒙 = 𝒙 (for base 𝒆, 𝒆𝒍𝒏 𝒙 = 𝒙 )
To solve an exponential equation: To solve a logarithmic equation:
1) get the base (with exponent) by itself 1) get the logarithm by itself
2) re-write the equation in logarithmic form 2) re-write the equation in exponential form
3) solve 3) solve
Ex4: Solve each equation.
a) 10𝑥 + 3 = 22 d) log(𝑥 + 2) = 3
b) 𝑒 2𝑥 − 1 = 60 e) 5 ln 3𝑥 = −2
c) 4 + 23𝑥 = 25 f) 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 (5𝑥 − 1) − 8 = −4
Exponential and logarithmic functions are inverses of one another!
Exponential functions: 𝒚 = 𝒃𝒙 Logarithmic functions: 𝒚 = 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃 𝒙
Input (x): exponent Output (y): exponent
Domain: Domain:
Range: Range:
3 key points: 3 key points:
( , ) ( , )
( , ) ( , )
( , ) ( , )
Horizontal asymptote: Vertical asymptote:
Ex5: Graph 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 . Find the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥). Graph both.
Ex6: Sketch the function. State its domain and range. Find its x-intercept.
a) 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔4 (𝑥 − 2) + 1
b) 𝑦 = −ln(𝑥 + 3)
c) 𝑦 = log(4 − 𝑥) − 2
