Logarithmic Functions

10
TH
EDITION
COLLEGE
ALGEBRA
LIAL
HORNSBY
SCHNEIDER
4.3 - 1
Logarithmic Functions
4.3
Logarithms
Logarithmic Equations
Logarithmic Functions
Properties of Logarithms
4.3 - 2
Logarithms
The previous section dealt with
exponential functions of the form y = ax
for all positive values of a, where a ≠ 1.
The horizontal line test shows that
exponential functions are one-to-one,
and thus have inverse functions.
4.3 - 3
Logarithms
The equation defining the inverse of a

function is found by interchanging x and
y in the equation that defines the
function. Starting with y = ax and
interchanging x and y yields
x  ay .
4.3 - 4
Logarithms
x a y
Here y is the exponent to which a must be raised

in order to obtain x. We call this exponent a
logarithm, symbolized by “log.” The
expression loga x represents the logarithm in
this discussion. The number a is called the base
of the logarithm, and x is called the argument of
the expression. It is read “logarithm with base
a of x,” or “logarithm of x with base a.”
4.3 - 5
Logarithm
For all real numbers y and all positive numbers a
and x, where a ≠ 1,
y  loga x if and only if x  ay .
A logarithm is an exponent. The expression

loga x represents the exponent to which the
base “a” must be raised in order to obtain x.
4.3 - 6
Logarithms
Exponent
Logarithmic form: y = loga x
Base
Exponent
Exponential form: ay = x
Base
4.3 - 7
Logarithms
4.3 - 8
SOLVING LOGARITHMIC
Example 1
EQUATIONS
Solve
8
a. logx 3
27
8
Solution logx 3
27
8
x 
3 Write in exponential
27 form.
3
2 8 2
3
x  
3
 
3 27  3 
2
x Take cube roots
3
4.3 - 9
SOLVING LOGARITHMIC
Example 1
EQUATIONS
8
Check: logx 3 Original equation
27
8
log2 3 3 ? Let x = ⅔.
27
3
2 8
   ? Write in
3 27 exponential form
8 8
 True
27 27
The solution set is 
2
3
.
4.3 - 10
SOLVING LOGARITHMIC
Example 1
EQUATIONS
Solve
5
b. log4 x 
2
Solution 5
log4 x 
2
Write in exponential
45 2  x form.
(4 )  x
12 5
a mn  (a m )n
The solution
set is {32}. 25  x 41 2  (22 )1 2  2
32  x
4.3 - 11
SOLVING LOGARITHMIC
Example 1
EQUATIONS
Solve
c. log49 3 7  x
Solution 49  7
x 3
Write in exponential form.
(7 )  7
2 x 13
Write with the same base.
The solution 72 x  71 3 Power rule for exponents.

set is 1 .
6 2x 
1
3
Set exponents equal.
1
x Divide by 2.
6
4.3 - 12
Logarithmic Function
If a > 0, a ≠ 1, and x > 0, then
f ( x )  loga x
defines the logarithmic function with

base a.
4.3 - 13
Exponential and
logarithmic functions
are inverses of each
other. The graph of
y = 2x is shown in red.
The graph of its inverse
is found by reflecting
the graph across the
line y = x.
4.3 - 14
The graph of the

inverse function,
defined by y = log2 x,
shown in blue, has the
y-axis as a vertical
asymptote.
4.3 - 15
Since the domain of an exponential
function is the set of all real numbers,
the range of a logarithmic function also
will be the set of all real numbers. In the
same way, both the range of an
exponential function and the domain of
a logarithmic function are the set of all
positive real numbers, so logarithms
can be found for positive numbers
only.
4.3 - 16
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTION f ( x )  loga x
Domain: (0, ) Range: (–  , )
For (x) = log2 x:
x (x)
¼ –2
½ –1
1 0
2 1
4 2  (x) = loga x, a > 1, is
8 3 increasing and continuous on its
entire domain, (0, ) .
4.3 - 17
Domain: (0, ) Range: (–  , )
x (x)
¼ –2
½ –1
1 0
2 1
4 2  The y-axis is a vertical asymptote
8 3 as x  0 from the right.
4.3 - 18
Domain: (0, ) Range: (–  , )
x (x)
¼ –2
½ –1
1 0
2 1
4 2
8 3  The graph passes through the points
1 
 , 1 , 1,0 , and a,1.
a 
4.3 - 19
Domain: (0, ) Range: (–  , )
For (x) = log1/2 x:
x (x)
¼ 2
½ 1
1 0
2 –1
4 –2  (x) = loga x, 0 < a < 1, is
8 –3 decreasing and continuous on its
entire domain, (0, ) .
4.3 - 20
Domain: (0, ) Range: (–  , )
x (x)
¼ 2
½ 1
1 0
2 –1
4 –2  The y-axis is a vertical
8 –3 asymptote as x  0 from the
right.
4.3 - 21
Domain: (0, ) Range: (–  , )
x (x)
¼ 2
½ 1
1 0
2 –1
4 –2
 The graph passes through
8 –3 the points  1 , 1 , 1,0 , and a,1.
a 
4.3 - 22
Characteristics of the Graph
of f ( x )  loga x
1 
1. The points  , 1 , 1,0 , and a,1
are on the
a 
graph.
2. If a > 1, then  is an increasing function; if
0 < a < 1, then  is a decreasing function.
3. The y-axis is a vertical asymptote.
4. The domain is (0,), and the range is
(– , ).
4.3 - 23
GRAPHING LOGARITHMIC
Example 2
FUNCTIONS
Graph the function.

a. f ( x )  log1 2 x
Solution
First graph y = (½)x which defines the inverse
function of , by plotting points. The graph of
(x) = log1/2x is the reflection of the graph
y = (½)x across the line y = x. The ordered pairs
for are found by interchanging the x- and y-
values in the ordered pairs for y = (½)x .
4.3 - 24
Example 2
FUNCTIONS
Graph the function.

a. f ( x )  log1 2 x
Solution
4.3 - 25
Example 2
FUNCTIONS
Graph the function.

b. f ( x )  log3 x
Solution
Another way to graph a logarithmic function is
to write (x) = y = log3 x in exponential form as
x = 3 y.
4.3 - 26
Example 2
FUNCTIONS
Graph the function.

a. f ( x )  log3 x
Solution
4.3 - 27
Caution If you write a logarithmic
function in exponential form, choosing y-
values to calculate x-values, be careful to
write the values in the ordered pairs in
the correct order.
4.3 - 28
GRAPHING TRANSLATED
Example 3
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
Graph each function. Give the domain and
range.
a. f ( x )  log2 ( x  1)
Solution
The graph of (x) = log2 (x – 1) is the graph of
(x) = log2 x translated 1 unit to the right. The vertical
asymptote is x = 1. The domain of this function is
(1, ) since logarithms can be found only for positive
numbers. To find some ordered pairs to plot, use the
equivalent exponential form of the equation
y = log2 (x – 1).
4.3 - 29
GRAPHING TRANSLATED
Example 3
range.
a. f ( x )  log2 ( x  1)
Solution
y  log2 ( x  1)
Write in exponential
x 1 2 y
form.
x  2 1
y
Add 1.
4.3 - 30
GRAPHING TRANSLATED
Example 3
range.
a. f ( x )  log2 ( x  1)
Solution
We choose values for y

and then calculate each
of the corresponding x-
values. The range is
(– , ).
4.3 - 31
GRAPHING TRANSLATED
Example 3
range.
b. f ( x )  (log3 x )  1
Solution
The function defined by (x) = (log3 x) – 1 has the
same graph as g(x) = log3 x translated 1 unit down.
We find ordered pairs to plot by writing y = (log3 x) – 1
in exponential form.
4.3 - 32
GRAPHING TRANSLATED
Example 3
range.
b. f ( x )  log3 ( x  1)
Solution
y  (log3 x )  1
y  1  log3 x Add 1.
y 1
x 3 Write in exponential form.
4.3 - 33
GRAPHING TRANSLATED
Example 3
range.
b. f ( x )  log3 ( x  1)
Solution
Again, choose y-
values and calculate
the corresponding x-
values. The domain is
(0, ) and the range is
(– , ).
4.3 - 34
Since a logarithmic statement can be
written as an exponential statement, it is
not surprising that the properties of
logarithms are based on the properties of
exponents. The properties of logarithms
allow us to change the form of
logarithmic statements so that products
can be converted to sums, quotients can
be converted to differences, and powers
can be converted to products.
4.3 - 35
For x > 0, y > 0, a > 0, a ≠ 1, and any real

number r:
Property Description
The logarithm of the
Product Property product of two numbers is
equal to the sum of the
loga xy  loga x  loga y logarithms of the numbers.
4.3 - 36

number r:
The logarithm of the
Quotient Property quotient of two numbers
is equal to the difference
x
loga  loga x  loga y between the logarithms of
y the numbers.
4.3 - 37

number r:
The logarithm of a
Power Property number raised to a power
is equal to the exponent
x
loga  loga x  loga y multiplied by the
y logarithm of the number.
4.3 - 38
Two additional properties of logarithms

follow directly from the definition of loga x
since a0 = 1 and a1 = a.
loga 1  0 and logaa  1
4.3 - 39
Example 4 USING THE PROPERTIES OF
LOGARITHMS
Rewrite each expression. Assume all variables
represent positive real numbers, with a ≠ 1 and b ≠ 1.
a. log6 (7  9)
Solution
log6 (7  9)  log6 7  log6 9 Product property
4.3 - 40
LOGARITHMS
15
b. log9
7
Solution
15
log9  log915  log9 7 Quotient property
7
4.3 - 41
LOGARITHMS
c. log5 8
Solution
1
log5 8  log5 (8 )  log5 8
12
Power property
2
4.3 - 42
LOGARITHMS
mnq
d. loga 2 4 Use parentheses
pt to avoid errors.
Solution
mnq
loga 2 4  loga m  loga n  logaq  (loga p  loga t )
2 4
pt
 loga m  loga n  logaq  (2 loga p  4 loga t )
 loga m  loga n  logaq  2 loga p  4 loga t
Be careful with
signs.
4.3 - 43
LOGARITHMS
3 2
e. loga m
Solution
3 2
loga m  loga m
2 23
 loga m Power property
3
4.3 - 44
LOGARITHMS
f. 3
x y 5
x y 
3 5 1n
logb n
m
 logb  m  n
a  a1 n
z  z 
3 5
1 x y
 logb m Power property
n z
1
 logb x 3  logb y 5  logb z m  Product and quotient
n properties
4.3 - 45
LOGARITHMS
1n
f. 3
x y 5
x y 
3 5
logb n
m
 logb  m 
z  z 
Solution
1
 3 logb x  5 logb y  m logb z  Power property
n
3 5 m
 logb x  logb y  logb z Distributive property
n n n
4.3 - 46
LOGARITHMS
Write the expression as a single logarithm with
coefficient 1. Assume all variables represent
positive real numbers, with a ≠ 1and b ≠ 1.
a. log3 ( x  2)  log3 x  log3 2
Solution
( x  2) x
log3 ( x  2)  log3 x  log3 2  log3
2
Product and quotient
properties
4.3 - 47
LOGARITHMS
b. 2 loga m  3 loga n
Solution
2 loga m  3 loga n  loga m 2  loga n 3
Power property
2
m
 loga 3
n
Quotient property
4.3 - 48
LOGARITHMS
1 3
c. logb m  logb 2n  logb m 2n
2 2
Solution
1 3
logb m  logb 2n  logb m 2n
2 2
 logb m 12
 logb (2n )
32
 logb m n
2
Power properties
4.3 - 49
LOGARITHMS
1 3
2 2
Solution
m1 2 (2n )3 2 Product and quotient
 logb properties
m 2n
32 12
2 n Rules for exponents
 logb 32
m
4.3 - 50
LOGARITHMS
1 3
2 2
Solution 12
2 n
3
 logb  3  Rules for exponents
m 
8n
 logb 3
Definition of a1/n
m
4.3 - 51
Caution There is no property of
logarithms to rewrite a logarithm of a sum or
difference. That is why, in Example 5(a),
log3(x + 2) was not written as log3 x + log3 2.
Remember, log3 x + log3 2 = log3(x • 2).
The distributive property does not apply in a

situation like this because log3 (x + y) is one term;
“log” is a function name, not a factor.
4.3 - 52
USING THE PROPERTIES OF LOGARITHMS WITH
NUMERICAL VALUES
Example 6
Assume that log10 2 = .3010. Find each logarithm.

a. log10 4
Solution
log10 4  log10 2  2 log10 2  2(.3010)  .6020
2
b. log10 5
10
log10 5  log10  log10 10  log10 2  1  .3010  .6990
2
4.3 - 53
Theorem on Inverses
For a > 0, a ≠ 1:
a loga x
 x and logaa  x.
x
4.3 - 54
Theorem on Inverses
By the results of this theorem,
k 1
7 log7 10
 10, log5 5  3, and
3
logr r  k  1.
The second statement in the theorem will be

useful in Sections 4.5 and 4.6 when we solve
other logarithmic and exponential equations.
4.3 - 55

Logarithmic Functions

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10

The equation defining the inverse of a

Here y is the exponent to which a must be raised

y  loga x if and only if x  ay .

A logarithm is an exponent. The expression

Logarithmic form: y = loga x

The solution 72 x  71 3 Power rule for exponents.

defines the logarithmic function with

The graph of the

Graph the function.

Graph the function.

Graph the function.

Graph the function.

We choose values for y

For x > 0, y > 0, a > 0, a ≠ 1, and any real

For x > 0, y > 0, a > 0, a ≠ 1, and any real

For x > 0, y > 0, a > 0, a ≠ 1, and any real

Two additional properties of logarithms

loga 1  0 and logaa  1

log6 (7  9)  log6 7  log6 9 Product property

The distributive property does not apply in a

Assume that log10 2 = .3010. Find each logarithm.

By the results of this theorem,

The second statement in the theorem will be

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