3.3 Properties of Logarithms - Central Bucks School District

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Section 3.3 Properties of Logarithms

239

3.3 Properties of Logarithms

What you should learn

? Use the change-of-base formula to rewrite and evaluate logarithmic expressions.

? Use properties of logarithms to evaluate or rewrite logarithmic expressions.

? Use properties of logarithms to expand or condense logarithmic expressions.

? Use logarithmic functions to model and solve real-life problems.

Why you should learn it

Logarithmic functions can be used to model and solve real-life problems. For instance, in Exercises 81?83 on page 244, a logarithmic function is used to model the relationship between the number of decibels and the intensity of a sound.

AP Photo/Stephen Chernin

Change of Base

Most calculators have only two types of log keys, one for common logarithms (base 10) and one for natural logarithms (base e). Although common logs and natural logs are the most frequently used, you may occasionally need to evaluate logarithms to other bases. To do this, you can use the following change-of-base formula.

Change-of-Base Formula

Let a, b, and x be positive real numbers such that a 1 and b 1. Then loga x can be converted to a different base as follows.

Base b

Base 10

Base e

loga

x

logb logb

x a

loga

x

log log

x a

loga

x

ln ln

x a

One way to look at the change-of-base formula is that logarithms to base a are simply constant multiples of logarithms to base b. The constant multiplier is 1logb a.

Example 1 Changing Bases Using Common Logarithms

a.

log4 25

log 25 log 4

1.39794 0.60206

2.3219

log x loga x log a Use a calculator. Simplify.

log 12 1.07918

b.

log2 12

log 2

3.5850

0.30103

Now try Exercise 1(a).

Example 2 Changing Bases Using Natural Logarithms

a.

log4 25

ln 25 ln 4

3.21888 1.38629

2.3219

loga

x

ln ln

x a

Use a calculator. Simplify.

b.

log2 12

ln 12 ln 2

2.48491 0.69315

3.5850

Now try Exercise 1(b).

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Chapter 3 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Encourage your students to know these properties well. They will be used for solving logarithmic and exponential equations, as well as in calculus.

Properties of Logarithms

You know from the preceding section that the logarithmic function with base a is the inverse function of the exponential function with base a. So, it makes sense that the properties of exponents should have corresponding properties involving logarithms. For instance, the exponential property a0 1 has the corresponding logarithmic property loga 1 0 .

There is no general property that can be used to rewrite logau ? v. Specifically, logau v is not equal to loga u loga v.

Remind your students to note the domain when applying properties of logarithms to a logarithmic function. For example, the domain of f x ln x2 is all real numbers x 0, whereas the domain of gx 2 ln x is all real numbers x > 0.

Properties of Logarithms

Let a be a positive number such that a 1, and let n be a real number. If u and v are positive real numbers, the following properties are true.

Logarithm with Base a

Natural Logarithm

1. Product Property: logauv loga u loga v lnuv ln u ln v

2.

Quotient Property:

loga

u v

loga

u loga v

ln u ln u ln v v

3. Power Property: loga un n loga u

ln un n ln u

For proofs of the properties listed above, see Proofs in Mathematics on page 278.

Example 3 Using Properties of Logarithms

The Granger Collection

Historical Note John Napier, a Scottish mathematician, developed logarithms as a way to simplify some of the tedious calculations of his day. Beginning in 1594, Napier worked about 20 years on the invention of logarithms. Napier was only partially successful in his quest to simplify tedious calculations. Nonetheless, the development of logarithms was a step forward and received immediate recognition.

Write each logarithm in terms of ln 2 and ln 3.

a. ln 6 Solution

2 b. ln

27

a. ln 6 ln2 3

Rewrite 6 as 2 3.

ln 2 ln 3

Product Property

b. ln 2 ln 2 ln 27 27

Quotient Property

ln 2 ln 33

Rewrite 27 as 33.

ln 2 3 ln 3

Power Property

Now try Exercise 17.

Example 4 Using Properties of Logarithms

Find the exact value of each expression without using a calculator.

a. log5 3 5 b. ln e6 ln e2

Solution

a.

log5 3 5

log5

513

1 3

log5

5

1 3

1

1 3

b.

ln

e6

ln

e2

ln

e6 e2

ln e4

4 ln e 41 4

Now try Exercise 23.

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Section 3.3 Properties of Logarithms

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Rewriting Logarithmic Expressions

The properties of logarithms are useful for rewriting logarithmic expressions in forms that simplify the operations of algebra. This is true because these properties convert complicated products, quotients, and exponential forms into simpler sums, differences, and products, respectively.

A common error made in expanding logarithmic expressions is to rewrite log axn as n log ax instead of as log a n log x.

Exploration

Use a graphing utility to graph the functions given by

y1 ln x lnx 3 and

y2

ln

x

x

3

in the same viewing window. Does the graphing utility show the functions with the same domain? If so, should it? Explain your reasoning.

Example 5 Expanding Logarithmic Expressions

Expand each logarithmic expression.

a. log4 5x3y

3x 5 b. ln

7

Solution

a. log4 5x3y log4 5 log4 x3 log4 y

log4 5 3 log4 x log4 y

b.

3x 5 ln

ln 3x 512

7

7

ln3x 512 ln 7 1 ln3x 5 ln 7

2

Product Property Power Property

Rewrite using rational exponent. Quotient Property

Power Property

Now try Exercise 47.

In Example 5, the properties of logarithms were used to expand logarithmic expressions. In Example 6, this procedure is reversed and the properties of logarithms are used to condense logarithmic expressions.

A common error made in condensing logarithmic expressions is to rewrite

log

x

log

y

as

log log

x y

instead

of

as

log

x . y

Example 6 Condensing Logarithmic Expressions

Condense each logarithmic expression.

a.

1 2

log

x

3

logx

1

c.

1 3

log2

x

log2x

1

b. 2 lnx 2 ln x

Solution

a.

1 2

log

x

3

logx

1

log

x12

logx

13

logxx 13

b. 2 lnx 2 ln x lnx 22 ln x

x 22 ln

x

c.

1 3

log2

x

log2x

1

1 3

log2xx

1

log2xx 113

log2 3 xx 1

Now try Exercise 69.

Power Property Product Property Power Property

Quotient Property

Product Property Power Property Rewrite with a radical.

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Chapter 3 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Application

One method of determining how the x- and y-values for a set of nonlinear data are related is to take the natural logarithm of each of the x- and y-values. If the points are graphed and fall on a line, then you can determine that the x- and y-values are related by the equation

ln y m ln x

where m is the slope of the line.

Example 7 Finding a Mathematical Model

y Planets Near the Sun

The table shows the mean distance x and the period (the time it takes a planet to orbit the sun) y for each of the six planets that are closest to the sun. In the table, the mean distance is given in terms of astronomical units (where Earth's mean distance is defined as 1.0), and the period is given in years. Find an equation that relates y and x.

30

Saturn

25

Planet

Mean distance, x

Period, y

Period (in years)

20

Mercury

15

Venus

10

Earth

Jupiter

5

Mars

x

2 4 6 8 10

Mean distance

(in astronomical units)

Solution

Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn

0.387 0.723 1.000 1.524 5.203 9.537

0.241 0.615 1.000 1.881 11.863 29.447

FIGURE 3.23

The points in the table above are plotted in Figure 3.23. From this figure it is not clear how to find an equation that relates y and x. To solve this problem, take the natural logarithm of each of the x- and y-values in the table. This produces the following results.

ln y

Saturn

3

Jupiter

2

1

Earth Venus

ln y = 3 ln x

2

Mars

ln x

1

2

3

Mercury FIGURE 3.24

Planet ln x ln y

Mercury 0.949 1.423

Venus 0.324 0.486

Earth 0.000 0.000

Mars 0.421 0.632

Jupiter 1.649 2.473

Saturn 2.255 3.383

Now, by plotting the points in the second table, you can see that all six of the points appear to lie in a line (see Figure 3.24). Choose any two points to determine the slope of the line. Using the two points 0.421, 0.632 and 0, 0, you can determine that the slope of the line is

m

0.632 0.421

0 0

1.5

3 .

2

By

the

point-slope

form,

the

equation

of

the

line

is

Y

3 2

X,

where

Y

ln

y

and

X

ln

x.

You

can

therefore

conclude

that

ln

y

3 2

ln

x.

Now try Exercise 85.

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3.3 Exercises

Section 3.3 Properties of Logarithms

243

VOCABULARY CHECK: In Exercises 1 and 2, fill in the blanks.

1. To evaluate a logarithm to any base, you can use the ________ formula. 2. The change-of-base formula for base e is given by loga x ________. In Exercises 3?5, match the property of logarithms with its name.

3. logauv loga u loga v

(a) Power Property

4. ln un n ln u

(b) Quotient Property

5.

loga

u v

loga

u

loga

v

(c) Product Property

PREREQUISITE SKILLS REVIEW: Practice and review algebra skills needed for this section at .

In Exercises 1?8, rewrite the logarithm as a ratio of (a) common logarithms and (b) natural logarithms.

1. log5 x

3. log15 x

5.

logx

3 10

7. log2.6 x

2. log3 x

4. log13 x

6.

logx

3 4

8. log7.1 x

In Exercises 9?16, evaluate the logarithm using the change-of-base formula. Round your result to three decimal places.

9. log3 7 11. log12 4 13. log9 0.4 15. log15 1250

10. log7 4 12. log14 5 14. log20 0.125 16. log3 0.015

In Exercises 17?22, use the properties of logarithms to rewrite and simplify the logarithmic expression.

17. log4 8

19.

log5

1 250

21. ln5e6

18. log242 34

20.

log

9 300

6 22. ln e2

In Exercises 23?38, find the exact value of the logarithmic expression without using a calculator. (If this is not possible, state the reason.)

23. log3 9 25. log24 8 27. log4 161.2 29. log39 31. ln e4.5

24.

log5

1 125

26. log6 3 6

28. log3 810.2

30. log216

32. 3 ln e4 33. ln 1

e 34. ln 4 e3 35. ln e2 ln e5 36. 2 ln e6 ln e5 37. log5 75 log5 3 38. log4 2 log4 32

In Exercises 39?60, use the properties of logarithms to expand the expression as a sum, difference, and/or constant multiple of logarithms. (Assume all variables are positive.)

39. log4 5x

41. log8 x4

5 43. log5 x 45. ln z 47. ln xyz2

49. ln zz 12, z > 1

a 1 51. log2 9 , a > 1

53. ln 3 x y x 4y 55. ln z5

x2 57. log5 y2z3 59. ln 4 x3x2 3

40. log3 10z y

42. log10 2 1

44. log6 z3 46. ln3 t 48. log 4x2 y

x2 1

50. ln x3 , x > 1 6

52. ln x2 1

x2

54. ln y3 x y4

56. log2 z4 xy4

58. log10 z5 60. ln x2x 2

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