Logarithms
Introduction

6.3

In this block we introduce the logarithm: loga b. The operation of taking a logarithm essentially reverses the operation of raising a base a to a power n. We will formulate the basic laws satised by all logarithms and learn how to manipulate expressions involving logarithms. We shall see that to every law of indices there is an equivalent law of logarithms. Although logarithms to any base are dened it has become common practice to employ only two kinds of logarithms: logs to base 10 and logs to base e.

Prerequisites

Before starting this Block you should . . .

x have a knowledge of exponents and of the laws of indices

Learning Outcomes

Learning Style

After completing this Block you should be able To achieve what is expected of you . . . to . . .  invert b = an using logarithms  simplify expressions involving logarithms  allocate sucient study time  briey revise the prerequisite material  attempt every guided exercise and most of the other exercises

 change bases in logarithms

1. Logarithms
Logarithms are introduced to reverse the process of raising a base a to a power n. As with all exponentials we demand that the base should be a positive number. If b = an then we write loga b = n. Of course, the reverse statement is equivalent If loga b = n then b = an The expression loga b = n is read the log to base a of the number b is equal to n The phrase log is short for the word logarithm.

Example Determine the log equivalents of

(a) 16 = 24 , (b) 16 = 42 , (c) 27 = 33 , (d) 134.896 = 102.13 , (e) 8.414867 = e2.13

Solution (a) Since 16 = 24 then log2 16 = 4 (b) Since 16 = 42 then log4 16 = 2 (c) Since 27 = 33 then log3 27 = 3 (d) Since 134.896 = 102.13 then log10 134.896 = 2.13 (e) Since 8.41467 = e2.13 then loge 8.414867 = 2.13

Key Point If If b = an loga b = n then then loga b = n b = an

Try each part of this exercise Find the log equivalents of (a) 6.06287 = 41.3 (b) (i) b = an , (ii) c = am , (iii) bc = an am = an+m Part (a) Here, on the right hand side, the base is 4 so: 6.06287 = 41.3 implying 1.3 = Answer

Part (b)(i) Here the base is a so b = an implying n = Answer

Part (b)(ii) Here the base is a so c = am implying m = Answer 2

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

Part (b)(iii) Here the base is a so bc = an+m implying n + m = Answer From the last guided exercise we have found, using the property of indices, that loga (bc) = n + m = loga b + loga c. We conclude that the index law an am = an+m has an equivalent logarithm law loga (bc) = loga b + loga c in words the log of a product is the sum of logs Indeed this is one of the major advantages of using logarithms. They transform products of numbers (which is a relatively dicult operation) to a sum of numbers (which is a relatively easy operation). All of the index laws have an equivalent logarithm law which are recorded in the following keypoint: Key Point The laws of logarithms loga (AB ) = loga A + loga B loga (A/B ) = loga A loga B loga 1 = 0, loga (Ak ) = k loga A loga a = 1

2. Simplifying expressions involving logarithms

To simplify an expression involving logarithms their laws, given in the keypoint above, need to be utilised.

Example Simplify:

3 log3 2 log3 4 + log3 (42 ) log3 ( ) 4

Solution The third term log3 (42 ) simplies to 2 log3 4 and the last term log3 ( 3 ) = log3 3log3 4 = 1log3 4 4 Therefore ) = log3 2 log3 4 + 2 log3 4 1 + log 34 log3 2 log3 4 + log3 (42 ) log3 ( 3 4 = log3 2 1 Try each part of this exercise Simplify the expression:

1 4 log4 ( ) log4 ( ) log4 9 4 27

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

Part First simplify log4 ( 1 ). 4 Answer

4 ). Part (b) Now simplify log4 ( 27

Answer Part (c) Finally collect all your terms together: Answer

3. Logs to base 10 and natural logs

In practice only two kinds of logarithms are used, those to base 10, written log10 (or just simply log) and those to base e, written ln (these are called natural logarithms). Most scientic calculators will determine the logarithm, either to base 10 or to base e. For example, using a calculator: log 13 = 1.11394 (implying 101.11394 = 13) ln 23 = 3.13549 Now do this exercise Use your calculator to determine (a) log 10, (b) log 1000000, (c) ln e Answer Now do this exercise Use your calculator to determine (a) ln 29.42, (b) log e, (c) ln 10 Answer (implying e3.13549 = 23)

4. Changing bases in logarithms

It is sometimes required to express the logarithm with respect to one base in terms of a logaritm with respect to another base. Now b = an implies loga b = n where we have used logs to base a. What happens if, for some reason, we want to use another base, p say? We take logs (to base p) of both sides of b = an : logp (b) = logp (an ) = n logp a So n= logp (b) logp (a) using one of the logarithm laws logp (b) logp (a) 4

that is

loga b =

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

This is the rule to be used when converting logarithms from one base to another. In particular, for base 10 logs and for natural logs: loga b = For example, 0.8450980 log 7 = = 1.7712437 log 3 0.4771212 (check, on your calculator, that 31.7712437 = 7). Also ln 7 1.9459101 = = 1.7712437 log3 7 = ln 3 1.0986123 Of course, log3 7 cannot be determined on your calculator since logs to base 3 are not available. log3 7 = Try each part of this exercise Use your calculator to determine the values of (a)log21 7 (b) log3 4 (c) log8 17 Part (a) Re-express the log using either base 10 or base e. log 7 = log21 7 = log 21 Part (b) Repeat as for (a) Answer Part (c) Repeat as for (a) Answer log(b) log(a) or loga b = ln(b) ln(a)

Answer

Example Simplify the expression 10log x .

Solution Let y = 10log x then take logs (to base 10) of both sides: log y = log(10log x ) = (log x) log 10 where we have used: log Ak = k log A. However, since we are using logs to base 10 then log 10 = 1 and so log y = log x implying y=x Therefore, nally 10log x = x This is an important result and can be generalised to logarithms of other bases: Key Point aloga x = x This is because raising to the power and taking logs are inverse operations. 5
Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

More exercises for you to try 1. Find the values of (a) log2 8 (b) log16 50 (c) log3 28 2. Simplify (a) log4 1 3 log4 2 + log4 18. (b) 3 log3 x 2 log3 x2 . (c) ln 3 log3 7 ln 7. (d) ln(8x 4) ln(4x 2). Answer

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

5. Computer Exercise or Activity

For this exercise it will be necessary for you to access the computer package DERIVE.

DERIVE can be used to determine the logarithm of any number to any base. The logarithm of b to base a; loga b is denoted in DERIVE by LOG(b, a). However, for the natural logarithm, to base e you can use LN(b) or LOG(b) instead of LOG( e, b). DERIVE does not have a special notation for logs to base 10. Also, when you use DERIVE to simplify expressions involving logarithms, DERIVE will attempt to express its logarithms in terms of the natural logarithms. So, for example, if we want to simplify the expression 1 4 log4 log4 log4 9 4 27 we would key in LOG(1/4,4)LOG(4/27,4)LOG(9,4). DERIVE responds LOG 1 4 ,4 LOG ,4 4 27 LOG(9,4)

Now hit the Simplify:Basic and DERIVE responds with LN(3) 2 2 LN(2) which (please check) is numerically exactly the same value as 2 + log4 3, the value we obtained in the text. The reader will nd it a useful exercise to show that both expressions are exactly the same.

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

End of Block 6.3

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

1.3 = log4 6.06287 Back to the theory

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

n = loga b Back to the theory

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

10

m = loga c Back to the theory

11

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

n + m = loga (bc) Back to the theory

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

12

log4 ( 1 ) = log4 1 log4 4 = 0 1 = 1 4 Back to the theory

13

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

4 log4 ( 27 ) = log4 4 log4 27 = 1 log4 27

Back to the theory

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

14

1 (1 log4 27) log4 9 = 2 + log4 27 log4 9 = 2 + log4 ( 27 ) = 2 + log4 3 9 Back to the theory

15

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

(a) 1 (b) 6 (c) 1. Each of these could be determined directly, without the use of a calculator. For example, since loga a = 1 then log 10 log10 10 = 1 and ln e loge e = 1. Finally, since loga Ak = k loga A then log 1000000 = log 106 = 6 log 10 = 6 Back to the theory

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

16

(a) ln 29.42 = 3.38167 (b) log e = 0.43429 (c) ln 10 = 2.30258 Back to the theory

17

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

log21 7 =

log 7 log 21

0.845098 1.3222193

= 0.6391511

Back to the theory

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

18

log3 4 =

log 4 log 3

0.6020599 0.4771212

= 1.2618597

Back to the theory

19

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

log8 17 =

ln 17 ln 8

2.8332133 2.0794415

= 1.3624876

Back to the theory

Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials

20

1. (a) 3 (b) 1.41096 (c) 3.033 2. (a) log4 9 1, (b) log3 x, (c) 0, (d) ln 2 Back to the theory

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Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1 6.3: Logarithms and Exponentials