LOGARITHMIC & EXPONENTIAL

FUNCTION
Functions and their inverses
Some operators exist to provide the opposite of others.

Function Inverse

12
4 x×3 x ? 3 4
7
4 x+3 x ?- 3 4
16
4 x2 √x
? 4
1024
4 x 5
√x
5?
4
Logarithms
You know the inverse of many mathematical operations; we can undo an addition by 2 for
example by subtracting 2. But is there an inverse function for an exponential function?

Function Inverse

12
4 𝑥×3 𝑥÷3 4
7
4 𝑥+3 𝑥−3 4
16
4 𝑥2 𝑥 4
81
4 3𝑥 log3 𝑥 4

Such functions are known as logarithms, and exist in

order to provide an inverse to exponential functions.
Functions and their inverses
Some operators exist to provide the opposite of others.

Function Inverse

81
4 3 x log?3 x 4
How therefore would describe the effect of log3 x in words?

It finds the power that, when 3 is raised to it,

log3 x gives you x.

We describe this as the “logarithm i.e. If y = log3 x, then 3y = x

of x base 3” or “log of x base 3” or
“taking the log of x base 3”. It is the opposite/inverse of exponentiation.
Interchanging between exponential and log form
 log𝑎 𝑛 (“said log base 𝑎 of 𝑛”) is equivalent to 𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑛.
The log function outputs the missing power.

32 = 9 log3 9 = 2
Here are two methods of interchanging between these forms.
Pick your favourite!
Method 2: Do same operation
Method 1: ‘Missing Power’
to each side of equation.
• Note first the base of the log must
match the base of the exponential.
• log2 8 for example asks the
question
3𝑥 + 2 = 11
“2 to what power gives 8?”imagine inserting the
We can −2 −2
output of the log just after 3𝑥 = 9
the base. Click the button!
“log base 𝑎” undoes “𝑎 to the power of” and vice
versa, as they are inverse functions.
𝑙𝑜𝑔2 8 = 3 2□
log2 8 = 3
2□
8= 23
Examples
log 5 25 =
Think: “5 to 1
the power of
log3 =
what gives
you 25?” 27
log3 81 =
1
log2 =
log2 32 = 16
log10 1000 = log𝑎 𝑎 3 =
log4 1 =  log 1 = 0
𝑎
for all 𝑎.
4 ?!!??
NOPE
log4 4 = log −1 =
We can’t calculate log
1
log2 = −𝟏 Of negative numbers.
2 Answer will be imaginary.
Computing logs
Remember that logarithms find the missing power.

Bro Tip #1: Imagine what power would slot in

the middle of the two.

log2 8 = 3? Click to start

log2 8 = 3 3=
bromanimation

log3 9 = 2?
log10 100 = 2? Bro Tip #2: loga 1 = 0 (a > 0)

log4 1 = 0? Bro Tip #3: loga a = 1 (a>0)

log3 3 = 1?
Computing logs
Remember that logarithms find the missing power.

Bro Tip #4: When we take the log of any

1
log2( 2 ) = -1? value between 0 and 1 (exclusive), we end
up with a negative number.

1
log2( 8 ) = -3?
1
log3( 81) = -4?
Bro Tip #5: If you want a real result, you
__πi__ can only take logs of positive values.
log4 (-1) = log? 4
e
x
y
0.25
-2?
0.58 1
-1? 0
2

? ?
1
4
2? 3
8

?
y = log2 x
6

-4 -2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

-2

-4

Click to
-6 brosketch
 8
𝒙
𝒚
0.25
-2
0.5
-1
1
0
2
1
4
2
8
3
𝑦 = log2 𝑥
4

The log graph isn’t

3 defined for 𝑥 ≤ 0

2
The gradient gradually
decreases but remains
1 Root is 1. positive (log is an
“increasing function”)

-2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

-1
We have a vertical
asymptote 𝑥 = 0

-2
Using logs
Logs help us solve equations when the power is unknown.

Find the x for which 10x = 500

We can write this as x = log10 500?

Tip:
The log button on your calculator is implicitly
base 10. So “[log] [500]” will give you log10 500
More on rewriting Powers as Logarithms

Bro Tip: In both cases, the 2 is the ‘base’.

23 = 8 log2 8 = 3

92 = 81 log9 81? = 2
34 = 81 log3 81? = 4
3x = 55 log3 55? = x
Laws of Logs
 Three main laws:
log𝑎 𝑥 + log𝑎 𝑦 = log𝑎 𝑥𝑦
The logs must have a
𝑥 consistent base.
log𝑎 𝑥 − log𝑎 𝑦 = log𝑎
𝑦
i.e. You can move the
log𝑎 𝑥 𝑘 = 𝑘 log𝑎 𝑥 power to the front.

Special cases: We often try to avoid

log𝑎 𝑎 = 1 (𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ leaving fractions inside logs.
So if the answer was:
1) log𝑎 1 = 0 𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ 1
log2
1
log (1/x) = − log (x)
3
You should write your
answer as: − log2 3
Reciprocating the input
negates the output.
Laws of Logs
Write the following as a single logarithm.

log230 – log26 log2 5?

2log3 a + log3 b log3 (a b) ? 2

3log4 (a) – 4log4 b a3

log4 (? b4)
Put in the form k + loga (..)

3loga (a√b) ?
Laws of Logs
Now the other way round! Write in the form loga x, loga y and loga z.

loga(b c ) 2 3
2loga b +? 3logac
4loga(√b) 2loga b ?
1
loga(a√b) 1 + 2?loga b
1
loga( ) x
-loga x?
Examples
Write as a single logarithm:
a. log3 6 + log3 7
b. log2 15 − log2 3
c. 2 log5 3 + 3 log5 2
1
d. log 10 3 − 4 log10 2

a log3 42
b log2 5
c log5 9 + log2 8 = log5 72
1
d log10 3 − log10 = log1048
16
Examples
Write in terms of log𝑎 𝑥, log𝑎 𝑦 and log𝑎 𝑧
a. log 𝑎 (𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 )
𝑥
b. log𝑎
𝑦3
𝑥 𝑦
c. log𝑎 𝑧
𝑥
d. log𝑎 𝑎4

a log 𝑎 (𝑥 𝑦𝑧 ) = log 𝑎 (𝑥 ) + log𝑎 𝑦 + log𝑎 𝑧

2 3 2 3

= 2 log𝑎 𝑥 + log𝑎 𝑦 + 3 log𝑎 𝑧

𝑥
b log𝑎 𝑦 3 = log𝑎(𝑥) − log𝑎 𝑦 3
= log𝑎 𝑥 − 3 log𝑎 𝑦
1 1
c log𝑎 𝑥𝑦2 − log𝑎 𝑧 = log𝑎 𝑥 + log𝑎 𝑦 2 − log𝑎 𝑧
= log𝑎 𝑥 + 1log𝑎 1
2 − log𝑎 𝑧
2

𝑥
d log𝑎 𝑎4 = log𝑎 𝑥 − 4 log𝑎 𝑎 = log𝑎 𝑥− 4
Anti Laws
These are NOT LAWS OF LOGS, but are mistakes students often make:

There is no method to
log 𝑎 𝑏 + 𝑐 = log𝑎 𝑏 + log𝑎 𝑐 simplify the log of a sum,
only the sum of two
 FAIL logs!

log2 𝑥 3 = 3 log2 𝑥 The power must be on the input

(here the 𝑥), but here the power
is around the entire log.

 FAIL
 Solving ax = b

We saw how we can solve equations like 10x = 125.

But what about when the base is different, e.g. 3x = 20?

OPTION 1: The “Look at me, I have a fancy calculator” method

x = log3? 20
?

OPTION 2: The “change of base” method

Super Bro Tip:
3 = 20
x Whenever you’re trying to solve
an equation where the variable

log10 3x =? log10 20 appears in the power, your first

instinct should always be TAKE
LOGS DAMMIT!

x log10 3 =? log10 20
log 20
x =? log 3 10

10
Changing the Base

We saw a second ago that we could “change the base” to

find log3 in terms of log10.

3x = 20
METHOD 1 METHOD 2
log10 20
x = log3 20 x= log10 3

More generally, to change the base from a to b:

logb x Click to start

logaa x = bromanimation
logb a
All your base belong to us
Express these logarithms in the specified new base.

log10 5 Broculator Tip:

log2 5 in base 10 ? This is how you

could find log25
log10 2 on a calculator if
you didn’t have

log12 10 the fancy extra

log7 10 in base 12
log button. i.e.
? Change to base
log12 7 10!

log9 5
log10 5 in base 9 ?
log9 10
log10 10 ___1___
log5 10 in base 10 =?
log10 5 log10 5
All your base belong to us
Bro Tip: When you switch the argument and base, you take the reciprocal.

___1___
loga b = log a
b
Solving Equations involving Variables in Powers

7x+1 = 3x+2 Variables appear in

powers, so apply Bro Tip.
log 7x+1 = log 3x+2 (The base of the log doesn’t
matter)

(x+1)log 7 = (x+2)log 3
xlog 7 + log 7 = xlog 3 + 2log 3
xlog 7 - xlog 3 = 2log 3 – log 7
x(log 7 - log 3) = 2log 3 – log 7
2log 3 – log 7
x= log 7 – log 3
 Solving Equations involving Variables in Powers

52x + 7(5x) – 30 = 0 Bro Tip:

(5x)2 + 7(5x) – 30 = 0 By recognising that 52x = (5x)2,

we’ve turned the equation
into a quadratic!

Let y = 5x
y2 + 7y – 30 = 0
(y+10)(y-3) = 0
y = -10 or y = 3
e l og
5x = -10 or 5x = 3
ha v
Can’t gative
e
of a n r, so not
be
num solution.
a rea
l
x = log5(-10) or x = log53
2 + 3(2 ) – 4 = 0
2x x 3x-1 = 8x+1

x = 0? x = -3.24
?
Exam Technique
When solving, you can often either:
a) Get in the form logab = c. Then rearrange as ac = b
b) Get in the form logab = logac. Then b = c.

Solve
log 2 32  log 2 16
 log 2 x log2 (11 – 6x) = 2 log2 (x – 1) + 3
log 2 x

Answer: x = 8 or?1/8 ? 3/2

Answer: x = -1/4 or
Solving Equations with Logs
Solve the equation log10 4 + 2 log10 𝑥 = 2
This is a very common type of exam question.
The strategy is to combine the logs into one and isolate on one side.

We’ve used the laws of logs to combine

log10 4 + log10 𝑥 2 = 2 them into one.
log10 4𝑥2 = 2
Use your favourite method of rearranging.
4𝑥2 = 102 Either do “10 the power of each side” to
“undo” the log, or the “insert the 2
𝑥 2 = 25 between the 10 and 4𝑥2 ” method.
𝑥=5 The subtle bit: You must check each value in the
original equation. If 𝑥 = −5,

then we’d have log10 (- 5) but we’re not allowed

to log a negative number.
Test Your Understanding

a log2 𝑥 + 15 2 − log2 𝑥 = 6
𝑥 + 15 2 Those who feel confident with their laws
log2 =6
𝑥 could always skip straight to this line.
𝑥 + 15 2
26 =
𝑥
64𝑥 = 𝑥 + 2
15
64𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 30𝑥 + 225
𝑥 2 − 34𝑥 + 225 = 0

b These are both valid solutions when

𝑥 − 25 𝑥 − 9 = substituted into the original equation.
0
𝑥 = 25 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 9
Solving equations with exponential terms
Solve 3 𝑥 = 20

Applying 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 to each side of the equation: This is often said “Taking
𝑥 = log3 20 = 2.727 (𝑡𝑜 3𝑑𝑝) logs of both sides…”

Solve 54𝑥−1 = 61
Applying 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 to each side of the equation:
4𝑥 − 1 = log5 61
log5 61 + 1
𝑥= = 0.889 (𝑡𝑜 3𝑑𝑝)
4
Solving equations with exponential terms

Solve 3 𝑥 = 2𝑥+1

Why can we not apply quite the same strategy here?

Because the exponential terms don’t have the same base, so we can’t apply the same log.
We ‘take logs of’/apply log to both sides, but we need not specify a base. 𝑙𝑜𝑔 on its own
may either mean 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 (as per your calculator) or 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 , but the point is, the base does not
matter, provided that the base is consistent on both sides.

Logs in general are great for solving equations when

log 3 𝑥 = log 2𝑥+1 the variable is in the power, because laws of logs
𝑥 log 3 = 𝑥 + 1 log allow us to move the power down.
𝑥 log 3 = 𝑥 log 2 + log
2
2 This then becomes a GCSE-style ‘changing the
𝑥 log
log33−−𝑥log
log22 =
= log
log 2 subject’ type question. Just isolate 𝑥 on one side
and factorise out.
2 log 2
𝑥=
log 3 − log 2 It doesn’t matter what base you use to get the final
= 1.7095 answer as a decimal, provided that it’s consistent. You
may as well use the calculator’s ‘log’ (no base) key.
Test Your Understanding
1 Solve 32𝑥−1 = 5, giving
your answer to 3dp.
2𝑥 − 1 = log3 5
log3 5 + 1
𝑥= = 1.232
2
Test Your Understanding
2 Solve 3𝑥+1 = 4𝑥−1 , giving your answer to 3dp.

log 3𝑥+1 = log 4𝑥−1

𝑥 + 1 log 3 = 𝑥 − 1 log
4
𝑥 log 3 + log 3 = 𝑥 log 4 − log
4
𝑥 log 4 − 𝑥 log 3 = log 3 + log
4𝑥 log 4 − log 3 = log 3 + log
4
log 3 + log 4
𝑥= = 8.638
log 4 − log 3
 Test Your Understanding
3 Solve 2 𝑥 3 𝑥+1 = 5, giving
your answer in exact form.

log 2 𝑥 3 𝑥+1 = log 5

log 2 𝑥 + log 3𝑥+1 = log 5
𝑥 log 2 + 𝑥 + 1 log 3 = log 5
𝑥 log 2 + 𝑥 log 3 + log 3 = log
𝑥 log 2 + log 3 = log 5 − log
5
3
log 5 − log 3
which
𝑥 =could be simplified to:
log 2 + log 3
log 5 − log
𝑥= 3
log
6
DOUBTS ???
The End