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Indices and Logarithms

The document provides comprehensive lecture notes on indices and logarithms, detailing definitions, rules, and examples for both mathematical concepts. It explains the properties of indices, including positive, negative, zero, and fractional powers, as well as the fundamental rules of logarithms and their applications in solving equations. Additionally, it includes practice questions for further understanding and application of the concepts discussed.

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17 views

Indices and Logarithms

The document provides comprehensive lecture notes on indices and logarithms, detailing definitions, rules, and examples for both mathematical concepts. It explains the properties of indices, including positive, negative, zero, and fractional powers, as well as the fundamental rules of logarithms and their applications in solving equations. Additionally, it includes practice questions for further understanding and application of the concepts discussed.

Uploaded by

sinkalamajor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Indices and Logarithms

Lecture Notes:
section 1 Indices
section 2 Logarithms
INDICES

Any expression written as an is defined


as the variable a raised to the power of
the number n

n is called a power, an index or an


exponent of a

e.g. where n is a positive whole number,


1
a =a
2
a =a×a
a3 = a × a × a
an = a × a × a × a……n times
Indices satisfy the following rules:

1) where n is positive whole number


an = a × a × a × a……n times
e.g. 23 = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8

2) Negative powers…..
1
-n
a = an
1
e.g. a-2 = a 2

e.g. where a = 2
1 1 1
-1 -2 =
2 = 2 or 2 = 2 × 2
4
3) A Zero power
a0 = 1
e.g. 80 = 1

4) A Fractional power
1
a =n
n

a 1

e.g. 92 2
9 9=
=1 = 3
8 3 3 8=
= 2
All indices satisfy the following rules
in mathematical applications

Rule 1
m n m+n
a .a =a

2 3 5
e.g. 2 . 2 = 2 = 32
Rule 2
am
an = am - n
23
e.g. 2 2 = 23-2 = 21 = 2

________________________________
note: if m = n,
am m–n 0
then a n = a =a =1
________________________________
m
a
m – (-n) m+n
note: a − = a =a
n
________________________________
−
a
m
1
-m – n
note: = a
an = am+n
_________________________________
Rule 3
(am)n = am.n
e.g. (23)2 = 26 = 64

Rule 4
n n n
a . b = (ab)
2 2 2 2
e.g. 3 × 4 = (3×4) = 12 =
144
Likewise,
n n
a ⎛a
n =⎜
if
b ⎞⎝ b
⎟
e.g. ⎠ b≠0
2 2
6 ⎛ 6 2
2 =⎜ = =
⎞3 ⎝3
⎟ ⎠ 2 4
Simplify the following using the above
Rules:

1) b = x1/4 × 3/4
x b = x2 ÷ 3/2
2)
x3) b = (x3/4)8
x 2y 3
4) b = x 4 y
LOGARITHMS
A Logarithm is a mirror image of an
index
n
If m = b then logbm = n
The log of m to base b is n

n
If y = x then n = logx y
The log of y to the base x is n

e.g.
3
1000 = 10
then 3 = log10 1000
0.01 = 10-2 then –2 = log10 0.01
Evaluate the following:
1) x = log39
n
the log of m to base b = n then m = b
the log of 9 to base 3 = x then
x
9=3
2
9=3×3=
3x = 2

2) x = log42
n
the log of m to base b = n then m = b
the log of 2 to base 4 = x then

2 =4x
2 = √4 = 41/2
x = 1/2
Using Rules of Indices, the following
rules of logs apply

1) logb(x × y) = logb x + logb


y
eg. log10 (2 × 3) = log10 2 +
log10 3
⎛ x ⎞
2) log ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
b ⎝ y ⎠ = logb x – logb y
⎛3
3− 2
eg. log 10 ⎞⎝⎜ 2 ⎟ = 10
log
10
log
⎠

m
3) logb x = m. logb x
2
e.g. log10 3 = 2 3
log10
From the aboverules, it follows that
(1) logb 1 = 0
x
(since => 1 = b , hence x must=0)
e.g. log101=0

and therefore,
logb (1 x ) = -
1
e.g. log10 ( /3) = - log103
logb x

(2) logb b = 1
x
(since => b = b , hence x must = 1)
e.g. log10 10 = 1

(3) logb (
n 1
x = n logb x

)
A Note of Caution:
• All logs must be to the same base
in applying the rules and solving for
values
• The most common base for
logarithms are logs to the base 10, or
logs to the base e (e = 2.718281…)
• Logs to the base e are called
Natural Logarithms
logex = ln x

If y = exp(x) = ex
Then loge y = x or ln y = x
Features of y = ex
• non-linear
• always positive
• as ↑ x get ↑ y and ↑ slope of graph
(gets steeper)
8.00

7.00

6.00

5.00
y=ex

4.00

3.00

2.00

1.00

0.00
0 0.02 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2

x
Logs can be used to solve algebraic
equations where the unknown variable
appears as a power

An Example : Find the value of x


200(1.1)x = 20000

Simplify

divide across by 200

(1.1)x = 100

1. to find x, rewrite equation so that it is


no longer a power

Take logs of both sides


x
log(1.1) = log(100)

rule 3 => x.log(1.1) = log(100)


2. Solve for x

log(100
x= )
log(1.1)
no matter what base we evaluate the logs,
providing the same base is applied both to
the top and bottom of the equation

3. Find the value of x by evaluating logs


using (for example) base 10

log(100 2
x= ) = 0.0414 = 48.32
log(1.1)
4. Check the solution

200(1.1)x = 20000

200(1.1)48.32 = 20004
Another Example: Find the value of x

5x = 2(3)x

1. rewrite equation so x is not a power


Take logs of both sides
log(5x) = x

log(2×3 )
rule 1 => log 5x = log 2 + log 3x

rule 3 => x.log 5 = log 2 + x.log 3


2. Solve for x

x [log 5 – log 3] = log 2

rule 2 => x[log ⎛⎞⎜ 5 ⎟ ] = log


⎝ 3
2 ⎠
log( 2 )
x = log( 5 )
3
3. Find the value of x by evaluating logs
using (for example) base 10

log( 2 ) 0.30103
x = log( 5 ) = 0.2219 = 1.36
3

4. Check the solution


x x 1.36 1.36
5 = 2(3) ⇒ 5 = 2(3) ⇒ 8.92
An Economics Example 1

Y= f(K, L) = A K αL β

Y*= f(λK, λL) = A (λK)α β

( λL)
= A K αL βλ α λ β = Yλ
Y*α+β

α+β = 1 Constant Returns to


Scale
α+β > 1 Increasing Returns to Scale
α+β < 1 Decreasing Returns to
Scale
Homogeneous of Degree r if:
r r
f(λX, λZ ) = λ f(X, Z) = λ Y
Homogenous function if by scaling all
variables by λ, can write Y in terms of λr
An Economics Example 2

National Income = £30,000 mill in 1964.


It grows at 4% p.a.
Y = income (units of £10,000 mill)
1964: Y=3
1965: Y = 3(1.04)
2
1966: Y = 3(1.04)
20
1984: Y = 3(1.04)

Compute directly using calculator or


Express in terms of logs and solve
1984: logY = log{3×(1.04)20 }
20
logY = log3 + log{(1.04) }
logY = log3 + 20.log(1.04)
evaluate to the base 10

logY = 0.47712 + 20(0.01703)


logY = 0.817788

Find the anti-log of the solution:


Y = 6.5733
In 1984, Y = £65733 mill
Topic 3: Rules of Indices and Logs
Some Practice Questions:

1. Use the rules of indices to simplify each of


the following and where possible evaluate:
35.32
(i) 36

54.6 −
(ii) 5 2
2

x 6−2. x
(iii) x

(iv) (4 3 2

(v) x )2
2
xy
x
15 x6
(vi) 3 x4 5 2
x
2. Solve the following equations:
(i) log 4 64 = x
⎛ 1
(ii) log 3 ⎜ =
⎞
⎝
⎟ 27 x
⎠
(iii) x = 4 ln
x
(iv) 10 5 =
4 ex =
(v) 25
100
2x
(vi) −1 =
e
100

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