Lesson 6.

5
Properties of Logarithms

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Warm-Up

Solve the equation.

35

(28)x 4

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Learning Target:
Use properties of logarithms.

Success Criteria:
• I can evaluate logarithms.
• I can expand or condense logarithmic expressions.
• I can explain how to use the change-of-base formula.

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 Explore It! Deriving Properties of Logarithms

properties of logarithms. Let x = logb m and y = logb n. The corresponding

Work with a partner. You can use properties of exponents to derive several

exponential forms of these two equations are

bx = m and by = n.

a. The diagram shows a way to derive the Product Property of Logarithms.

Complete and explain the diagram.

mn = bxby
Exponential Form of mn

Logarithmic Form of mn = bx + y
CONSTRUCT AN
mn = bx + y logb mn = x + y
ARGUMENT
Can you extend the
Product Property of
Logarithms to more
Product Property

log mn = logb m + logb n

than two factors? of Logarithms
Explain.
b

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Explore It! Deriving Properties of Logarithms
Work with a partner.
b. Derive the Quotient Property of Logarithms shown below using a
diagram similar to the one in part (a). Explain your reasoning.
logb = logb m logb n Quotient Property of Logarithms
Give some examples to show that the property works. Revise your work
if needed.

c. Use the substitution m = bx to derive the Power Property of Logarithms

shown below.
logb mn = n logb m Power Property of Logarithms

d. How are these three properties of logarithms similar to properties of

exponents?

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 KEY
IDEA Properties of Logarithms
You know that the logarithmic function with base b is the
inverse function of the exponential function with base b.
Because of this relationship, it makes sense that logarithms
have properties similar to properties of exponents.

Properties of Logarithms
Let b, m, and n be positive real numbers with b ≠ 1.
STUDY TIP
These three properties
logb mn = logb m + logb n
of logarithms
Product Property

logb = logb m − logb n

correspond to these
three properties of
Quotient Property
aman = am + n logb mn = n logb m
exponents.

= am − n
Power Property

(am)n = amn

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 Example 1 Using Properties of Logarithms
Use log2 3 1.585 and log2 7 2.807 to evaluate each logarithm.
a. log2 b. log2 21 c. log2 49

SOLUTION
a. log2 log2 3 log2 7 Quotient Property
1.585 2.807 Use the given values of log2 3 and log2 7.
1.222 Subtract.

log2 3 + log2 7
b. log2 21 log2(3 7) Write 21 as 3 7.
Note that in general Product Property
logb and
1.585 2.807 Use the given values of log2 3 and log2 7.
logb mn (logb m)(logb n).
4.392 Add.
c. log2 49 log2 72 Write 49 as 72.
2 log2 7 Product Property
2(2.807) Use the given value log2 7.
5.614 Multiply.
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Use log6 5 ≈ 0.898 and log6 8 ≈ 1.161 to evaluate the logarithm.
1. log6 2. log6 40

3. log6 64 4. log6 125

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5. Without using technology, can you use the approximations given below to evaluate ln x
for all integer values of x between 1 and 10? Explain your reasoning.

ln 2 ≈ 0.6931, ln 3 ≈ 1.0986, ln 5 ≈ 1.6094

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 Example 2 Expanding a Logarithmic Expression

Expand ln .

When you are

expanding or SOLUTION
condensing an
expression involving
ln ln 5x7 ln y Quotient Property
logarithms, you can
assume that any
variables are positive. ln 5 ln x7 ln y Product Property

ln 5 7 ln x ln y Power Property

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Example 3 Condensing a Logarithmic Expression

Condense log 9 3 log 2 log 3.

SOLUTION

log 9 3 log 2 log 3 log 9 log 23 log 3 Power Property

log(9 23) log 3 Product Property
log Quotient Property

log 24 Simplify.

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Expand the logarithmic expression.

6. log6 3x4

7. ln

8. log5 2

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 log3 2x + log3 y?
9. Which property of logarithms do you need to use to condense the expression

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Condense the logarithmic expression.

10. log x log 9

11. 4 ln x + 8 ln y

12. ln 4 + 3 ln 3 ln 12

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KEY
IDEA
Change-of-Base Formula
Logarithms with any base other than 10 or e can be written in
terms of common or natural logarithms using the change-of-
base formula. This allows you to evaluate any logarithm using
a calculator.

Change-of-Base Formula
If a, b, and c are positive real numbers with b ≠ 1 and c ≠ 1, then
logc a = .

In particular, logc a = and logc a = .

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 Example 4 Changing a Base Using Common Logarithms

Evaluate log3 8 using common logarithms.

SOLUTION

log3 8 logc a

You can also evaluate

log3 8 using natural 1.893 Use technology.
logarithms.
log3 8 1.893
Notice that you get the
same answer whether
you use natural
logarithms or common
logarithms in the
change-of-base formula.

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Example 5 Changing a Base Using Natural Logarithms

Evaluate log6 24 using natural logarithms.

SOLUTION

log6 24 logc a

1.774 Use technology.

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Example 6 Modeling Real Life
For a sound with intensity I (in watts per square meter), the loudness L(I) of the
sound (in decibels) is given by the function
L(I) 10 log

where I0 is the intensity of a barely audible sound (about 10−12 watts per square
meter). An artist in a recording studio turns up the volume of a track so that the
intensity of the sound doubles. By how many decibels does the loudness increase?
SOLUTION
Let I be the original intensity, so that 2I is the doubled intensity.
increase in loudness L(2I) L(I) Write an expression.
10 log 10 log Substitute.

10
Distributive Property
10
Product Property
10 log 2 Simplify.
The loudness increases by 10 log 2 decibels, or about 3 decibels.
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Use the change-of-base formula to evaluate the logarithm.

13. log5 8 14. log8 14

15. log26 9 16. log12 30

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17. Describe two ways to evaluate log7 12 using a calculator.

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18. In Example 6, the artist turns up the volume so that the intensity of the sound triples.
By how many decibels does the loudness increase?

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 In-Class
Mini-Assessment
Practice

1. Use log5 11 ≈ 1.490 and log5 30 ≈ 2.113 to evaluate each logarithm.

a. log5

b. log5 330

c. log5 121

2. Expand ln .
3. Condense log 10 + 2 log 5 log 5.
4. Evaluate log2 9 using common logarithms.

5. Evaluate log4 20 using natural logarithms.

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