Precalculus : Properties of Logarithms

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Precalculus

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Evaluate a logarithm.

What is \(\displaystyle log_{10}1000\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 100\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3\)

Explanation:

The derifintion of logarithm is:

\(\displaystyle log_{a}y=x \Leftrightarrow a^{x}=y.\)

In this problem,

\(\displaystyle a= 10, y=1000\) 

\(\displaystyle 10^{3}=1000\)

Therefore, \(\displaystyle x=3\)

Example Question #1 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Solve for \(\displaystyle x\) in the following logarithmic equation:

\(\displaystyle log_{10} x^2 - log_{10} 2x = 2\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x = 1000\)

None of the other choices

\(\displaystyle x=100\)

\(\displaystyle x = 0\)

\(\displaystyle x = 10\)

Correct answer:

None of the other choices

Explanation:

Using the rules of logarithms, 

\(\displaystyle \log a - \log b = \log \bigg(\frac{a}{b}\bigg)\)

Hence,

 \(\displaystyle \log x^2 - \log 2x = log \bigg(\frac{x^2}{2x}\bigg) = log \bigg(\frac{x}{2}\bigg) = 2\)

So exponentiate both sides with a base 10:

\(\displaystyle 10^{log_{10} \frac{x}{2}} = 10^{2}\)

The exponent and the logarithm cancel out, leaving:  

\(\displaystyle \frac{x}{2}=10^2\)

\(\displaystyle x=100\cdot 2=200\)

 

This answer does not match any of the answer choices, therefore the answer is 'None of the other choices'.

 

 

Example Question #1 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Solve the following logarithmic equation:

\(\displaystyle 2\log _3(x)=\log _3(4)+\log _3(x-1)\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x=-1\)

\(\displaystyle x=1\)

\(\displaystyle x=2\)

\(\displaystyle x=4\)

\(\displaystyle x=-4\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x=2\)

Explanation:

In order to solve this equation, we must apply several properties of logarithms. First we notice the term on the left side of the equation, which we can rewrite using the following property:

\(\displaystyle a\log_b (x)=\log_b (x^a)\)

Where a is the coefficient of the logarithm and b is some arbitrary base. Next we look at the right side of the equation, which we can rewrite using the following property for the addition of logarithms:

\(\displaystyle \log _ba+\log _bc=\log_b (a\cdot c)\)

Using both of these properties, we can rewrite the logarithmic equation as follows:

\(\displaystyle 2\log _3(x)=\log _3(4)+\log _3(x-1)\)

\(\displaystyle \log _3(x^2)=\log _3(4(x-1))\)

We have the same value for the base of the logarithm on each side, so the equation then simplifies to the following:

\(\displaystyle x^2=4x-4\rightarrow x^2-4x+4=0\)

Which we can then factor to solve for \(\displaystyle x\):

\(\displaystyle (x-2)(x-2)=0\rightarrow x=2\)

Example Question #2 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Solve the equation for \(\displaystyle x\).

\(\displaystyle \ln\frac{cx}{ab+c} = b+c\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle ab-e^c\)

\(\displaystyle x = \frac{e^a}{e^{bc}}}(ab+c)\)

\(\displaystyle x = \frac{e^be^c(ab+c)}{c}}\)

None of the other answers.

\(\displaystyle x = \frac{e^b}{c(ab+c)e^c}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x = \frac{e^be^c(ab+c)}{c}}\)

Explanation:

We solve the equation as follows:

\(\displaystyle \ln \frac{cx}{ab+c} = b+c\)

Exponentiate both sides.

\(\displaystyle \frac{cx}{ab+c}= e^{b+c}\) 

Apply the power rule on the right hand side.

\(\displaystyle \frac{cx}{ab+c} = e^be^c\) 

Multiply by \(\displaystyle ab+c\).

\(\displaystyle cx = e^be^c(ab+c)\) 

Divide by \(\displaystyle c\).

\(\displaystyle x =\frac{e^be^c(ab+c)}{c}\)

Example Question #5 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Solve for \(\displaystyle x\):

\(\displaystyle log(27)- 2log(x)=log(x)\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x=54\)

\(\displaystyle x=-3\)

\(\displaystyle x=3\)

\(\displaystyle x=3.67\)

\(\displaystyle x=-\frac{1}{27}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x=3\)

Explanation:

First, simplify the logarithmic expressions on the left side of the equation:

\(\displaystyle 2log(x)\) can be re-written as \(\displaystyle log(x^2)\).

Now we have:

\(\displaystyle log(27)-log(x^2)=log(x)\).

The left can be consolidated into one log expression using the subtraction rule:

\(\displaystyle log\left(\frac{27}{x^2}\right)=log(x)\).

We now have log on both sides, so we can be confident that whatever is inside these functions is equal:

\(\displaystyle \frac{27}{x^2}=x\) to continue solving, multiply by \(\displaystyle x^2\) on both sides:

\(\displaystyle 27 = x^3\) take the cube root:

\(\displaystyle 3 = x\)

Example Question #6 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

\(\displaystyle (\ln (x^2))^2=\ln (x^4)+3\).

Solve for \(\displaystyle x\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle e^{-1/2}\)

\(\displaystyle e^{4/3}\)

\(\displaystyle e^{3/2}\)

\(\displaystyle e^{2/3}\)

\(\displaystyle e^{-3/2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle e^{3/2}\)

Explanation:

First bring the inside exponent in front of the natural log.

\(\displaystyle (\ln (x^2))^2=\ln (x^4)+3\rightarrow(2\ln (x))^2=4\ln (x)+3\).

Next simplify the first term and bring all the terms on one side of the equation. 

\(\displaystyle 4(\ln (x))^2-4\ln (x)-3=0\).

Next, let set 

\(\displaystyle \ln (x)=A\), so \(\displaystyle 4A^2-4A-3=0\).

Now use the quadratic formula to solve for \(\displaystyle A\)

\(\displaystyle \\ \frac{-b\pm \sqrt{b^2-4(a)(c)}}{2a}\\ \\=\frac{4\pm\sqrt{16-4(4)(-3)}}{2(4)}\\ \\=\frac{4\pm \sqrt{16+48}}{8}\\ \\=4\pm \frac{\sqrt{64}}{8}\\ \\=\frac{4\pm 8}{8}\\ \\=\frac{3}{2}; -\frac{1}{2}\) 

and thus, \(\displaystyle A=-\frac{1}{2}\) and \(\displaystyle A=\frac{3}{2}\).

Now substitute \(\displaystyle A\) with \(\displaystyle \ln (x)\).

So, \(\displaystyle \ln (x)=-\frac{1}{2}\rightarrow \O\) since \(\displaystyle x\nleqslant0\) and \(\displaystyle \ln (x)=\frac{3}{2}\rightarrow x=e^{3/2}\).

Thus, \(\displaystyle x=e^{3/2}\)

Example Question #1 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Solve the logarithmic equation: \(\displaystyle \ln\sqrt{x+2}=2\)

Possible Answers:

None of the other answers.

\(\displaystyle x=e^4-2\)

\(\displaystyle x=e^2+4\)

\(\displaystyle x=e^2-2\)

\(\displaystyle x=e^4-4\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x=e^4-2\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \ln\sqrt{x+2}=2\)

Exponentiate each side to cancel the natural log:

\(\displaystyle e^{\ln\sqrt{x+2}}=e^2\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{x+2}=e^2\)

Square both sides:

\(\displaystyle (\sqrt{x+2})^2=(e^2)^2\)

\(\displaystyle x+2=e^4\)

Isolate x:

\(\displaystyle x=e^4-2\)

Example Question #8 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Solve for x: \(\displaystyle \log(2x+1) = 3\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 50\)

\(\displaystyle 9.5\)

\(\displaystyle 7\)

\(\displaystyle 10\)

\(\displaystyle 499.5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 499.5\)

Explanation:

The base of a logarithm is 10 by default:

\(\displaystyle \log _{10 } (2 x + 1 ) = 3\) convert to exponent to isolate x

\(\displaystyle 10^3 = 2x + 1\)

\(\displaystyle 1,000 = 2x + 1\) subtract 1 from both sides

\(\displaystyle 999 = 2x\) divide both sides by 2

\(\displaystyle 499.5 = x\)

Example Question #1 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Solve for x: \(\displaystyle \log _3 x - \log _3 7 = 2\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 63\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle 56\)

\(\displaystyle 9\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 63\)

Explanation:

First, condense the left side into one logarithm:

\(\displaystyle \log _3 \frac{x}{7 } = 2\) convert to an exponent

\(\displaystyle 3^2 = \frac{x}{7 }\)

\(\displaystyle 9 = \frac{x}{7}\) multiply both sides by 7

\(\displaystyle 63 = x\)

Example Question #10 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Solve for x: \(\displaystyle \log _4 x + \log _ 4 (3x - 7 ) = 3\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 5.93 , -3.60\)

no solution

\(\displaystyle 3.95, - 2.40\)

\(\displaystyle 8.90, - 5.40\)

\(\displaystyle 2.5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 5.93 , -3.60\)

Explanation:

First, consolidate the left side into one logarithm:

\(\displaystyle \log _4 (3x^2 - 7x ) = 3\) convert to an exponent

\(\displaystyle 3x^2 - 7x = 64\) subtract 64 from both sides

\(\displaystyle 3x^2 - 7 x - 64 = 0\) now we can solve using the quadratic formula:

\(\displaystyle x = \frac{7 \pm \sqrt{49 - 4(3)(-64)}}{6 } \approx 5.93, -3.60\)

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