Precalculus : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Precalculus

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Evaluate a logarithm.

What is ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The derifintion of logarithm is:

In this problem,

 

Therefore, 

Example Question #1 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Solve for  in the following logarithmic equation:

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices

Correct answer:

None of the other choices

Explanation:

Using the rules of logarithms, 

Hence,

 

So exponentiate both sides with a base 10:

The exponent and the logarithm cancel out, leaving:  

 

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:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

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:

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:

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

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

Which we can then factor to solve for :

Example Question #2 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Solve the equation for .

Possible Answers:

None of the other answers.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We solve the equation as follows:

Exponentiate both sides.

 

Apply the power rule on the right hand side.

 

Multiply by .

 

Divide by .

Example Question #4 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

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

can be re-written as .

Now we have:

.

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

.

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

 to continue solving, multiply by on both sides:

 take the cube root:

Example Question #1 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

.

Solve for 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

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

.

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

.

Next, let set 

, so .

Now use the quadratic formula to solve for

 

and thus,  and .

Now substitute  with .

So,  since  and .

Thus, 

Example Question #6 : Solve Logarithmic Equations

Solve the logarithmic equation: 

Possible Answers:

None of the other answers.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Exponentiate each side to cancel the natural log:

Square both sides:

Isolate x:

Example Question #1166 : Pre Calculus

Solve for x:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The base of a logarithm is 10 by default:

convert to exponent to isolate x

subtract 1 from both sides

divide both sides by 2

Example Question #1167 : Pre Calculus

Solve for x:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, condense the left side into one logarithm:

convert to an exponent

multiply both sides by 7

Example Question #1168 : Pre Calculus

Solve for x:

Possible Answers:

no solution

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, consolidate the left side into one logarithm:

convert to an exponent

subtract 64 from both sides

now we can solve using the quadratic formula:

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