Recall: Different Properties of Exponents

1. Product Law
• (𝑎𝑚 ) (𝑎𝑛 ) = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛
• To multiply powers with the same base, multiply
the numerical coefficients, copy the base and the
exponents.
2. Quotient Law
𝑎𝑚
• = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛
𝑎𝑛
• To divide powers with the same base, divide the
numerical coefficients or reduce to lowest terms,
copy the literal coefficients, and subtract the
exponents.
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Recall: Different Properties of Exponents
3. Power Law
• (𝑎𝑚)𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚𝑛
• When an exponent expression is raised to
another exponent, copy the base and multiply
the exponents.

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Review:
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 81
“3 raised to which power will give us 81?

Examples:
Simplify the following logarithmic expressions.
A)Log2 2 B) log2 32 C) log4 64

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Definition:

• Logarithm is an exponent which b must have

• logb y = x if and only if bx = y for b > 0 and b ≠

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Basic Properties of Logarithms:
Let b and x be real numbers such that b > 0 and
b ≠ 1.

a) 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 1 = 0
b) 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑏 𝑥 = x
c) If x > 0, then 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑥 = x

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• Property 1: logb 1 is the exponent of b that
gives 1; in other words b? = 1. This exponent
must be 0.
• Property 2: logb bx is the exponent of b that
gives bx. Clearly, the exponent must be x.
• Property 3:
Remind students that logb x is the
exponent of b that gives x. So if we make it the
exponent of b, then we should get x.

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Example 1: Use the properties logb 1 = 0, logb bx
= x, and blogb x = x to find the value of the
following logarithmic expressions.

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Solution:

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Example 2:
Suppose you have seats to a concert featuring
your favorite musical artist. Calculate the
approximate decibel level associated if a typical
concert‘s sound intensity is 10−2 W/𝑚2 .

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Solution:

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Example 3:
Calculate the hydrogen ion concentration of
vinegar that has a pH level of 3.0.

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Solution:

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Laws of Logarithms
Find the value of the following logarithm
expressions.

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Laws of Logarithms

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Proof of the Laws of Logarithms:

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Proof of the Laws of Logarithms:

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NOTE:
logb un is not the same as (logb u)n. In the
first expression, n is the exponent of u, but
in the second expression, n is the exponent
of logb u.

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Common mistakes in logarithms:

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Example 1:
Use the properties of logarithms to expand each
expression in terms of the logarithms of the
factors. Assume each factor is positive.
a) log (𝑎𝑏 2 )
3 3
b) 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 ( )
𝑥
c) In [x (x - 5)]

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Solution:
a) a. log (𝑎𝑏 2 ) = log a + log 𝑏 2 = log a + 2 log b

3 3 3
b) 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 ( ) =3 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 ( ) = 3(𝑙𝑜𝑔3 3 - 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 x)
𝑥 𝑥
= 3(1 - 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 x)
= 3 - 3 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 x

a) c) In [x (x - 5)] = In x + In (x - 5)

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Example 2:
Use the properties of logarithm to condense the
expressions as a single logarithm.
a) Log 2 + log 3
b) 2 In x – In y
c) 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 (𝑥 2 ) – 3 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 x
d) 2 – log 5

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Solution:
a) Log 2 + log 3 = log (2 · 3) = log 6
𝑥2
b) 2 In x – In y = ln (𝑥 2 ) – ln y = ln ( )
𝑦
c) 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 (𝑥 2 ) – 3 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 x = 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 (𝑥 2 ) - 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 (𝑥 3 )
𝑥2
= 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 ( 3)
𝑥
1
= 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 ( )
𝑥
= 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 (𝑥 −1 )
= - 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 x
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d) 2 – log 5
Express 2 in terms of a logarithm to base 10.
2 = 2(1)
= 2(log 10) using 1 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 b
= log 102 using n 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 u = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑢𝑛
2 = log 100
100
Thus, 2 – log 5 = log 100 – log 5 = log ( )
5
= log 20

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Change-of-base formula
Find the values of the given logarithms and try
to find a pattern.
a) 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 729
b) 𝑙𝑜𝑔9 729
c) 𝑙𝑜𝑔27 729
d) 𝑙𝑜𝑔1/27 729
e) 𝑙𝑜𝑔729 729
f) 𝑙𝑜𝑔81 729
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 729 6
The possible pattern 𝑙𝑜𝑔3𝑛 729 = =
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 3𝑛 𝑛
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Change-of-Base Formula

Let a, b, and x be positive real numbers, with

𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒂 𝒙
𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒃 x =
𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒂 𝒃

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Example 3:
Use the change-of-base formula to rewrite the
following logarithmic expressions to the
indicated base, and then compute the value.
a) 𝑙𝑜𝑔8 32 (change to base 2)
1
b) 𝑙𝑜𝑔243 (change to base 3)
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1
c) 𝑙𝑜𝑔25
5
(change to base 5)

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Example 4:
Use the change-of-base formula to rewrite the
following logarithmic expressions to the
indicated base. Simplify.
a) 𝑙𝑜𝑔6 4 (change to base 2)
b) 𝑙𝑜𝑔1/2 2 (change to base e)

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Application:
1. Find the value of the following logarithmic
expressions.
a) 𝑙𝑜𝑔7 49
b) 𝑙𝑜𝑔27 3
c) ln e
2. Use the properties of logarithm to expand the
expressions as a sum, difference, or multiple of
logarithms. Simplify.
𝑥3
a) log ( ) b) ln (2𝑒)2 c) 𝑙𝑜𝑔4 (16a)
2
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3. Use the properties of logarithm to condense
the expressions as a single logarithm.
a) log (x + 2) + log (x – 2)
b) 2 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 5 + 1
3
c) 2 ln ( ) - ln 4
2

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4. True or false.

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Key Points:

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