Dimitris Charalampidis. IB, SAT math teacher www.charalampidisdimitris.

com

Logarithmic Equations
Definition: By logarithmic equation, we define an equation that involves at least one logarithm
of an expression that contains a variable.
There are mainly two types of logarithmic equations we will come across in the IB.

Type 1

log a ( exp ression1) = log a ( exp ression2 )  ( exp ression1) = ( exp ression2 ) .
Based on the form we just wrote, if we manage to write both sides of the given equation as
single logarithms of the same base, we can simply continue the equation with just the
arguments.
This will allow us to solve the equation between the arguments and find the values of x that
could theoretically be the solutions we were looking for.
To determine whether these numbers are indeed solutions or not we need to consider some
restrictions. Since we are working with logarithms, we need the argument of each of the initial
logarithms to be strictly bigger than 0. The solutions of the original equation will be those
numbers that satisfy all the restrictions taken.

Example 1

Solve log 4 ( x + 1) = log 4 ( 2 x − 2 )

Solution

log 4 ( x + 1) = log 4 ( 2 x − 2 ) Both sides are already expressed as single logarithms

of the same base. Hence we will continue with just the
arguments.

x +1 = 2x − 2
x − 2 x = −2 − 1 We need to consider the restrictions to check on whether we
− x = −3 will accept this number or not.
x=3 From log 4 ( x + 1) : x + 1  0  x  −1

From log 4 ( 2 x − 2 ) : 2x − 2  0  2x  2  x  1

Number 3 satisfies both restrictions, so it should be considered as the solution of the original
logarithmic equation.
Dimitris Charalampidis. IB, SAT math teacher www.charalampidisdimitris.com

Example 2

Solve log 7 ( x + 5) + log 7 x = log 7 6

Solution

log 7 ( x + 5) + log 7 x = log 7 6

The LHS (Left Hand Side) can be expressed as a single
logarithm by applying the property of addition.

log 7 ( x + 5)  x = log 7 6 Both sides as expressed as single logarithms of the same base. We
continue with the arguments.

( x + 5) x = 6
x2 + 5x = 6 It’s a quadratic equation. We use the discriminant formula to solve it
x2 + 5x − 6
x = −6 or x =1

We need to take the restrictions to see if we will accept any of these values.

From log 7 ( x + 5) : x + 5  0  x  −5 . Thus x = −6 is rejected.

From log7 x : x  0.

Number 1 satisfies both restrictions which means that this is the only solution.

Example 3

Solve ln( x + 1) − ln x = ln 3

Solution
The LHS can be expressed as a single logarithm by
ln( x + 1) − ln x = ln 3
applying the property of subtraction.

 x +1  We continue only with the arguments.

ln   = ln 3
 x 
x +1 1 I need to take restrictions
= 3  x + 1 = 3x  x − 3x = −1  −2 x = −1  x =
x 2
Dimitris Charalampidis. IB, SAT math teacher www.charalampidisdimitris.com

From ln( x + 1) : x + 1  0  x  −1

From ln x : x0

1
Number satisfies both our restrictions, so it can be accepted as the equation’s solution.
2

Example 4

1
Solve log 4 9 + 2 log 4 x = log 4 75
2
Solution
1
We must try to express both sides as single logarithms
log 4 9 2 + log 4 x 2 = log 4 75
of the same base and then continue with the arguments.
log 4 9 + log 4 x 2 = log 4 75
log 4 3 + log 4 x 2 = log 4 75
log 4 3x 2 = log 4 75
3 x 2 = 75
x 2 = 25
x = 5 or x = −5

We have to check the restrictions to see whether we will accept any of the numbers found.

From log 4 x : x  0 , therefore we can only accept number 5

Example 5

Solve log 4 x = log x 4

Solution

log 4 x = log x 4 We have two logs that have different bases. This means that we cannot
combine them with any of the known properties. We have to change base first.

Here, I will turn both of them into logs of base 4.

log 4 4
log 4 x =  ( log 4 x )  ( log 4 x ) = log 4 4  ( log 4 x ) =1
2

log 4 x

( log 4 x ) = 1  log 4 x = 1 or log 4 x = −1

Dimitris Charalampidis. IB, SAT math teacher www.charalampidisdimitris.com

If log 4 x = 1  41 = x  x = 4

1
If log 4 x = −1  4−1 = x 
4
I must now confirm or reject my findings through the restrictions.

For the log 4 x : x  0 , so no number is yet rejected.

For the log x 4 , although the argument is surely greater that 0, remember that there is a
restriction for a logarithm’s base as well. It must be greater than zero and different than 1.
Both my values found here satisfy these restrictions so I should accept them both as possible
solutions of the initial equation.

Example 6

log 3 x + log 5 y = 6
Solve the system .
log 3 x − log 5 y = 2

Solution
By looking the two logarithms we can see that they have different bases. Hence one option
would be to somehow change base so that we can potentially combine them into one logarithm
and proceed from there. But that’s not always the case. Since we basically have the same
logarithms in the two equations, we do something different.

Let k = log3 x and m = log5 y . Under these substitutions the original system now gets the
form:
k +m=6
k −m = 2
By adding these two equations vertically we can find that 2k = 8  k = 4 . Replacing this value
in any of the two equations we get that 4 + m = 6  m = 2 .

Finally, we got that k = 4, m = 2 which only means that log3 x = 4 and log5 y = 2 .

We need to solve each one of them separately.

log3 x = 4  34 = x  81 = x .

log5 y = 2  52 = y  y = 25

Therefore the solution to the system is x = 81, y = 25 .

Let’s not forget though the restrictions. Both x,y should have been positives which they are.
Dimitris Charalampidis. IB, SAT math teacher www.charalampidisdimitris.com

Type 2

log a ( exp ression1) = exp ression2  (a) = exp ression1 .

exp ression 2

This type simply states that if only one of the side is expressed as a logarithm, we can apply
the logarithm’s definition.
Like in the first type we should make sure not to forget mentioning any restrictions that might
limit my answers.

Example 7

Solve a) log3 x = 4 , b) log x 8 = 3 and c) log5 125 = x

Solution
In each one of the above equations, we will simply need to apply the definition of a logarithm.

a) log3 x = 4  34 = x  81 = x .

Restriction: from log3 x : x  0 which means that the value found should be accepted as a

solution.

b) log x 8 = 3  x3 = 8  3 x3 = 3 8  x = 2

Restriction: Considering the logarithm’s argument we are ok since 8 is obviously greater than
0. Remember though that a logarithm’s base has its own restrictions as well. It has to be

bigger than 0 and different than 1. Hence here x  0, x  1 . Number 2 satisfies these

restrictions which means that it should be accepted as a solution.

c) log5 125 = x  5x = 125  5x = 53  x = 3 .

There are not any restrictions regarding the logarithm, hence number 3 is accepted.

Example 8

1
Solve log16 2 − x = .
4
Solution

( )
1
1 2
log16 2 − x =  16 4 = 2 − x  4 16 = 2 − x  2 = 2 − x  22 = 2− x  4 = 2− x 
4
 x = −2
Dimitris Charalampidis. IB, SAT math teacher www.charalampidisdimitris.com

We still need to consider the restrictions.

From log16 2 − x : 2 − x  0  2 − x  0  x  2 . Hence the number found before, is a

solution to the equation.

Example 9

log 2 ( x + 3)
Solve + log 4 ( x − 3) = 2
2
Solution
Since we have different bases, we need to apply change of base. Although
log 2 ( x + 3)
+ log 4 ( x − 3) = 2 we can change both logs to any new third base, I will change the logarithm
2 of base 4 to a logarithm of base 2 as it seems easier.

log 2 ( x + 3) log 2 ( x − 3)
+ =2
2 log 2 4
log 2 4 = 2

log 2 ( x + 3) log 2 ( x − 3)
+ =2 Multiply everything by 2 so that we can get rid of the
2 2
denominators

log 2 ( x + 3) + log 2 ( x − 3) = 4

log 2 ( x + 3)( x − 3) = 4

24 = ( x + 3)( x − 3)  16 = x 2 − 9  x 2 − 25 = 0  x = 5

As always, we should check the restrictions by making sure that the arguments of each one of
the initial logarithms are strictly bigger than 0.

From log 2 ( x + 3) : x + 3  0  x  −3 . Hence -5 is already rejected.

From log 4 ( x − 3) : x − 3  0  x  3 . Hence 5 is the only number that satisfies both

restrictions which suggests that it will be our solution
Dimitris Charalampidis. IB, SAT math teacher www.charalampidisdimitris.com

Your turn

Solve the following equations by applying the formula log a b = c  ac = b .

1) log 4 x = 3 2) log 5 x = 0

1 4) log x = −2
3) log 9 x =
2
1
6) log x =3
5) log x ( 3 x − 2 ) = 2 64

7) log x 27 = 3 8) log x 25 = 2

9) ln x = 6 10) log x 8 =
3
2
2
11) log m 4 = − 12) 2 log 2 ( 3 x ) = 8
3

13) log 2 (2 x − 4) = 3 14) log10 x3 = 7

15) log 5 ( 3 x + 1) = 3 16) ln x + 3 = 1

17) log 3 ( 3log x ) = 2 18) log ( x +1) ( x − 1) = 2

Solve the following equations by applying the Type 1 methodology mentioned in the beginning
of this section.
19) 2 log 3 x = log 3 (5 x − 6) 20) ln(2 x + 1) + ln 3 = ln15

21) 2 log 5 x + log 5 4 = log 5 (9 x − 2) 22) log(5 − x) = log(6 x − 22)

23) ln( x + 1) + ln( x − 1) = ln 8 24) log 6 x − 6 = log 6 3

25) log 3 (2 x + 3) + log 3 ( x − 1) = log 3 ( x + 1) 26) log 2 (3 x + 1) = log 8 ( x + 1)

 Dimitris Charalampidis. IB, SAT math teacher www.charalampidisdimitris.com

27) log 2 (2 x − 3) − log 2 ( x + 2) = log 2 1 28) log 3 x + log 3 ( x − 1) −1 = log 3 ( x + 1)

29) log(2 x − 4) − log( x) = log 6 30) 2 ln 2 x − ln 4 = ln(2 x − 1)

31) ln( x + 6) − ln( x + 2) = ln x 32) ln( x + 2) − 2 ln 4 = ln x

Solve the following equations by applying the type 2 methodology followed in the beginning of
the section.

33) ln( x + 2) − ln x = 5 34) 2 log 4 x − ( log 4 x ) = 0

2

35) log 3 ( x + 1) + log 3 x = 0 36) log x − 4 log10 = 0

37) 2 log 5 4 − log 5 x = 1 38) log 2 ( x − 2) + log 1 ( x − 1) = 3

2

39) log 2 x + log x 2 = 2

40) ln(3 x − 6) − ln( x − 3) = 4

Answer Key

1) 64 2) 1 3) 3 4) 0.01 5) 2 6) 0.25 7) 3 8) 5

9) 403.4 10) 4 1 16 13) 6 14) 215.4 124 16) 10.3

11) 12) 15)
8 3 3
17) 1000 18) NS 19) 2,3 20) 2 1  22)
27 23) 3 24) 3,9
21)  , 2 
4  7
25) 2 26) 0 27) 5 28) 1.61 29) NS 30) 1 31) 0.455 2
32)
15
33) 0.013 34) 10000 35) 0.618 36) 10000 16 38) NS 39) 2 40) 3.06
37)
5