Learning Guide Module

Subject Code: Math 3 Mathematics 3

Module Code: 9.0 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Lesson Code: 9.1.2 Laws of Logarithms and Change-of-Base Formula 2
Time Frame: 30 minutes

TARGET Time Allocation: 1 minute

Actual Time Allocation: _____ minutes

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

● Explain the power rule and change-of-base formula of logarithms.
● Apply the power rule and change-of-base formula of logarithms.

HOOK Time Allocation: 3 minutes

Actual Time Allocation: _____ minutes

pH (POWER OF HYDROGEN)

In chemistry, pH (power of Hydrogen) is used to measure acidity or alkalinity (basic) of a substance.

The range goes from 0-14, with 7 being neutral. Substances with a pH of less than 7 indicates acidity
while substances with a pH of more than 7 indicates alkalinity (basic). The human body must maintain
a pH close to 7.35 in order for enzymes to work properly. The pH scale is defined below:

pH = − log([𝐻 + ])
1
= log ( + )
[𝐻 ]

where [𝐻 + ] is the concentration of hydrogen ions in the substance. The list below gives typical pH
values of some common substances.
● Stomach acid: 1.7 ● Pure water: 7
● Vinegar: 2.9 ● Blood: 7.4
● Cherries: 3.6 ● Seawater: 8.5
● Black coffee: 5.0 ● Milk of magnesia:10.5
● Milk: 6.9 ● Ammonia solution: 12.5

Retrieved 03 Nov 2020 from https://opentextbc.ca/introductorychemistry/chapter/the-ph-scale-2/

1
The equivalence of − log([𝐻 + ]) and log ([𝐻 + ]) is one of the logarithmic properties we will examine in
this lesson.

Mathematics 3 | Page 1 of 7
 IGNITE Time Allocation: 15 minutes
Actual Time Allocation: _____ minutes

Power Rule of Logarithms

We’re done with the product and quotient rule of logarithms, but how can we take the logarithm of a
power, say 𝑥 2 ?

Well, we can use the product rule as follows: log 𝑏 (𝑥 2 ) = log 𝑏 (𝑥 ∙ 𝑥) = log 𝑏 𝑥 + log 𝑏 𝑥 = 2 log 𝑏 𝑥.
This leads us to the next rule of logarithms. We have the power rule for logarithms, which says that
the logarithm of a power is equal to the exponent times the logarithm of the base.

POWER RULE OF LOGARITHMS (JOHN NAPIER, 1614)

Let 𝑘 ∈ ℝ, 𝑀 > 0, 𝑏 > 0 but 𝑏 ≠ 1, then

log 𝑏 (𝑀𝑘 ) = 𝑘log 𝑏 𝑀

Below are steps that could be helpful when using the power rule of logarithms:
1. Express the term inside the logarithm as a power, if necessary.
2. Write the equivalent expression by multiplying the exponent to the logarithm of the base.

Example: Using power rule of logarithms

Expand the following expressions as much as possible.

1. log 3 (𝑦 5 ) 4. ln ( √ )
𝑦
3 1−𝑦
2. ln( √𝑥 10 )
5. log 𝑏 ((𝑎1 ∙ 𝑎2 ∙ 𝑎3 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎𝑛 )𝑟 )
3. log 𝑏 (𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧 4 )

Solution:

1. log 3 (𝑦 5 ) = 𝟓 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 (𝒚)

10
3 𝟏𝟎
2. ln( √𝑥 10 ) = ln (𝑥 3 ) = 𝐥𝐧(𝒙)
𝟑

3. log 𝑏 (𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧 4 ) = log 𝑏 𝑥 3 + log 𝑏 𝑦 2 + log 𝑏 𝑧 4 = 𝟑 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒙 + 𝟐 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒚 + 𝟒 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒛

𝑦 𝟏
4. ln ( √ ) = ln √𝑦 − ln(1 − 𝑦) = 𝐥𝐧 𝒚 − 𝐥𝐧(𝟏 − 𝒚)
1−𝑦 𝟐

5. log 𝑏 ((𝑎1 ∙ 𝑎2 ∙ 𝑎3 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎𝑛 )𝑟 ) = 𝑟[log 𝑏 (𝑎1 ∙ 𝑎2 ∙ 𝑎3 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎𝑛 )]

= 𝑟(log 𝑏 𝑎1 + log 𝑏 𝑎2 + log 𝑏 𝑎3 + ⋯ + log 𝑏 𝑎𝑛 )

𝒏

= 𝒓 ∑ 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒂𝒊
𝒊=𝟏

Mathematics 3 | Page 2 of 7
Application of Laws of Logarithms

Example: Applying laws of logarithms

1
Recall that the pH scale is given by the formula: pH = log ([𝐻 + ]) = log([𝐻 + ]−1 ) which is equivalent
to − log[𝐻 + ] upon applying power rule. If the concentration of hydrogen ions is doubled, what is the
effect on the pH?

Solution: Suppose H is the original concentration of hydrogen ions and P is the original pH of the
solution. Then, 𝑃 = − log 𝐻. If the concentration of hydrogen ions is doubled, the new concentration is
2H. The pH of the new concentration is

pH = − log 2𝐻

Applying the product rule,

pH = − log 2𝐻 = − log 2 − log 𝐻

Since 𝑃 = − log 𝐻, then the new pH is

pH = − log 2 + 𝑃
≈ −0.301 + 𝑃

Hence, if the concentration of the hydrogen ions is doubled, the pH decreases by about 0.301.

Change-of-Base Formula

Some calculators only have keys for figuring the values of the common (base-10) log and the natural
(base-e) log and have no keys for any other bases. In order to evaluate logarithms with a base other than
e or 10, we use the change-of-base formula to write a logarithm as a quotient of logarithms of any
other base.

CHANGE-OF-BASE FORMULA (JOHN NAPIER, 1614)

For any positive real numbers 𝑀, 𝑏, and 𝑛, where 𝑏 ≠ 1 and 𝑛 ≠ 1,

log 𝑛 𝑀
log 𝑏 𝑀 =
log 𝑛 𝑏
It follows here that,
log 𝑀 ln 𝑀
log 𝑏 𝑀 = and log 𝑏 𝑀 =
log 𝑏 ln 𝑏

Example: Express log 2 6 as a quotient of natural and common logarithm.

Solution: Using the change-of-base formula, we get

ln 6 log 6
log 2 6 = =
ln 2 log 2

Mathematics 3 | Page 3 of 7
Example: Approximate the following logarithms given that log 6 2 ≈ 0.3869, log 6 3 ≈ 0.6131,
log 6 5 ≈ 0.8982 and log 6 7 ≈ 1.0860
1. log 2 6
2. log 3 210
2
3. log 7 ( )
15

Solution:
log6 6 1
1. log 2 6 = ≈ ≈ 𝟐. 𝟓𝟖𝟒𝟔
log6 2 0.3869

log6 210 log6 6+ log6 5 + log6 7 1+0.8982+1.0860

2. log 3 210 = = ≈ ≈ 𝟒. 𝟖𝟔𝟕𝟒
log6 3 log6 3 0.6131

2
2 log6 (15) log6 2−log6 3−log6 5 0.3869−0.6131−0.8982
3. log 7 ( ) = = ≈ ≈ −𝟏. 𝟎𝟑𝟓𝟒
15 log6 7 log6 7 1.0860

The change-of-base formula is useful for proving statements involving logarithms. This will be
illustrated in the next examples.

Example: Prove the following statements.

1. log 81 2401 = log 3 7
1
2. log 𝑏 𝑛 = , where 𝑏 > 1 and 𝑛 > 1
log𝑛 𝑏
3. log 1 √𝑥 = − log 𝑏 𝑥 , where 𝑏 > 0, 𝑏 ≠ 1 and 𝑥 > 0
√𝑏

Proof:
1. log 81 2401 = log 3 7
log 3 2401 Apply change-of-base formula
log 81 2401 =
log 3 81

log 3 2401 Since log 3 81 = 4

=
4
4
= log 3 √2401 Apply power rule of logarithms

4
= log 3 7 Since √2401 = 7

1
2. log 𝑏 𝑛 = , starting from the right-hand side of the identity,
log𝑛 𝑏
1 1 Apply change-of-base formula
=
log 𝑛 𝑏 log 𝑏
( )
log 𝑛

log 𝑛 Reciprocal
=
log 𝑏

= log 𝑏 𝑛 Apply change-of-base formula

Mathematics 3 | Page 4 of 7
 3. log 1 √𝑥 = − log 𝑏 𝑥
√𝑏
log √𝑥 Apply change-of-base formula
log 1 √𝑥 = 1
√𝑏 log ( )
√𝑏

0.5 log 𝑥 Apply power rule of logarithms

=
−0.5 log 𝑏

log 𝑥 Cancel 0.5 on both numerator and denominator

=−
log 𝑏

= − log 𝑏 𝑥 Apply change-of-base formula

NAVIGATE Time Allocation: 10 minutes

Actual Time Allocation: _____ minutes

Even-numbered items are graded. Odd-numbered items have answers at the end of the lesson.

A. Expand each logarithm as much as possible.

3
√𝑥 3
1. ln ( ) 2𝑤 11
(𝑥−1) 4. ln ( )
𝑧7
2. log(𝑥𝑦√𝑧)
1 2 3
3. log (𝑥 3 𝑦 5 𝑧 7 )

B. How does the pH change when the concentration of the hydrogen ions is:
1. Halved?
2. Tripled?

C. Approximate the following logarithms given that log 5 6 ≈ 1.1133 and log 5 11 ≈ 1.4895

1. log11 5
2. log 6 55
6
3. log11 ( )
11
5
4. log11 ( )
66

D. Prove the following statements.

1. log √𝑏 𝑥 = 2 log 𝑏 𝑥 , where 𝑏 > 0, 𝑏 ≠ 1 and 𝑥 > 0
2. log 𝑏4 𝑥 2 = log 𝑏 √𝑥 , where 𝑏 > 0, 𝑏 ≠ 1 and 𝑥 > 0

E. Find the value of n if

(log 3 4)(log 4 5)(log 5 6) ∙ … ∙ (log 𝑛 𝑛 + 1) = 8

Mathematics 3 | Page 5 of 7
 KNOT Time Allocation: 1 minute
Actual Time Allocation: _____ minutes

POWER RULE OF LOGARITHMS (JOHN NAPIER, 1614)

Let 𝑘 ∈ ℝ, 𝑀 > 0, 𝑏 > 0 but 𝑏 ≠ 1, then

log 𝑏 (𝑀𝑘 ) = 𝑘log 𝑏 𝑀

CHANGE-OF-BASE FORMULA (JOHN NAPIER, 1614)

For any positive real numbers 𝑀, 𝑏, and 𝑛, where 𝑏 ≠ 1 and 𝑛 ≠ 1,

log 𝑛 𝑀
log 𝑏 𝑀 =
log 𝑛 𝑏
It follows here that,
log 𝑀 ln 𝑀
log 𝑏 𝑀 = and log 𝑏 𝑀 =
log 𝑏 ln 𝑏

References:
1. Albarico, J.M. (2013). THINK Framework. Based on Ramos, E.G. and N. Apolinario. (n.d.)
Science LINKS. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore Inc
2. Abramson, J. (2017). Algebra and Trigonometry. OpenStax.

Prepared by: Arvin C. Fajardo Reviewed by: Jose Mari E. Ortega

Position: Special Science Teacher (SST) III Position: Special Science Teacher (SST) IV
Campus: PSHS-CLC Campus: PSHS-SMC

Mathematics 3 | Page 6 of 7
Answer Key:

A. Expand
3
√𝑥 3
1. ln ( ) = ln (𝑥 2 ) − ln(𝑥 − 1)
(𝑥−1)
𝟑
= 𝐥𝐧 𝒙 − 𝐥𝐧(𝒙 − 𝟏)
𝟐
1
2. log 𝑥 + log 𝑦 + log 𝑧
2
1 2 3 1 2 3
3. log (𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 ) = log (𝑥 3 ) + log (𝑦 5 ) + log (𝑧 7 )
3 5 7

𝟏 𝟐 𝟑
= 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒚 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒛
𝟑 𝟓 𝟕

B. pH scale
1. Suppose H is the original concentration of hydrogen ions and P is the original pH of the
solution. Then, 𝑃 = − log 𝐻. If the concentration of hydrogen ions is halved, the new
concentration is 0.5H. The pH of the new concentration is

pH = − log 0.5𝐻

Applying the product rule,

pH = − log 0.5𝐻 = − log 0.5 − log 𝐻

Since 𝑃 = − log 𝐻, then the new pH is

pH = − log 0.5 + 𝑃
≈ 0.301 + 𝑃

Hence, if the concentration of the hydrogen ions is halved, the pH increases by about 0.301.

C. Approximate given that log 5 6 ≈ 1.1133 and log 5 11 ≈ 1.4895.

log5 5 1
1. log11 5 = ≈
log5 11 1.4895

= 0.6712
2. 2.2365
6 log5 6 1.1133
3. log11 ( ) = log11 6 − log11 11 = − 1≈ −1
11 log5 11 1.4895
= −𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝟐𝟖

D. Proof:
1. log √𝑏 𝑥 = 2 log 𝑏 𝑥
log 𝑥 Apply change-of-base formula
log √𝑏 𝑥 =
log √𝑏

log 𝑥 Apply power rule of logarithms

=
0.5 log 𝑏

= 2 log 𝑏 𝑥 Apply change-of-base formula

Mathematics 3 | Page 7 of 7
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