INTRODUCTION

This book is based on our experience over the past few

years. This material covers extensively the fundamental
principles and concepts involved, solved problems which
highlight the application of these concepts, exercises and
assignments for practice by the students.

In order to get maximum benefit from this material, ‘word of

Advice’ given overleaf has to be carefully followed.

The book besides IITJEE will also prove useful to students

for other Engineering examinations as well as their school
curriculum.

Wishing you all success.

 A WORD OF ADVICE

 Try to do the solved problems and exercises given, after

completion of related topics in the chapter. Attempt the
assignments.

 The purpose of the assignments is to give you a practice in

solving various levels and varieties of problems. Each problem
has some important concept which it highlights. When you do a
problem from an assignment, make sure that you have completed
the study material, have committed the formulae to your memory
and have solved the solved problems (most of them on your own
before seeing the solution). Do not open the study material to
refer to formulae/theoretical concepts while doing the
assignment problems unless it is absolutely essential to do so.

 Do full justice to the exercises and assignment problems. Even

if you do not get the answer to a problem, keep trying on your
own and only approach your friends or teachers after making lot
of attempts.

 Do not look at the answer and try to work backwards. This would
defeat the purpose of doing the problem. Remember the purpose
of doing an assignment problem is not simply to get the answer
(it is only evidence that you solved it correctly) but to develop
your ability to think. Try to introduce twists and turns in given
problem to create similar problems.
 ABOUT THE CHAPTER

This chapter deals with ‘Logarithms’, a tool for making calculations

easy. It is applied in many real life situations like calculation of
compound interest, population growth, depreciation and rate of
decay of radioactive compounds. The chapter starts with the basic
definition and it contains the fundamental properties of logarithms
and the algorithms to solve the equalities and inequalities of
logarithms.

This chapter also deals with the graphs of logarithmic functions.

Each subtopic is described in a lucid manner with illustrations and

exercises.

A set of solved objective type and subjective type questions with

varying levels of difficulty and tricks has been provided to help you
as well as to test your understanding. The emphasis is more
towards developing your analytical skills.
 CONTENT

INTRODUCTION …1
PROPERTIES OF LOGARITHMS …1
GRAPH OF LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS …3
ALGORITHM OF SOLVING LOGARITHMIC EQ. …4
Solved Problems …5
Subjective …5
Objective …6

Exercise - 1 …7
ALGORITHM OF SOLVING LOGARITHMIC INEQ. …7
Solved Problems …8
Subjective …8
Objective …8

Exercise - 2 …9
COMMON LOGARITHMS …9
Solved Problems …10
Subjective …10
Objective …10

Miscellaneous Exercise …11

Answers to Exercises …12
Solved Problems …13
Subjective …13

Chapter Practice Problems …16

Subjective …16
Objective …16

Assignments …18
Part-A …18
Part-B …19
Answers to Assignments and CPP …21
LOGARITHMS
Introduction
When we are given the base 2, and exponent 3, we can calculate 23 = 8. Inversely, If we are given base 2
and its power 8, and we need to find the exponent, 2? = 8.

This exponent is called logarithm. We call the exponent 3, as the “logarithm of 8 with base 2”. We write it
as, 3 = log28
3 is the exponent to which 2 must be raised to produce 8.
Similarly 104 = 10, 000, (Exponential form)
log 1010000 = 4 (Logarithmic form)
In general terms, we say logab is the exponent to which ‘a’ must be raised to get ‘b’. Here we observe one
thing that logarithm and exponents are closely related and we will see further that logarithms inherit all the
properties from exponential functions.

Definition
The logarithm of a number m to the base ‘a’ is the exponent indicating the power to which the base ‘a’
must be raised to obtain the number m.
loga m  x  a x  m, a  0, a  1 & m  0
Only positive real numbers (m > 0) have real logarithm; negative and complex numbers have complex
logarithms.
Logarithmic Function
We can define a logarithmic function
f(x) = logax
Whose domain is x  (0, ) and Range is R.
When base is ‘e’ then the logarithmic function is called natural logarithmic function and when base is
10, then it is called common logarithmic function.

Properties of Logarithms
1. aloga m  m (Fundamental logarithms identity).
Proof: From the definition of logarithm of loga m  x  ax  m
Substituting value of x, aloga m  m .
n
2. logax = nlogax
Proof: Let logaxn = t
n t
Using definition of logarithm  x = a
Now taking 1/n power, x = at/n
Using definition of logarithm
logax = t/n  t = nlogax  logaxn = n logax.

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1
3. logam x  loga x
m
Proof: logam x  t  x = (am)t  x = amt
Now using definition of logarithm
1
logax = mt  t = 1/mlogax  logam x  loga x
m
loga b
4. logc a = = logb a  logc b
logb c

Proof: Let logba = x  a = bx,

y z y z y yz
logca = y  a = c and logbc = z  c = b . Hence a = c = (b ) = b .
x yz
Also a = b = b  x =yz  logba = logca logbc.
In general, logba = logca  logdc  loged  ... logbk.
log a
Also = logca = b ,
logb c
logb a 1
logaa =  1 and logba = .
logb a loga b

5. loga x1 + loga x2 + … + loga xn = loga (x1  x2 … xn)

Proof: Let us consider y1 = logax1  x1 = a y1 ....(1)
and y2 = logax2  x2 = a y 2 ....(2)
.... ... .... ...
.... ... .... ...
yn
yn = logaxn  xn = a . ....(n)
Multiplying these n equations, we get
x1x2x3 .... xn = a y1 ay 2 a y3 ....a yn
or x1x2x3 .... xn = a y1  y 2  y 3 .... yn 
or we can write it as y1 + y2 + y3 + ... + yn = loga(x1x2 .... xn)
 logax1 + logax2 + .... + logaxn = loga(x1x2 ....xn)
x 
6. logax1  logax2 = loga  1 
 x2 

Proof: Now from equations (1) and (2)

x1 x 
 ay1  y 2 y1  y2 = loga  1 
x2  x2 
x 
i.e. logax1  logax2 = loga  1  .
 x2 
Remark:

 If x1 = 1 and x2 = x then loga1 logax = loga  1 

x
 loga  1  =  logax. ( loga 1 = 0) alogb c  c logb a
x

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Proof: Let k = alogb c so that

log k = log a  logb c
  log b c (loga) =
logc
logb
 loga  logb a (log c)  log c logb a   k= c logb a
.

loga x
Illustration 1: Prove that = 1 + loga b, for permissible values of letters involved in the result.
logab x

Solution: LHS = loga x . logx ab

= loga x (logx a + logx b)
= loga x . logx a + loga x . logx b = 1 + loga b = RHS.
43
1
Illustration 2: Show that  log n  log
r 2 r
n 43! .

43
1 1 1 1
Solution:  log n  log
r 2 r 2n

log3 n
 ... 
log43 n
43
1 1
Using the property loga b =
logb a
  log n  log
r 2 r
n 2  logn 3  ...  logn 43

Here the base is same and logarithm is in summation

Using the property, loga x1 + loga x2 = logz x1  x2
43
1
  log n  log
r 2 r
n
 2  3  ...  43   logn  43!  .

Graph of Logarithmic Functions

y = logax, a > 1 y
i) When 0 < x < 1, x = ay.
That is, we have to choose those values of y for which
0 < ay < 1.
Since a > 1, y  0  y  (, 0). (1, 0)
ii) When x = 1, x = ay. O x
We have to choose that value of y for which x becomes 1  y = 0.
iii) When x > 1, x = ay.
We have to choose those values of y for which x > 1.
Since a > 1, 0 < y < . Graph of logax, a > 1
y = logax, 0 < a < 1, y

x = ay
iv) When 0 < x < 1,
we have to choose those values of y for which 0 < ay < 1.
(1, 0)
Since 0 < a < 1, y > 0.
O x
v) When x > 1,
we have to choose those values of y for which ay > 1.
Since a < 1, y < 0.
Graph of logax, 0<a<1

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y = loga |x|, a > 1 y

vi) Now domain of the function becomes x  R  {0}

The graph of this function will be the mirror image of graph of loga
about y-axis.
(1, 0)
O x

Graph of loga|x|, a >1

Algorithm of Solving Logarithmic Equations

Solution of equations based on definition of a logarithm
We know by definition of logarithm that
logax  b  a = x, where x > 0
b

Illustration 3: Find the value of x satisfying the equation log3(5 + 4log3(x – 1)) = 2.

Solution: log3(5 + 4log3(x – 1)) = 2

Using definition of logarithm
 5 + 4log3(x – 1) = 32  4log3(x – 1) = 4  log3(x – 1) = 1
Again by definition of log
x – 1 = 3  x = 4.

Solving equations by using add/subtract property of logarithm and using fundamental logarithmic
identity
(i) When we see two log terms with same base, we use the below identity to solve the equation
mloga x  nloga y  loga x m y n
(ii) Whenever we encounter a term aloga x , it can be removed by fundamental identity.

Illustration 4: Solve for x, log2(3 – x) + log2(1 – x) = 3.

Solution: log2(3 – x) + log2(1 – x) = 3  log2 (3  x) (1  x) = 3  (3  x) (1  x) = 23

2
 x  4x – 5 = 0
x = 5,  1
But when x = 5, log2(3 – x) is not defined, So x =  1 is the solution.

Taking logarithms
In some equations, when we take logarithm on both sides the equation converts into a solvable form.

Illustration 5: Solve for x: (x + 1)log(x + 1) = 100(x + 1)

Solution: Taking log10 on both sides.

log10 (x  1)log(x 1)  log10
100  x 1

log10  x  1  log10  x  1  2  log10  x  1

Now we substitute log10x + 1 = t

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Change of variable
We can substitute loga x  t , a new variable and then solve the resulting equation.

Illustration 6: Solve for x:  log2 x   log2 x 3  2  0

2

Solution:  log2 x 2  3log2 x  2  0 .

Now log2 x  t  t2 – 3t + 2 = 0,  t = 1, 2
log2 x  1, log2 x  2  x = 2, x = 4.

Passing to a new base

logb x
We can convert a log equation into a new base by the identity loga x 
logb a

Illustration 7: Solve for x: 1 + log2(x – 1) = logx – 14

Solution: 1 + log2(x – 1) = logx – 14

log2 4 2
logx–14 = 
log2 (x  1) log2 (x  1)
2
Now equation becomes, 1 + log2(x – 1) =
log2 (x  1)
Here we use the changing variable method.
log2 x  1  t  1 + t = 2/t
t2 + t – 2 = 0
t = 2, 1
log2 x  1  2, log2 x  1  1
x = 5/4, 3

SOLVED PROBLEMS
SUBJECTIVE

 1 3 
 81log5 9  3 log 6 3 
 
   
2
Problem 1: Evaluate 
409 
 7 log25 7  125 
log25 6
.


1
log 5  1 
Solution: We evaluate each term,  81 log5 9   81 9  loga b 
 logb a 
= 92log9 5  92log9 25  25 (using fundamental log property)
3
log 6 3  6
3
 1 
3  33log3 6
 3log3  Using logb a  log b 
 a 

 6
3
= (using fundamental log property)

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1 2
 2   3

 7
log5 6
 125 
log25 6
Similarly,  log25 7   7 2 log25 7  53 log25 6  7log7 25  5 2 .
 
= 25  6 6
 25  6 6  25  6 6  625  216
The expression becomes  1
409 409

Problem 2: Find the value of x for which log (x + 3) + log (x – 3) = log 27.

Solution: The given equation

log (x + 3) + log (x – 3) = log 27
 log (x + 3)(x – 3) = log 27
2
 log (x – 9) = log 27
 x2 – 9 = 27  x2 = 36  x = 6.

OBJECTIVE

1 1 1
Problem 1: The sum of the series    ..... upto n terms is
log2 a log4 a log8 a
n  n  1 n
(A) loga2 (B) loga2
2 2

(C)
n  1 log 2 (D)
n  n  1 2n  1
loga2
a
2 6

Solution: The given expression can be written as

loga2 + loga4 + loga8 + .... upto n terms
= loga2 + 2 loga2 + 3 loga2 + .... n loga2
n  n  1
= (loga2) [1+ 2 + ... n] = loga 2 .
2
Hence (A) is the correct answer.

2
3 log x    log x 
3
1/ 3
Problem 2: The value(s) of x satisfying the equation x 3  100 10  (base is 10)
1
(A) 1, (B) 1, 100
10
1 1
(C) 10, (D) , 100
10 10

Solution: We take logarithm on both sides,

2
3 log x   log x 
3

log x 3  log 100  101/ 3 

 
 3  log10    log x   log x 
x 3 2 7
 3  3
Now changing variable log x = t
 2  7
  3t 3  t  t   9t  2t  7 = 0  (t  1) (9t + 7) = 0
4 2 2 2

 3  3

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Hence t = 1,  1 are the only solutions

1
 log x = 1, log x =  1  x = 10,
10
Hence (C) is the correct answer.

EXERCISE  1
5 log4  3 6   6 log8  3  2 
1. Evaluate 4 2

1/ 2  4 1
2. Evaluate 5log1/ 5  log 2
 log1/ 2
7 3 10  2 21

3. If a = log1218 and b = log2454 then find the value of ab + 5(a – b)

log2 24 log2 192

4. Prove that  =3
log96 2 log12 2

loga x.logb x
5. Prove that logab x 
loga x  logb x

Solve for x: (where the base is not provided take 10 as the base)

6. logx+1(x2 + x  6)2 = 4.

7. log5120 + (x – 3)  2 log5(1 – 5x -3) =  log5(0.2 – 5x – 4)

1
8. log3( log9 x   9 x ) = 2x
2

9. log 5
x. logx 5 5  log 5
5 5 6.

| x  1|log x 
2
log x 2
10.  | x  1|3

Algorithm for Solving Logarithmic Inequalities

While solving logarithmic inequalities, it is necessary to remember that the function
y = logax (a > 0, a  1, x > 0) is decreasing when a  (0, 1) and increasing if a  (1, )

Therefore if a  (0, 1), log(f(x)) < log(g(x))  f(x) > g(x)

If a  (1, ), loga(f(x) < logag(x))  f(x) < g(x)
This can also be considered as, when we take antilogarithm to remove a logarithm with base ‘a’, nature of
inequality changes if a  (0, 1) and it remains same if a  (1, )
Based on the above thought, we conclude
(i) If a > 1 loga x  0  x  1

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loga x  p  x  ap
loga x  0  0  x  1
loga x  p  0  x  ap
(ii) If 0 < a < 1 loga x > 0  0 < x < 1
loga x > p  0 < x < ap
loga x < 0  x > a
loga x < ap  x > ap

4x  6
Illustration 1: Find the solution set of the inequality log 1 0
5
x
Solution: The base lies in (0, 1)
4x  6
Taking antilog 0 < 1
x
Solving this we get x  [-2, -3/2)

SOLVED PROBLEMS
SUBJECTIVE

Problem 1: Find the solution set of the inequality log 2x 3  x 2  log 2x 3   2x  3  .

3
Solution: Case1: 0 < 2x + 3 < 1  <x<1
2
x2 > (2x + 3)
x2 – 2x – 3 > 0
 (x – 3) (x + 1) > 0  x  (-, -1)  (3, )
But interval in consideration is x  ( 3/2,  1)
Hence x  ( 3/2,  1)
Case 2: 2x+ 3 > 1
 
 x >  1  log 2x 3  x2  log 2x 3   2x  3 
2 2
 x < 2x + 3 ( base > 1)  x – 2x – 3 < 0
 (x – 3) (x + 1) < 0  x  ( 1, 3)
Complete Solution: x  (-3/2,  1)  ( 1, 3)

OBJECTIVE

Problem 1: The value of x, satisfying loga(1 + logb{1 + logc(1 + logpx)}) = 0, is

(A) 4 (B) 3
(C) 2 (D) 1

Solution: The given equation yields 1 + logb{1 + logc(1 + logpx)} = 1

 logb{1 + logc(1 + logpx)} = 0  1 + logc(1 + logpx) = 1
 logc(1 + logpx) = 0  1 + logpx = 1  logpx = 0  x = 1.
Hence (D) is the correct answer.

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Problem 2: The value of x, satisfying the equation 5log10 x = 50  xlog10 5 is

(A) 1 (B) 10
(C) 100 (D) 1000

Solution: 5log10 x  xlog10 5  50

Consider 5log10 x  5log5 xlog10 5 (Since loga b = logc b  loga c)
log10 5log5 x log5  xlog10 5 
= 5 5
Using fundamental log identity
= xlog10 5
Now the equation becomes
2  5log10 x  50  5log10 x  25 = 5 .
2

 log10 x  2  x = 100
Hence (C) is the correct answer.

EXERCISE  2
Solve for x:
x 1 log3  x  6 
1. 3log3 3 3

 x2  x 
2. log0.5  log6 0
 x4 

 x 1 
3. log x 6  log2 0
3  x  2
4. If log0.3 (x – 1) < log0.09 (x – 1), find the interval in which x lies.

5. For x > 1, show that 2 log10 x – logx (0.01)  4.

3 5
(log2 x)2  log2 x 
6. Solve the equation x 4 4  2.

x x x x x 1
7. Prove that log cos + log cos 2 + log cos 3 + … + log cos n + log sin n = log n sinx.
2 2 2 2 2 2

log x log y log z

8. If   , prove that xy+z. yz+x. zx+y = 1.
yz zx xy
Also prove that xy+z + yz+x + zx+y  3.

9. Find x if 3 loga x  3  x loga 3  2 .

Common Logarithms
In common logarithms the base is always taken as 10.
This system of logarithms is also known as Brigg’s system.

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Note:
 Any positive number k in decimal form is written in the form k = m  10p where p is an integer and
1 < m < 10. This is called the standard form of k.

SOLVED PROBLEMS
SUBJECTIVE

1 1 1
Problem 1: If n = 1000!, evaluate   ......  .
log2 n log3 n log1000 n

Solution: We have
1 1 1 log2 log3 log1000
  ......  =   ...... 
log2 n log3 n log1000 n logn logn logn
log 2  log3  log 4  ......  log1000
=
logn
log 2  3  4  .........1000 log(1000)!
= =  1.
logn logn

OBJECTIVE

Problem 1: For 0 < x < 1, the value of log(1 + x) + log(1 + x 2) + log(1 + x4) .... to  is
(A) log(1 x) (B)  log(1  x)
(C) logx (D)  logx

Solution: The given expression = log [(1 + x) (1 + x2) (1 + x4) ..... to ]

 1 
= log[ 1+ x + x2 + x3 + .... to ] = log   =  log(1  x).
 1 x 
Hence (B) is the correct answer.

Problem 2: The value of x satisfying the inequality |log3 x|  log3 x  3 < 0 is

 1 
(A)  ,  (B) 1,  
 27 
 1 
(C)  , 1 (D) none of these
 27 

Solution: Case I: log3 x  0  1 < x < 

 log3 x  log3 x  3 < 0   3 < 0 which is true for all x
 x > 1 is the solution set
Case II: log3 x  0  0 < x  1
The equation becomes  log3 x  log3 x < 3
1  1 
 log3 x >  3/2  x > x  , 1
27  27 

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 1 
The complete solution is  , 
 27 
Hence (A) is the correct answer.

MISCELLANEOUS EXERCISE
3/2
1. Show that 3 log 4  2 log 6 + log (18) = log 96 2 .

2. Solve for x, 3x . 8x/(x+2)= 6.

x
3. Solve for x the equation x  xx .

4. Solve for x the equation xlog x

= 10. (use base 10)

2
5 Solve for x: xlogx (x  3)  16 .

 8 
Find x if it is given by log8  2   3   log8 x  .
2
6.
 
x

7. Prove that log2 3 is not a rational number.

 log x 2  log x2  2
 log x 
8.    log x
 2 

9. log 2 + log (x + 2)  log (3x  5) = log 3.

x y  z  x y z  x  y z  x  y  z
10. If   , prove that yzzy = zxxz = xyyx .
log x log y log z

11. Solve the equation

x
x + log10(1 + 2 ) = x log105 + log106.

12. Find all real numbers x which satisfy the equation 2 log2 (log2 x)  log1/ 2 (log2 (2 2x))  1 .

13. Solve for x and y, the equations log10 x + log10 x1/2 + log10 x1/4 + ……. to  = y and
1  3  5  .......  (2y  1) 20
 .
4  7  10  .......  (3y  1) 7 log10 x

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ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
Exercise  1
1. 9 2. 6

3. 1 6. 1

7. 1 8. {1/3}
-1 3
9. {1/5} 10. 10 , 2 , 10

Exercise  2

1. (6, ) 2. ( 4,  3)  (8, )

3. ( 6,  5)  ( 3,  2) 4. x > 2.

1 -1/3  log3 a
6. x = 2, ,2 9. x= 2
4

Miscellaneous Exercise

2. x = 1, x =  2 log3 6 3. x = 1, x = 4

1
4. x = 100, 5. no solution
100

1
6. x= ,2 8. 10-3, 10
8

19
9. 11. x=1
7

12. x=8 13. x = 105, y = 10

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SOLVED PROBLEMS
SUBJECTIVE

Problem 1: If log3 x = a, find the value of 81a – 1 in terms of x.

Solution: We have log3 x = a

 x = 3a.
  3
a1
4a  4
Now (1)a1 = 3 4

3  = x   x 
4
a 4
3 4a 4
x4
=     .
34 34 34 3 81

10
Problem 2: If log 8
x , then find x.
3

10 log x log x 2log x

Solution: Here  log 8
x  =
3 log 8 (1/ 2)log8 log8
 log8 = log x  810 = x6
10 6

 x = (8)10/6 = (8)5/3 = 25 = 32.

 1
log
Problem 3: Find the value of  0.16  2.5  4  .

2
 1 1
Let A =  0.16  =  0.4 
log5 / 2   2log2.5
Solution:  2 2
2 2
 1  1
log  log log5 / 2 4
 2  2.5  2   5  5 / 2  2  5
=   =  =   = 22 = 4.
5  2  2

Problem 4: If in a right angled triangle, a and b are the lengths of sides and c is the length of
hypotenuse and c  b  1, c +b  1, then show that
logc+ba + logcba = 2logc+ba . logcba .

Solution: We know that in a right angled triangle

c2 = a2 + b2
or c2  b2 = a2. ....(1)
1 1
Also logc + ba + logc-ba = 
loga  c  b  loga  c  b 

=
loga  c  b   loga  c  b 
=

loga c 2  b2 
loga  c  b  loga  c  b  loga  c  b  loga  c  b 
loga a2
= (using (1) )
loga  c  b  loga  c  b 

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2
= = 2 logc+ba . log(c b) a = RHS.
loga  c  b  loga  c  b 
Alternative Solution
ln a ln a
LHS = logc + ba + logc-ba = 
ln(c  b) ln(c  b)
ln a  ln(c 2  b2 ) ln a  2 ln a
= =
ln(c  b) ln(c  b) ln(c  b)ln(c  b)
= 2 logc+ba . logc-ba = RHS.

Problem 5: Given a positive term geometric progression a, a1, a2,... and an arithmetic progression b,
b1, b2,.... with positive common difference. Show that there exists a system of logarithm
for which logan  bn=loga  b (for any n). Find the base of the system.

Solution: Let d be the common difference of the A.P. and r be the common ratio of the G.P. so that,
an = arn, ....(1)
bn = b + nd. ....(2)
Taking logarithms on both sides of (1) to base  (  1,  > 0), we get
log an  log a  nlog r . ....(3)
Operating (3)  (2) leads to
log an  bn  log a  n log r  b  nd . ....(4)
Now, in order that the RHS of 4 reduces to loga  b, we must have
n logr  nd = 0
or logr = d  r = d   =r1/d.
Hence there exists a system of logarithm to base r1/d such that
logan  bn = loga  b.
Alternative Solution:
Let d be the common difference of the A.P and r be the common ratio of the G.P., so that
bn = b + nd and an = arn  ln an = ln a + n ln r
b b
= ln a + n ln r
d
= ln a + (bn – b) ln r1/d  logx an = logx a + bn- b, where x = r1/d.

Problem 6: Solve for x and y, the equations log100|x + y| = 1/2 and log10 y– log10 |x| = log100 4.

Solution: From log100|x + y| = 1/2, we get

|x + y| = 1001/2 = 10 …(1)
From log10 y – log10 |x| = log100 4 = log10 2, we have
y
 2  y 2  4x 2  x + y + 2xy = 100
2 2
|x|
or 5x2 + 4x|x| = 100
10 20
Also, x = for x > 0  y = and x = 10 for x < 0  y = 20.
3 3

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Problem 7: Solve for x, log1/ 5

 6 x 1  36 x   2 .

Solution: log1/ 5
 6 x 1  36 x   2
Removing log1/ 5
by taking antilog, sign of inequality will change, since 0 < base < 1
2
x+1 x  1 
6  36     6  6 x  62x  5  62x  6  6 x  5  0
 5
Now 6x = t
2
The equation becomes t  6t + 5  0
 (t  1) (t  5)  0
+  +
1 5

Hence t  ( , 1]  [5, )
 6x  ( , 1]  [5, )
x  ( , 0]  [log6 5, ).

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CHAPTER PRACTICE PROBLEMS

SUBJECTIVE
1. Solve for x
logx 1 x 
2
(a) log2  3  x   log2 1  x   3 (b) x 9
9
 log3 x 2  log3 x 5
(c) x 2 3 3 (d) 5loga x  5  xloga 5  3

2. Evaluate
(a) log9tan /6 (b) loga2 b  log a
b2
(c) log5 0.008 (d) log23144

10
3. (a) If log2 x  logx 2   log2 y  logy 2 and x  y, then find x + y
3
(b) If a  log24 12, b  log36 24, c  log48 36, Prove that 1 + abc = 2bc

4. (a) log 1 (x  1)  2 then find x.

2

(b) Solve the equation log2 x 2  1  log 1   2

 x  1

5. (a)  
If log3 2,log3 2x  5 , and log3 2 x   7 / 2   are in A.P., then find the value of x.

(b) Find the value of x, satisfying 3 4log9 (x 1)  22log2 x  3 .

OBJECTIVE
1 1 1
6. If x = logabc, y = logb(ac), z = logc(ab), then   is equal to
x 1 y 1 z 1
(A) 0 (B) 2
(C) 4 (D) none of these

log2 x log2 y log2 z 3 2

7. If   and x y z = 1
4 6 3k
Then k is
(A)  2 (B)  6
(C)  8 (D) 10

 0.10.010.001............. 
The value of  0.05 
log
8. 20
is
1
(A) 81 (B)
81
1
(C) 20 (D)
20

9. If 7 7

log x2  4x  5    x  1 , Then x 
(A) (1, 2} (B) {2, 3}
(C) {3, 4} (D) none of these

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 1 
10 If log10  x   x  log10 5  1 , Then x =
 2  x  1
(A) 3 (B) 2
(C) 0 (D) 1
2
11. If logyx + logxy = 2, x + y = 12, then the values of x, y are
(A) 3, 3 (B)  4,  4
(C) 4, 8 (D) 1, 11

12. If log 3
(x  3)  3, then
(A) x(3,) (B) x  (3, 3  3 3)
(C) x  (3  3 3,3  2 3) (D) none of these

13. If log1/3 x  1
1
(A) x>0 (B) x 
3
1
(C) 0x (D) none of these
3

14. If log3 [log3  

x  3  x ]  0 then
(A) x = 4 (B) x = 3
(C) x = 0 (D) x has no solution

log3 x2  2logx 9
  x  1 , then x =
7
15. If x  1
(A) 81 (B) 64
(C) 1 (D) 8

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ASSIGNMENTS
SECTION - I

If logax, logbx, logcx are in A.P. where x  1, then show that c =  ac 

2 loga b
1. .

1 1
2. If a2 + b2 = 7ab, prove that log  a  b   loga  logb  .
3 2

3. Find the least value of the expression 2log10x  logx0.01  x > 1.

a
4. If n is a natural number such that n = p1a1  pa22  p33 ......pak k where p1, p2, p3, …., pk are distinct
prime numbers, then show that log n > k log 2.

5. Solve for x: (use base 10)

6  loga x.log10 a.loga 5 
a  3log10 x /10  9log100 x log4 2
5
log3 x2  2logx 9
  x  1 .
7
6. Solve the equation: x  1

1 1 1

7. If y = a1loga x and z = a1loga y then prove that x = a1loga z .

8. Prove that (yz)log(y/z).(zx)log(z/x).(xy)log(x/y) = 1.

9. Prove that xlogy  logz . ylogz  logx . zlogx  logy = 1.

10. If log3 2, log3 (2x – 5), log3 (2x – 7/2) are in A.P., determine the value of x.

loga n logb n logc n

11. Prove that logan logbn + logbn logcn + logcn logan = .
logabc n

x
12. If the expression log1/ 2 is real, then determine the values of x for which this will hold.
x2  1

13. If a, b, c be three distinct positive numbers, each different from 1 such that
(logba logca logaa) + (logab logcb  logbb) + (logac logbc  logcc) = 0, then prove that abc = 1.

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SECTIONII
(MULTI CHOICE SINGLE CORRECT)
2 3
1. The value of expression 6
 6
is equal to
log4  2000  log5  2000 
(A) 1/4 (B) 1/2
(C) 1/6 (D) none of these

 1 
2. If a = log1/ 2 0.125 and b = log3   then
 24  17 
(A) a> 0, b > 0 (B) a < 0, b < 0
(C) a > 0, b < 0 (D) a < 0 , b > 0

3. The number log27 is

(A) rational number (B) irrational number
(C) a prime number (D) an integer

4. The value of x, satisfying 3 4log9  x 1  22log2 x  3 , is

(A) x = 0 (B) x = 1
(C) x = 2 (D) x = 3

1 1
5. The value of  is
log3  log4 
(A) 2 (B) less than 2
(C) more than 2 (D) none of these

6. The value of |logba + logab| where a and b are positive numbers is always
(A)  2 (B)  2
(C) = 2 (D) none of these

loga n  logb n
7. If a > 0, c > 0, b = ac , a  1, c  1, ac  1 and n > 0, then the value of is equal to
logb n  logc n
loga n logn a
(A) (B)
logc n logn c
(C) logca (D) none of these

16 25 81
8. The value of 7 log  5 log  3 log is
15 24 80
(A) log2 (B) log 3
(C) 0 (D) none of these

9.   
Values of x satisfying the equation log 2x 3  6x 2  23x  21  4  log 3x 7  4x 2  12x  9 is 
(A)  1/3 (B)  1/4
(C) 1 (D) 2

 x 
6 loga x. log10 a.loga 5 log10  
10. Value of x, satisfying the equation a 3  10   9log100 x  log4 2 is
5
(A) 50 (B) 100
(C) 150 (D) 200

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11. The product of the positive roots of the equation 2008  xlog2008 x  x2 is
(A) (2008) (B) 1004
(C) (2008)2 (D) none of these

12. If log0.3(x  1) < log0.09(x  1), then x will lie in the interval
(A) (2, ) (B) (1, 2)
(C) (2, 1) (D) none of these

loga  logb a 
13. The value of is
logb  loga b 
(A) logab (B) logba
(C)  logab (D) none of these

14. The values of x, satisfying the equation for  a > 0 2 logx a  logax a  3 loga2 x a  0 are
(A) a2, a1 (B) a1/2, a1
(C) a3, a1 (D) a4/3, a1/2

15. 
The value of x, satisfying the equation log10 98  x3  x2  12x  36  2 is 
(A)  3 (B)  4
(C)  5 (D)  6

16. If 4log9 3  9log2 4  10logx 83 , then x is equal to

(A) 2 (B) 10
(C) 9 (D) none of these

1 1 1
17. If x > 1, y > 1, z > 1 are in G.P, then , , are in
1  ln x 1  ln y 1  ln z
(A) A.P (B) G.P
(C) H.P (D) none of these
18. The value of x, satisfying the inequality log0.3(x2 + 8) > log0.39x, lies in
(A) 1 < x < 8 (B) 8 < x < 13
(C) x > 8 (D) none these

ln x ln y ln z
19. For   , xyz is equal to
bc c a ab
(A) 1 (B) abc
(C) 0 (D) none of these

20. The number of solution of log4 (x – 1) = log2 (x – 3) is

(A) 3 (B) 1
(C) 2 (D) 0

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ANSWERS TO CHAPTER PRACTICE PROBLEMS

1. (a) 1, (b) 4, (c) 3, 27, 3, (d) a  log5 2
2. (a) 1/4, (b) 1/8, (c) 6, (d) 4
1
3. (a) 8  2 3

1 5
4 (a) (1, 3/2) (b) x
2
5. (a) 3 (b) 1

6. D 7. C 8. A 9. B
10. D 11. A 12. B 13. C
14. D 15. A

ANSWERS TO ASSIGNMENTS
SECTION - I

3. 4 5. x = 100

6. x = 2, 81 10. x=3

1  5 
12. x , 
 2 


SECTIONII
MULTI CHOICE SINGLE CORRECT

1. C 2. A 3. B 4. B
5. C 6. A 7. A 8. A
9. B 10. B 11. C 12. A
13. C 14. D 15. B 16. B
17. C 18. A 19. A 20. B

IITJEE-2223-MATHEMATICS-LOGARITHMS