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MATH_1324_Chapter_4_Section_3_Pt_1

Chapter 4 introduces logarithms as a method to solve exponential equations that cannot be expressed in terms of their base. It defines logarithmic functions as the inverse of exponential functions and provides examples of converting between exponential and logarithmic forms. This chapter serves as a foundation for understanding how to manipulate and solve equations involving logarithms.

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3 views2 pages

MATH_1324_Chapter_4_Section_3_Pt_1

Chapter 4 introduces logarithms as a method to solve exponential equations that cannot be expressed in terms of their base. It defines logarithmic functions as the inverse of exponential functions and provides examples of converting between exponential and logarithmic forms. This chapter serves as a foundation for understanding how to manipulate and solve equations involving logarithms.

Uploaded by

bryan hunt
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 4

MATH 1324

3 Logarithms and Their Graphs

Currently, we are only able to solve a small subset of possible exponential equations.

Specifically, we can solve exponential functions such as

2x = 8

where we can express the constant in terms of the exponential base. However, how

would we go about solving an exponential equations such as

2x = 9

where the constant cannot be written in terms of the exponential base? In cases such

as these, we need a way to “undo” exponentiation. However, no concept or notation that

we have encountered up to this point allows us to do such a thing for the general case of

exponential equations. This is the reason for introducing a new class of functions called

logarithms.

3.1 Logarithmic Functions

Definition 3.1. Logarithmic Functions

Let a be a fixed positive real number not equal to 1. The logarithmic function with base

a is defined to be the function

f (x) = loga (x)

such that

y = loga (x) and x = ay

are equivalent. Note that a is the base in both equations: either the base of the exponential

function or the base of the logarithmic function.

1
The logarithmic function of base a is called the inverse of the exponential function of

base a since it “undoes” the exponential function and vise versa.

Example 3.1. Use the definition of logarithmic functions to rewrite the following expo-

nential equations as logarithmic equations.

(a) 9 = 32 (b) 210 = 1024 (c) 5t = k

Solutions: For each of these, we’ll use the fact that y = loga (x) and x = ay are equivalent

to move from exponential equations to logarithmic equations.

(a) 9 = 32 → 2 = log3 (9)

(b) 210 = 1024 → log2 (1024) = 10

(c) 5t = k → log5 (k) = t

Example 3.2. Rewrite the following logarithmic equations as exponential equations.

 
(a) log5 (25) = 2 1 (c) log3 (m) = n
(b) −2 = log4
16

Solutions: For each of these, we’ll use the fact that y = loga (x) and x = ay are equivalent

to move from logarithmic equations to exponential equations.

(a) log5 (25) = 2 → 52 = 25


 
1 1
(b) −2 = log4 → = 4−2
16 16

(c) log3 (m) = n → 3n = m

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