Logarithm equations

Contents Objectives: to be able to,

1. Use logarithms to find unknown indices. • solve equations and inequalities by the
use of logarithms.
2. Questions solving equations.

3. Problem solving with logarithms.

Prior knowledge: you should already know
4. More complex questions – some how to,
examples
• use the rules of logarithms,
5. Examination style questions.
• use the rules of indices.
 Using logarithms to find unknown indices
Find the value of x to 3 decimal places in
2 x 12
the equation,
2 x 12 Take logs of both sides. Use log base 10.

There are 3 methods that could be used to

log2 x log12
solve this:
xlog2 log12 The power rule
Trial and error - very lengthy and will involve
using a calculator. log12
x
log2
Draw a graph with the GDC and solve the
intersection - quicker, but not as quick as ... Now use your calculator.

x 3.585
Use logarithms.
 Using logarithms to find unknown indices
This is a slightly harder question. Solve, Solve the following equations correct to 2 d.p.
42x 1 60

Take logs of both sides. Use log base 10. 1. 2 x 50 x 5.64

log 42x 1 log60 2. 3x1 100 x 3.19

2 x  1log4 log60 The power rule

3. 43x 1 1000 x 1.99
log60
2x  1 
log 4 4. 0.4 x 14 x  2.88

2x  1 2.953
5. 0.25x 0.1 x 1.66
2x 3.953

x 
x 1.977  1 
6. 0.3 2  10 x  5.82
 Problem solving with logarithms
The mass of bacteria present in a science The mass of a particle of radioactive carbon
experiment t minutes after the start of the is decaying over time.
experiment is given by the equation, The mass in grams, is given by the equation,
M 30 20.20t 0.1 M 150 3 0.05t , where t is the t in days.
Find the time when the mass first reaches 300g. Evaluate the day on which the mass of the
carbon will first half it's original value.
M 30 20.20t0.1
M 150 3 0.05t
20.20t0.1 100
75 150 3 0.05t
log20.20t0.1 log100 1
3 0.05t 
2
log100
0.2t  0.1  1
log2  0.05t log3 log  
2
6.644  0.1 1
t log  
2
0.2  0.05t   
log3

t 32.7 minutes
t 12.62 days  13th day
 Solving complex logarithm equations 1
1. Solve log5 (x  3)  log5 (x  1) log5 x 2. Solve log2 x log2 60  log2  x  4 .
log5 (x  3)  log5 (x  1) log5 x
log2 x log2 60  log2  x  4 .
(x  3)
log5 log5 x
(x  1)  60 
log2 x log2  
 x 4 
(x  3)
x
(x  1)
x(x  4) 60
x  3 x(x  1)

x  3 x 2  x x 2  4x  60 0
x 2  2x  3 0
(x 10)(x  6) 0
x  3x  1 0
x 3 and x  1 x  10 and x 6

x 3 is the only one that will satisfy the x 6 is the only one that will satisfy the
equation, as log5 ( 1) is not possible. equation, as log5 ( 10) is not possible.
 Solving complex logarithm equations 2

Solve log2 3log8 x 0. 3log8 x 1

log8 x 3 1
log2 3log8 x 0.

x 3 81

log2y 0 where y  3log8 x x 2

3log8 x  1

log2y 0  20 y log8 x 3  1
y 1
x 3 8 1
1
x3 
3log8 x 1 8
1
x
2
Solve 3log8 x 1 and 3log8 x  1
1
x 2 and x 
2
 Solving complex logarithm equations 3

Find the exact value of x in the equation,

2 x 1 52 x 
16.
10 x
log a
Give your answer in the form x  , where a, b .
log b
  
2 x 1 52 x
16
xlog2 2xlog5  xlog10 log16  log2
x
10
x log2  2log5  log10  log16  log2

log
2 x 1 52 x 
log16 log16  log2
x
10 x log2 2log5  log10

     
log 2 x 1  log 52 x  log 10 x log16
x
log8
log2 log25  log10

x  1log2  2 x log5  x log10 log16

log8
x
log5
xlog2 log2 2xlog5  xlog10 log16
 Examination style questions
1
1. Solve log 4 16 log 4 log 4 x. 5. A rat population is growing exponentially. A
8
model is produced to show the population at
See solution t days after the start of the monitoring of the
x 2
experiment.

2. Solve log3 x  log 3 ( x  1) log 3 20. P 40 20.1t 10.

Calculate the day when the rat population to
doubles.
x 5 See solution

12th day See solution

3. Solve 2log 5 ( x  1) log 5 9( x  1)
2(3 x 1)3x
6. Solve 20, giving your answer in
x 5 and x 2 x
See solution 4
log a
the form where a, b .
4. Solve log 4 2log25 x 0 log b

1 log10
x 5 and x  See solution x See solution
5 log6
 Worked answers

1 1
Solve log 4 16 log 4 log 4 x. log 4 16 log 4 log 4 x
8 8

 1
log 4  16   log 4 x
 8

log 4 2 log 4 x

x 2

Return
 Worked answers

Solve log3 x log2 (x  1) log3 20. log3 x  log3 ( x  1) log 3 20

log3 x(x  1) log3 20

 
log3 x 2  x log 3 20

x 2  x 20

x 2  x  20 0

x  5x  4  0

x 5 and x -4

x 5

Return
 Worked answers

Solve 2log 5 ( x  1) log 5 9( x  1) 2log5 (x 1) log5 9(x  1)

log5 (x 1)2 log5 9(x  1)

(x 1)2 9(x  1)

x 2 2x 1 9x  9

x 2  7x 10 0

(x  5)(x  2) 0

x 5 and x 2

Return
 Worked answers

Solve log 4 2log25 x 0 Solve log 4 2log25 x 0

2log25 x 1

2log25 x 1 2log25 x  1

log25 x 2 1 log25 x 2  1

x 2 25 2 1  x2 
1
x 25
25
x 5
1
x
5

1
x 5 and x  Return
5
 Worked answers
A rat population is growing exponentially. A model is produced to show the population at
t days after the start of the monitoring of the experiment.
P 40 20.1t 10.
Calculate the day when the rat population to doubles.

9
P 40 20.1t 10 log20.1t log  
4
Initially t 0
9
0
P 40 2 10 (0.1t )log2 log  
4
P 50
9
log  
100 40 20.1t 10 0.1t   
4
log2
40 20.1t 90 0.1t 1.1699
t 11.699
90
20.1t 
40 12th day Return
 Worked answers
2(3x1)3x 3xlog2  xlog3  xlog 4 log20  log2
Solve 20, giving your answer in
4x
loga
the form where a,b ¢.  20 
 logb x 3log2  log3  log4  log  
 2 

2(3x1)3x
20
4 x  23 3 
x  log  log10
 4 
 
2(3x1)3x
log log20
x
4
x log6  log10

log2(3x1) log3x  log 4 x log20

log10
x Return
(3x 1)log2  xlog3  xlog 4 log20 log6

3xlog2 log2  xlog3  xlog 4 log20