Logarithm - Examples – How to evaluate Logarithms

  • Definition: The logarithm of a positive number x to the base b is the power to which b must be raised to obtain x.
    • Written as: logb(x) = y if and only if by = x.
    • Example: log2(8) = 3 since 23 = 8.
  • Properties of Logarithms:
    1. logb(1) = 0 for any base b.
    2. logb(b) = 1 for any base b.
    3. logb(bx) = x for any base b and any positive number x.
    4. logb(xy) = logb(x) + logb(y) for any base b and positive numbers x and y.
    5. logb(x/y) = logb(x) - logb(y) for any base b and positive numbers x and y.
    6. logb(xn) = n * logb(x) for any base b, positive number x, and any real number n.
  • Evaluation of Logarithms: Example 1: Evaluate log4(64)
  • We need to find the power to which 4 must be raised to obtain 64.
  • 43 = 64, so log4(64) = 3. Example 2: Evaluate log5(1/25)
  • We need to find the power to which 5 must be raised to obtain 1/25.
  • 5-2 = 1/25, so log5(1/25) = -2. Example 3: Evaluate log10(1000)
  • We need to find the power to which 10 must be raised to obtain 1000.
  • 103 = 1000, so log10(1000) = 3. Example 4: Evaluate log3(1)
  • We need to find the power to which 3 must be raised to obtain 1.
  • 30 = 1, so log3(1) = 0. Example 5: Evaluate log2(16)
  • We need to find the power to which 2 must be raised to obtain 16.
  • 24 = 16, so log2(16) = 4.
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Logarithm - Examples – How to evaluate Logarithms Definition : The logarithm of a positive number x to the base b is the power to which b must be raised to obtain x. Written as: log b (x) = y if and only if b y = x. Example: log 2 (8) = 3 since 2 3 = 8. Properties of Logarithms: log b (1) = 0 for any base b. log b (b) = 1 for any base b. log b (b x ) = x for any base b and any positive number x. log b (xy) = log b (x) + log b (y) for any base b and positive numbers x and y. log b (x/y) = log b (x) - log b (y) for any base b and positive numbers x and y. log b (x n ) = n * log b (x) for any base b, positive number x, and any real number n. Evaluation of Logarithms : Example 1: Evaluate log 4 (64) We need to find the power to which 4 must be raised to obtain 64. 4 3 = 64, so log 4 (64) = 3. Example 2: Evaluate log 5 (1/25) We need to find the power to which 5 must be raised to obtain 1/25. 5 -2 = 1/25, so log 5 (1/25) = -2. Example 3: Evaluate log 10 (1000) We need to find the power to which 10 must be raised to obtain 1000. 10 3 = 1000, so log 10 (1000) = 3. Example 4: Evaluate log 3 (1) We need to find the power to which 3 must be raised to obtain 1. 3 0 = 1, so log 3 (1) = 0. Example 5: Evaluate log 2 (16) We need to find the power to which 2 must be raised to obtain 16. 2 4 = 16, so log 2 (16) = 4.