Logarithmic Functions and Equations - Complete Interactive Lesson
Part 1: Introduction to Logarithms
📖 Logarithmic Functions — Definition & Inverse Relation
Part 1 of 7
A logarithm answers: "What exponent do I need?"
" base of equals " means " raised to gives ."
The Three Standard Bases
| Notation | Name | Base | Calculator Key |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common log | LOG | ||
| Natural log | LN | ||
| General log | Use change of base |
Quick Conversion Examples
| Exponential Form | Logarithmic Form |
|---|---|
🔄 Logs and Exponentials Are Inverses
If , then .
Inverse Properties — they undo each other:
| Expression | Simplifies To | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Log undoes the exponential | ||
| Exponential undoes the log | ||
| undoes | ||
| undoes |
Graphical Connection
The graph of is the reflection of over the line .
| Feature | (with ) | |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | ||
| Range | ||
| Asymptote | (horizontal) | (vertical) |
| Passes through | ||
| Another point |
📝 Worked Example: Converting & Evaluating
Evaluate without a calculator.
Step 1: Rewrite as an equation: means
Step 2: Express both sides as powers of :
- ✔
Pattern for Evaluating Logs Mentally
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Set → rewrite as |
| 2 | Find common base or multiply repeatedly |
| 3 | Match exponents |
Key Values to Memorize
| | Because for any base | | | Because | | | Inverse property |
Concept Check 🎯
Evaluate These Logs 🧮
1) ? (e.g., : since , the answer is )
2) ? (e.g., : since , the answer is )
3) ? (e.g., : by inverse property, the answer is )
Log Fundamentals 🔽
Exit Quiz ✅
Part 2: Properties of Logarithms
📐 Logarithmic Functions — Core Log Properties
Part 2 of 7
Log properties turn multiplication, division, and exponentiation into addition, subtraction, and scalar multiplication.
The Three Fundamental Properties
| Property | Rule | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Product Rule | Multiplication → Addition | |
| Quotient Rule | Division → Subtraction | |
| Power Rule | Exponent → Coefficient |
⚠️ Critical restriction: These rules only apply to products, quotients, and powers inside the log. There is no rule for or .
🔓 Expanding Logarithmic Expressions
"Expanding" means using the rules left-to-right to break a single log into simpler pieces.
Worked Example 1
Expand
| Step | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quotient rule | |
| 2 | Product rule on first term | |
| 3 | Power rule on each |
Order of Operations for Expanding
- Quotient rule first (handle the fraction)
- Product rule next (break up any remaining products)
- Power rule last (pull exponents out front)
🔒 Condensing Logarithmic Expressions
"Condensing" means running the rules right-to-left to combine multiple logs into one.
Worked Example 2
Condense
| Step | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Power rule (reverse) | |
| 2 | Combine terms (product) | |
| 3 | Quotient rule (reverse) |
Why Condensing Matters
- Solving equations requires one log on each side
- Condensing to a single log lets you drop the log and solve the argument
🚫 Common Errors to Avoid
| ❌ Wrong | ✅ Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| No simplification exists | Log of a sum ≠ sum of logs | |
| No simplification exists | Log of a difference ≠ difference of logs | |
| stays as is | Squaring the output ≠ power rule | |
| Dividing logs = change of base, NOT quotient rule |
Quick Memory Aid
The rules work for operations inside the log argument:
- Inside multiplication → product rule
- Inside division → quotient rule
- Inside exponent → power rule
If it's addition or subtraction inside, stop — no rule applies.
Properties Quiz 🎯
Expand & Condense 🧮
1) Expand: . What is the coefficient of ? (e.g., in , the coefficient is )
2) Condense: . What is the single number inside the resulting ? (e.g., , so the number is )
3) Given and . Find , writing your answer as a decimal. (e.g., if and , then )
Rule Identification 🔽
Exit Quiz ✅
Part 3: Solving Logarithmic Equations
📈 Logarithmic Functions — Transformations & Graphs
Part 3 of 7
The general transformed logarithmic function:
Parameter Effects
| Parameter | Effect | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical stretch ($ | a | |
| Horizontal shift: right if , left if | : shift right 3 | |
| Vertical shift: up if , down if | : shift down 1 | |
| Base controls steepness: larger = less steep | vs |
📊 The Parent Function
Key Points of (parent)
Features of Every Parent Log Function
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Domain | |
| Range | |
| -intercept | — always |
| Vertical asymptote | |
| Increasing/decreasing | Increasing if ; decreasing if |
🔄 Applying Transformations Step by Step
Worked Example
Graph and identify all key features.
Start from the parent and track the anchor point :
| Step | Transformation | Anchor Point | VA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | |||
| 1. Replace with | Shift left | ||
| 2. Multiply by | Reflect & stretch | ||
| 3. Add | Shift up |
Key Features of
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Domain | |
| Range | |
| VA | |
| New "anchor" | |
| Behavior | Decreasing (because ) |
Quick Rules for Domain & VA
🎯 Finding the -Intercept Algebraically
Set and solve:
-intercept: ✔
General Method
For , set :
Finding the -Intercept
Set : only exists if is in the domain (i.e., ).
Transformation Quiz 🎯
Graph Analysis 🧮
1) Find the -intercept of . Set , solve for . (e.g., for : , , )
2) The domain of is what value? (e.g., for : set , so )
3) If , find . (e.g., )
Transformation Identification 🔽
Exit Quiz ✅
Part 4: Change of Base
🔍 Logarithmic Functions — Solving Log Equations
Part 4 of 7
The Two Core Strategies
| Strategy | When to Use | Key Move |
|---|---|---|
| Rewrite as exponential | Single log on one side | |
| Condense then convert | Multiple logs | Combine into one log, then convert |
⚠️ Always check solutions! Every candidate must make all original log arguments positive.
📝 Type 1: Single Log = Number
Worked Example 1
Solve
| Step | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Convert to exponential | |
| 2 | Solve linear equation | |
| 3 | Isolate | |
| 4 | Check: | ✔ |
Worked Example 2
Solve
Check: ✔
📝 Type 2: Log = Log (One-to-One Property)
If , then (as long as both arguments are positive).
Worked Example 3
Solve
Check: and ✔
📝 Type 3: Multiple Logs — Condense First
Worked Example 4: Extraneous Solution Alert!
Solve
| Step | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Product rule | |
| 2 | Convert to exponential | |
| 3 | Expand | |
| 4 | Factor | |
| 5 | Candidates | or |
Domain check — both original arguments must be positive:
- : ✔ and ✔ → valid
- : ❌ → extraneous, reject
⚠️ Why Extraneous Solutions Appear
When you condense logs, you may expand the domain. The product can be positive even when the individual factors aren't both positive. Always check each original log argument separately.
Solving Strategies Quiz 🎯
Solve for 🧮
1) . Find . (e.g., : , )
2) . Find . (e.g., : , , )
3) . Find . (e.g., : , , )
Strategy Selection 🔽
Exit Quiz ✅
Part 5: Logarithmic Models
🔀 Logarithmic Functions — Change of Base & Calculator Fluency
Part 5 of 7
Calculators only have LOG () and LN () keys. To evaluate any other base, use the Change of Base Formula:
Why It Works
Starting from :
🧮 Evaluating with Change of Base
Example 1:
Sanity check: ✔ (answer should be slightly above )
Example 2:
Sanity check: and , so answer is between and ✔
Quick Reference for Common Calculations
| Expression | Calculator Entry | Result |
|---|---|---|
🔗 Useful Relationships from Change of Base
Reciprocal Property
Example: and . Product: ✔
Converting Between Bases
To convert into :
Change of Base in Equations
Solve
Convert right side:
So
📊 Graphing Any Log with Change of Base
To graph on a calculator, enter:
Base Comparison Table
| Base | Growth Rate | Steepness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastest | Steepest | ||
| Middle | Medium | ||
| Slower | Flatter | ||
| Slowest | Flattest |
Key insight: Larger base = slower growth = flatter curve. All pass through .
Change of Base Quiz 🎯
Calculator Practice 🧮
1) Evaluate using change of base: . (e.g., )
2) If , find to three decimal places. (e.g., if , then )
3) Evaluate exactly. Hint: write both as powers of . (e.g., : , , so answer is )
Base Fluency 🔽
Exit Quiz ✅
Part 6: Problem-Solving Workshop
🌍 Logarithmic Functions — Modeling with Logs
Part 6 of 7
Logarithmic scales appear throughout science. They compress enormous ranges into manageable numbers.
Real-World Log Scales
| Scale | Formula | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| pH | Acidity (hydrogen ion concentration) | |
| Decibels | Sound intensity | |
| Richter | Earthquake magnitude | |
| Stellar magnitude | Star brightness |
Key pattern: All involve — they measure how many times larger one quantity is than a reference.
🧪 pH Scale
Worked Example 1
Orange juice has M. Find its pH.
Worked Example 2 (Reverse)
A solution has pH . Find .
M
pH Comparison
| Change | pH drops by | multiplied by |
|---|---|---|
| unit | ||
| units | ||
| units |
A pH drop of means more acidic — that's the power of the log scale!
🔊 Decibel Scale
where (threshold of hearing).
Worked Example 3
A rock concert has intensity . Find the decibel level.
Common Sound Levels
| Sound | Intensity | Decibels |
|---|---|---|
| Whisper | dB | |
| Conversation | dB | |
| Rock concert | dB | |
| Jet engine | dB |
Comparing Two Sounds
If sound A is louder than sound B, then A has the intensity.
louder → intensity. louder → intensity.
🌋 Richter Scale & Comparing Magnitudes
Comparing Two Earthquakes
How many times stronger is a magnitude earthquake than a magnitude ?
Each unit on the Richter scale represents the amplitude.
Difference: units → the amplitude
But energy scales by per unit:
units → the energy
Summary Table
| Magnitude Difference | Amplitude Ratio | Energy Ratio |
|---|---|---|
Log Models Quiz 🎯
Applied Calculations 🧮
1) Find the pH of a solution with M. (e.g., : pH )
2) A sound has intensity . Find its decibel level. Use . (e.g., : )
3) How many times more intense is a sound than a sound? (e.g., vs : difference )
Scale Identification 🔽
Exit Quiz ✅
Part 7: Review & Applications
🏆 Logarithmic Functions — Full Synthesis
Part 7 of 7 — Putting It All Together
Your Complete Log Toolkit
| Concept (Part) | Key Idea |
|---|---|
| Definition & Inverse (1) | ; domain |
| Properties (2) | Product, quotient, power rules for expanding/condensing |
| Transformations (3) | ; VA at |
| Solving Equations (4) | Convert → solve → check for extraneous |
| Change of Base (5) | |
| Modeling (6) | pH, decibels, Richter — all use |
📋 Multi-Step Problem Walkthrough
A bacteria population is modeled by .
(a) When does the population reach ? (b) What is the doubling time? (c) Express the model in the form and find the percent growth rate.
Part (a): When ?
time units
Part (b): Doubling time
time units
Part (c): Convert to
So , meaning growth per time unit.
🗺️ Problem-Type Decision Map
| If the Problem Says... | Strategy | First Move |
|---|---|---|
| "Evaluate " | Definition | Rewrite as |
| "Expand/simplify " | Properties (P2) | Apply product/quotient/power rules |
| "Graph " | Transformations (P3) | ID shifts, VA, anchor point |
| "Solve " | Equation solving (P4) | Condense logs → convert to exponential |
| "Compute to a decimal" | Change of base (P5) | |
| "Find the pH / dB / magnitude" | Modeling (P6) | Plug into the log-scale formula |
| "When does the population reach...?" | Log + exponential | Isolate exponential → take |
Connecting Logs to Exponentials
Almost every "when does it reach" problem follows this pattern:
Synthesis Quiz 🎯
Multi-Skill Drill 🧮
1) An investment grows as . How many years to reach $6,000? Round to one decimal. (e.g., : years)
2) Condense: . Write the coefficient on when the expression equals . What is as a fraction? (e.g., , so )
3) An earthquake of magnitude vs magnitude : the stronger one has how many times the amplitude? (e.g., magnitude vs : difference , ratio )
Concept Connection 🔽
Final Exit Quiz — Logarithmic Functions ✅