Takes you to places where you belong.

Logarithms
(1) log ab = log a + log b
(2) log

a
= log a log b
b

(3) log ab = b log a

(4) log a a 1
(5) log a 1 0
loga
(6) logb a
logb

(7) logb a log c a.logb c

(8) logb a.logab 1
1
(9) logb a
log ab

Problems
1. If

log 1 (2x 1) log 1 (x 1)

2

, then find x.

log 1 (2x 1) log 1 (x 1)

2

2x + 1 = x + 1, since the bases are equal

x=0
2
2. If log 1 (x 8) 2 find x.
3

log 1 (x 2 8) 2
3
2

1
x2 8

3
3 2 = x2 + 8
x2 + 8 9 = 0
x2 1 = 0
x = 1
3. If log3 (3 x 8) 2 x find x
log3 (3 x 8) 2 x
32 x 3x 8
2
x
x
Put 3x = t 3 3 3 8
1
9 t 8
t

9
t 8
t
Entranceguru.com Private Limited
293682559.doc
-1-

Takes you to places where you belong.

9 = t2 8t
t2 8t 9 = 0
t2 9t + t 9 = 0
t (t 9) + 1(t 9) = 0
(t 9) (t + 1) = 0
t = 9 or 1
3x = 32 or 3x = -1 (invalid)
x=2
4. If log10x = 98 x log 107 find x
x log 10 = 98 7x log 10
x log 10 + 7x log 10 = 98
8x log 10 = 98
8x = 98, since log 10 =1

98 49

=12.25
8
4

5. If log2 (1

x ) log3 x , find x
log2 (1

x ) log3 x

log 3 (1 x ).log2 3 log3 x

log3 1 x
log3 2
log3 x
log x (1 x ) log3 2 2log 9 2 log 9 4

x=9
6. If log e x. log 4 e 3 then find x.
We know by change of base rule.

logba logca.logbc

logex.log4e log4x 3 (given)

logx
loga
3
]
[use the formula logb a
log4
logb
log x = 3 log 4 = log(43)
x = 43 = 64

7. If log 4 (x 2 x) log 4 (x 1) 2 Find x.

log 4 (x 2 x) log 4 (x 1) 2
x2 x
2
x 1

log 4

[loga logb log

a
b

x2 x
42 16
x 1
x2 + x = 16(x + 1)
x2 + x = 16x + 16
x2 15x 16 = 0
(x 16)(x + 1) = 0
x = 16 or x = -1
Entranceguru.com Private Limited
293682559.doc
-2-

Takes you to places where you belong.

x = -1 is invalid, since it cannot satisfy the given equation. Hence x = 16

8. Simplify logx log(x2 ) log(x3 ) .... log(xn)
= log x + 2 logx + 3 log x + . + n log x [ using log mn = n log m]
= log x [1 +2 + 3 + + n], taking log x as common factor.

n(n 1)
n(n 1)
logx , since the sum of the first n natural numbers =
2
2

9. What is the characteristic of the logarithm of 0.0000134?

log (0.0000134). Since there are four zeros between the decimal point and
the first significant digit, the characteristic is 5.
Note:
If a decimal has n ciphers between the decimal point and the first significant
digit, the characteristic of the logarithm of that decimal is (n + 1).
10. Find the value of logb a.log cb.log a c
loga logb logc
.
.
1
logb a. log c b. log a c =
logb logc loga
11. If a, b, c are any three consecutive integers, find the value of log (1 + ac)
Since a, b, c are three consecutive integers.
a + c = 2b, i.e., b = a + 1 a = b 1
c=b+1
log (1 + ac)
= log [1 + (b 1) (b + 1)]
= log (1 + b2 1) = logb2 = 2 log b
12. Without using the log tables, find the value of

log 3225
log 125

log 3225 log 55

5 log 5 5

3
log 125
3 log 5 3
log 5
Since log 5 gets cancelled.

13. If log10 (m) x log10n then prove that m =

Given log10 m x log10n

1
10 x
n

log10m log10 x
log10

mn

mn = 10x

[Note: If logba = c, then bc = a]

1
m 10 x
n
14. If log2 x log 4 x log16 x

21
find the value of x.
4
Entranceguru.com Private Limited
293682559.doc
-3-

Takes you to places where you belong.

Given log2 x log 4 x log16 x

logx logx
logx
21

log2 log4 log16

4

logx
logx
logx
21

log2 2log2 4log2

4

21
4

logx
1 1
21
1
log2
2 4
4
logx 7 21

log2 4
4
logx 21

3
log2
7

logx 3log2 log2 3 log8

x8

15. Without using log tables, find the value of log10 50 2 log10 5 log10 2

log1050 2log105 log10 2

= log10 50 [2 log10 5 log10 2]

= log10 50 [log10 25 log10 2]
= log10 50 log10 (25 2)
= log10 50 log10 50
=0

16. If antilog of 0.7551 = 5.690, find the antilog of 3.7551

Given antilog of 0.7551 = 5.690
Antilog of 3.7551 = 5690
[In the antilog of 3.7551, the characteristic is 3, but the mantissa is the
same as in antilog of 0.7751]
Antilog of 3.7551 must be a number lying between 1000 and 10000.
17. If log a 64 3 find the value of a.
Given log a 64 3
3

Rule: If log ba = c, then bc = a

3

a 64 4
a4

18. Find the logarithm of1728 to the base of 2 3

Let log2 3 1728 x say

2 3

1728 2 3

Hence x = 6
Note : 1728 2 6 33 2 6 ( 3 )6 (2 3 )6

Entranceguru.com Private Limited

293682559.doc
-4-