3.

3 PROPERTIES OF LOGARITHMS

3.4 EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS

Copyright Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

What You Should Learn
Use the change-of-base formula to rewrite and
evaluate logarithmic expressions.

Use properties of logarithms to evaluate or

rewrite logarithmic expressions.

Use properties of logarithms to expand or

condense logarithmic expressions.

Use logarithmic functions to model and solve

real-life problems.
2
What You Should Learn
Solve simple exponential and logarithmic
equations.

Solve more complicated exponential equations.

Solve more complicated logarithmic equations.

Use exponential and logarithmic equations to

model and solve real-life problems.

3
Change of Base

4
Change of Base

5
Example 1 Changing Bases Using Common Logarithms

a.

Use a calculator.

Simplify.

b.

6
Properties of Logarithms

7
Properties of Logarithms

8
Example 3 Using Properties of Logarithms

Write each logarithm in terms of ln 2 and ln 3.

a. ln 6 b. ln

Solution:
a. ln 6 = ln (2 3) Rewrite 6 as 2 3.

= ln 2 + ln 3 Product Property

b. ln = ln 2 ln 27 Quotient Property

= ln 2 ln 33 Rewrite 27 as 33.

= ln 2 3 ln 3 Power Property

9
Rewriting Logarithmic Expressions

10
Example 5 Expanding Logarithmic Expressions

Expand each logarithmic expression.

a. log4 5x3y

b.

Solution:
a. log4 5x3y = log4 5 + log4 x3 + log4 y Product Property

= log4 5 + 3 log4 x + log4 y Power Property

11
Example 5 Solution contd

Rewrite using rational

b.
exponent.

Quotient Property

Power Property

12
Introduction

13
Introduction
One-to-One Properties
ax = ay if and only if x = y.
loga x = loga y if and only if x = y.

Inverse Properties
aloga x = x
loga ax = x

14
Example 1 Solving Simple Equations
Original Rewritten
Equation Equation Solution Property
a. 2x = 32 2x = 25 x=5 One-to-One
b. ln x ln 3 = 0 ln x = ln 3 x=3 One-to-One
c. =9 3 x = 32 x = 2 One-to-One
d. ex = 7 ln ex = ln 7 x = ln 7 Inverse
e. ln x = 3 eln x = e 3 x = e3 Inverse
f. log x = 1 10log x = 101 x = 101 = Inverse
g. log3 x = 4 3log3 x = 34 x = 81 Inverse

15
Introduction

16
Solving Exponential Equations

17
Example 2 Solving Exponential Equations

Solve each equation and approximate the result to three

decimal places, if necessary.
2
a. e x = e 3x 4

b. 3(2x) = 42

18
Example 2(a) Solution
2
e x = e 3x 4 Write original equation.

x2 = 3x 4 One-to-One Property

x2 3x 4 = 0 Write in general form.

(x + 1)(x 4) = 0 Factor.

(x + 1) = 0 x = 1 Set 1st factor equal to 0.

(x 4) = 0 x=4 Set 2nd factor equal to 0.

The solutions are x = 1 and x = 4. Check these in the

original equation.

19
Example 2(b) Solution contd

3(2x) = 42 Write original equation.

2x = 14 Divide each side by 3.

log2 2x = log2 14 Take log (base 2) of each side.

x = log2 14 Inverse Property

x= Change-of-base formula

3.807

The solution is x = log2 14 3.807. Check this in the

original equation.
20
Solving Logarithmic Equations

21
Solving Logarithmic Equations
To solve a logarithmic equation, you can write it in
exponential form.

ln x = 3 Logarithmic form

eln x = e3 Exponentiate each side.

x = e3 Exponential form

This procedure is called exponentiating each side of an

equation.

22
Example 6 Solving Logarithmic Equations

a. ln x = 2 Original equation

eln x = e2 Exponentiate each side.

x = e2 Inverse Property

b. log3(5x 1) = log3(x + 7) Original equation

5x 1 = x + 7 One-to-One Property

4x = 8 Add x and 1 to each side.

x=2 Divide each side by 4.

23
Example 6 Solving Logarithmic Equations contd

c. log6(3x + 14) log6 5 = log6 2x Original equation

Quotient Property of Logarithms

One-to-One Property

3x + 14 = 10x Cross multiply.

7x = 14 Isolate x.

x=2 Divide each side by 7.

24