Indices and Logarithms

Prepared by Ladybird
Indices and Logarithms
There are four important parts in this topic.

1. The laws of indices.
2. The laws of logarithms.
3. Convert index to logarithm / convert logarithm to index.
4. Change the base of the logarithm.
Indices
Indices some call it exponentiation, can be written as

n Index / exponential /
base a logarithm
where a is named as base, n is named as index / exponential.
An index arises when a number is multiplied by itself several times. Do not confuse with
the multiplication and additional of a number.
For positive integer of n, the multiplication of the base is
a n = a144
× a ×4
a2444
× a × ... ×3a
n times
Meanwhile the additional of the base is
na = a144
+ a +4a2444
+ a + ... +3a
n times
Laws of Indices:
Ø a m × a n = a m+ n Same base
m n m−n Different index
Ø a ÷a = a
n
Ø ( am ) = a mn
n
Ø ( ab ) = a nb n
Different base
n n
a a Same index
Ø   = n
b b
Ø Zero index → a 0 = 1 , a ≠ 0
http://ladybirdnotes.blogspot.com
1
Ø Negative index → a − n =
an
1 m m
Ø Fractional index → a n = n a ; a n = ( a)n
Example:
Evaluate
a. 33 × 32 f. 80
b. 33 ÷ 32 g. 2 −3
2 1
c. ( )
x3 h. 42
2 3
d. ( 3b ) i. 8 2
2
 x
e.  
3
Solution:
a. 33 × 32 = 33+ 2 f. 80 = 1 Any number or

unknown with index 0
= 35 will get answer 1.
1
b. 33 ÷ 32 = 33− 2 g. 2 −3 =
23
1
=3 =
8
2 1
c. ( )
x3 = x3×2 h. 42 = 2 4
= x6 =2
2 2
2
d. ( 3b ) = 32 b 2 i. 83 = ( 8)
3
= 9b 2 =4
2
x x2
e.   = 2
3 3
x2
=
9
Logarithms
Logarithm can be written as Base
log a x = y Index
where x is the result, a is the base, y is the index.
Log with 10 as the base, log10 can be written in the form of lg .
Laws of Logarithms
Ø log a xy = log a x + log a y
x
Ø log a = log a x − log a y
y
Ø log a x n = n log a x
Ø log a a = 1 If given log a x where 0 < x < 1 , negative
Ø log a 1 = 0 answer will obtain. This is very important
to solve logarithm inequalities.
Ø a loga x = x
Ø log a 0 = undefined
Ø log a ( negative ) = undefined
Example:
Evaluate
a. log a 3x d. log x x
3
b. log a e. log10 1
5
c. log a 36
Next, prove that a loga x = x
Solution:
a. log a 3x = log a 3 + log a x d. log x x = 1
3
b. log a = log a 3 − log a 5 e. log10 1 = 0
5
c. log a 36 = log a 6 2
= 2 log a 6
Let y = a loga x .... (1)

Log of x with base a is the power of another a. Bring
loga x the power to the front.
log a y = log a a
= log a x
y=x Remove log a of both sides.
From (1),
∴ a loga x = x Replace y with the terms of log into previous step.
Convert Index to Logarithm / Convert Logarithm to Index
Logarithm is actually an exponent. It is similar to index. Let’s look at the example below.
Index Logarithm
x = ay log a x = y
Example: Example:
100 = 102 log 10 100 = 2
If both index and logarithm are in the function form, then the relation between index and
logarithm is “function log a x is the inverse of function a y ”.
How to convert index to logarithm?

Given x = ay
lg x = lg a y From the given index, add lg into both left and right
hand side. Then solve the problem.
lg x = y lg a
lg x
y=
lg a
How to convert logarithm to index?

Given log a x = y
Remove the log, the base, a move to right hand side.
x = ay Then the y in the right hand side kicked up become
the power of a.
Example:
Find the value of x of

a. 9 = 3x
b. log 4 x = 2
by changing the form.
Put lg into both sides.
Solution:
Remember, calculator is usable for
log when the base is 10. If the base
a. 9 = 3x is other than 10, change the base to
10 then press calculator to get the
lg 9 = lg 3x
value.
The power of 3 is 2, bring the
2 into the front of lg3.
lg 32 = x lg 3
2 lg 3 = x lg 3
x=2
b. Take the 4 to right hand side log 4 x = 2

and 2 becomes its power. x = 42
Remove the log when the 4 is
changing place. = 16
Change the Base of Logarithms
To change the base of a logarithm, two methods are provided.

log a x The base can put in any number or
1. log y x =
log a y unknown depends on the questions.
1
2. log y x =
log x y
Example:
a. Change the base of log 2 5 into 3.

b. Change the base of log 2 7 into 7.
Solution:
log3 5 1
a. log 2 5 = b. log 2 7 =
log3 2 log 7 2

Indices and Logarithms

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What are the laws of indices?

What are the laws of indices?

What are the laws of logarithms?

What are the laws of logarithms?

Prepared by Ladybird

Indices and Logarithms

There are four important parts in this topic.

Indices some call it exponentiation, can be written as

For positive integer of n, the multiplication of the base is

Meanwhile the additional of the base is

a. 33 × 32 = 33+ 2 f. 80 = 1 Any number or

Logarithm can be written as Base

where x is the result, a is the base, y is the index.

Log with 10 as the base, log10 can be written in the form of lg .

Next, prove that a loga x = x

a. log a 3x = log a 3 + log a x d. log x x = 1

Let y = a loga x .... (1)

Convert Index to Logarithm / Convert Logarithm to Index

100 = 102 log 10 100 = 2

How to convert index to logarithm?

How to convert logarithm to index?

Find the value of x of

b. Take the 4 to right hand side log 4 x = 2

Change the Base of Logarithms

To change the base of a logarithm, two methods are provided.

a. Change the base of log 2 5 into 3.

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