Common

Logs

Use calculator for common log

Change of Base Formula

log b x
log a x
log b a
log 10 x
log a x
log 10 a

Evaluate
log3(16)

log 10 16

log 10 3

= 2.5237

Evaluate
log2(40)

log10 40

log10 2

= 5.3219

Now try these on your own

Solving with common logs

Solve for x

log 4

3x

log 12

(3x) log(4)

log (12)

3x log( 4)

log (12)

3 log(4)

3 log(4)

x .5975

Solve for x

log 6

x2

log 18

( x 2) log(6) log 18
log(6)
log(6)

log(18 )
- 2
x2
log(6)

x .3869

Solve for x

log 5

4 x2

(4 x 2) log(5)

log 120
log 120

log(5)

log(5)
log 120
+ 2
4x 2
log(5)

4 x 4.97464....
4

x 1.2437

Now you
try #11 &
#13

Solve for x

log 2

x 5

log 3
x2

( x 5) log(2) ( x 2) log(3)
x log(2) 5 log(2) x log(3) 2 log(3)
x log(2) x log(3) 5 log(2) 2 log(3)
xlog( 2) log(3) 5 log( 2) 2 log(3)
5 log( 2) 2 log(3)
x log( 2) log(3)

x 13.9666

Solving with natural logs (ln)

Solve for x
3 x2
ln 15 ln e

ln(15) (3x 2) ln(

1 e)
ln(15) 3x 2
ln(15) 2 3x
ln(15) 2
3

1.569 x

Solve for x
5 x6
7 3e
ln

7
3

ln e

5 x6

1 e)
ln( 73 ) (5 x 6) ln(
ln( 73 ) 5 x 6
ln( 73 ) 6 5 x
ln( 73 ) 6
5

1.031 x