Logarithms Syllabus reference: 1.2, 2.2, 2.7, 2.8 Contents: monwDp a7 Logarithms Logarithms in base 10 Laws of logarithms Natural logarithms Exponential equations using logarithms The change of base rule Graphs of logarithmic functions Growth and decay120 LOGARITHMS (Chapter 4) OPENING PROBLEM Paulo knows that when he invests €12000 for n years at an interest rate of 8.35% p.a. compounded annually, the value of the investment at the end of this period is given by A,.,1 = 12000 x (1.0835)" euros. Things to think about: alt A Scotsman, John Napier, discovered a method of simplifying these calculations using logarithms. So effective was Napier’s method that it was said he effectively doubled the life of an astronomer by reducing g In the late 16th century, astronomers spent ‘What is the value of A,? What does it mean? How would we find the value of the investment after 5 years? If we let_ n= 2.25, Ag.25 = 12000 x (1.0835)?25. Does the power 2.25 have a meaning? What is the meaning of the value of As.25? How long would it take for the investment to double in value? What would the graph of A,, 1 against n look like? "ORICAL NOTE a large part of their working lives doing the complex and tedious calculations of spherical trigonometry needed to understand the movement of celestial bodies. the time required to do these calculations. Consider the function f s+ 10" or f(x) = 10. The graph of y = f(x) is shown alongside, along with its inverse function f~*. How can we write f-} in functional form? As f is defined by y= 10", f~' is defined by x= 10". {interchanging «x and y}LOGARITHMS (Chapter 4) 121 If x= 10” then y is the exponent to which the base 10 is raised in order to get x. We write this as y= logy and say that *y is the logarithm of « in base 10.’ So, © if f(x) =10*, then f(x) =logyy x © if f(x) =a", then f(x) =log, 2. LOGARITHMS IN BASE a If b=a*, a #1, a>0, we say that xis the logarithm of b in base a, and that b=a* <= x= log,b, b>0. b=a® & ©=log,b isa short way of writing: if b= a then x=log,}, andif x=log,b then b=a"’. We say that 6 * and x=log,b are equivalent or interchangeable statements. For example: ¢ 8=2° means that 3 =log,8 and vice versa. © log; 25 =2 means that 25 =5? and vice versa If y=a* then r=log,y, andso —@ = log, a. If x=a" then y=log, x, and so z= al«* provided x > 0. EL DE 2 Write an equivalent exponential statement for logy 1000 = 3. Write an equivalent logarithmic statement for 34 = 81. a From log; 1000=3 we deduce that 10% = 1000. b From 34=81 we deduce that log, 81 =4. EZ DSi Find: 2 logy9100 & logy32_—¢ log, (0.2) 2 To find logiy 100. we ask “What power must 10 be raised to, to get 100?” 10? = 100 so log1y 100 =2. b 25=32 so log,32=5. © 5-1=2=02 so log,(0.2) EXERCISE 4A 1 Write an equivalent exponential statement for: @ logy 10000 =4 b logio(0.1) © logy Vi0=4 d log,8=3 e log,(4) f logy V7 =1.5