2.
1 Notes: Logarithms Name: ______________________
**Logarithms are inverses of exponential functions**
y = b x where b 0 and b 1
Find the inverse:
A LOGARITHM IS AN EXPONENT!!!!!!
Examples: Rewrite the following logarithms as exponentials to help determine the answer.
1
a) log3 27 = b) log 4 =
4
c) log 1 8 = d) log16 2 =
2
e) log100 1 = f) log10 .001 =
Examples: Write each exponential equation in its equivalent logarithmic form.
a) 100,000 = 105 b) 7 = 3 343
1
−
1 3
b) 3 = d) e− x = 4
27
Special Bases
Base 10
Base e
2.1 Notes: Logarithms Page 2 of 4
y = logb x where b 0 and b 1
a) Can x negative? Justify.
b) Can x be 0? Justify.
c) Can x be 1? Justify.
d) Can x be 1,000,000? Justify.
What does this tell us about the domain of logarithms?
Examples: State the domains of the following logarithmic functions
a) log3 x b) log 4 ( x + 2)
c) log( x 2 ) d) log 4 ( x3 )
e) log ( 5x − 10 ) f) log 4 (4 − 3x)
g) log ( − x ) h) log 4 (9 − x 2 )
2.1 Notes: Logarithms Page 3 of 4
Graphing y = logb x where b 0 , b 1 , and x 0
h) Infinite number of parents
i) 2 Categories
o b 1 is growth
o 0 b 1 is decay
Example: Given y = log3 x , generate the anchor points and create the graph. (Use y = 3x to
help)
x y
Characteristics
Asymptotes: _________________
intercept: _________________
Domain: _________________
Range: _________________
Increasing: _________________
Decreasing: _________________
Concave Up: _________________
Concave Down: _________________
End Behavior: __________________________________
__________________________________
2.1 Notes: Logarithms Page 4 of 4
x
1
Now, use y = log 1 x and generate the anchor points and graph. (Use y = to help.)
3 3
x y
What do you notice about the characteristics??
