Chapter 4

Exponential and
Logarithmic
Functions

4.2 Logarithmic
Functions

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Objectives

• Change from logarithmic to exponential form.

• Change from exponential to logarithmic form.
• Evaluate logarithms.
• Use basic logarithmic properties.
• Graph logarithmic functions.
• Find the domain of a logarithmic function.
• Use common logarithms.
• Use natural logarithms.

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Definition of the Logarithmic Function

For x > 0 and b > 0, b ≠ 1,

y = logbx is equivalent to by = x.

The function f(x) = logbx is the logarithmic function with

base b.

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Location of Base and Exponent in Exponential
and Logarithmic Forms

Exponent

Logarithmic Form: 𝑦 = log 𝑏 𝑥

Base
Exponent

Exponential Form: 𝑏 𝑦 = 𝑥

Base

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Example 1: Changing from Logarithmic to
Exponential Form

Write each equation in its equivalent exponential form:

a. 3 = log 7 𝑥 means 73 = 𝑥.

b. 2 = log 𝑏 25 means 𝑏 2 = 25.

c. log 4 26 = 𝑦 means 4𝑦 = 26.

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Example 2: Changing from Exponential to
Logarithmic Form

Write each equation in its equivalent logarithmic form:

a. 25 = x means 5 = log 2 𝑥.

b. b3 = 27 means 3 = log 𝑏 27.

c. ey = 33 means 𝑦 = log 𝑒 33.

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Example 3a and b: Evaluating Logarithms

1
Evaluate: a. log10 100 b. log 5 .
125
Solution:
a. log10 100 means 10 to what power gives 100?
log10 100 = 2 because 102 = 100.

1 1
b. log 5 means 5 to what power gives ?
125 125

1 −3 1
log 5 = −3 because 5 = .
125 125

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Example 3c: Evaluating Logarithms

Evaluate: log 36 6.
Solution:
log 36 6 means 36 to what power gives 6?

1
1
log 36 6 = because 36 = 36 = 6. 2
2

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Example 3d: Evaluating Logarithms

7
Evaluate: log 3 3.
Solution:

7 7
log 3 3 means 3 to what power gives 3?

1
7 1 7
log 3 3 = because 3 = 7 3.
7

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Basic Logarithmic Properties Involving One

1. logbb = 1 because 1 is the exponent to which b must be

raised to obtain b. (b1 = b)

2. logb1 = 0 because 0 is the exponent to which b must be

raised to obtain 1. (b0 = 1)

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Example 4: Using Properties of Logarithms

Evaluate: a. log99 b. log81

Solution:
a. Because logbb = 1, we conclude log99 = 1.

b. Because logb1 = 0, we conclude log81 = 0.

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Inverse Properties of Logarithms

For b > 0 and b ≠ 1,

log 𝑏 𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑥 The logarithm with base b of b raised to a

power equals that power.

𝑏 log𝑏𝑥 = 𝑥 b raised to the logarithm with base b of a

number equals that number.

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Example 5: Using Inverse Properties of Logarithms

Evaluate: a. log 7 78 b. 3log3 17

Solution:
a. Because log 𝑏 𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑥, we conclude log 7 78 = 8.

b. Because 𝑏 log𝑏𝑥 = 𝑥, we conclude 3log317 = 17.

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Example 6: Graphs of Exponential and Logarithmic
Functions

Graph 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 and 𝑔 𝑥 = log 3 𝑥 in the same

rectangular coordinate system.
x 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥

Solution: –2 −2
1
𝑓 −2 = 3 =
9
We first set up a table of –1 1
𝑓 −1 = 3 = −1
coordinates for 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 . 3
We will reverse these 0
𝑓 0 = 30 = 1
coordinates for the inverse
function 𝑔 𝑥 = log 3 𝑥. 1
𝑓 1 = 31 = 3

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Example 6: Graphs of Exponential and Logarithmic
Functions (continued)

Create table for g(x).

x f ( x) = 3x x g ( x) = log 3 x
–2 1 1 –2
𝑓 −2 = 3 = −2
9 9
–1 −1
1 1 –1
𝑓 −1 = 3 = 3
3
0 1 0
𝑓 0 = 30 = 1
1 1 3 1
𝑓 1 = 3 =3

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Example 6: Graphs of Exponential and Logarithmic
Functions (continued)

Graph 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 and 𝑔 𝑥 = log 3 𝑥 in the same

rectangular coordinate system.

𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥

𝑔 𝑥 = log 3 𝑥

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Characteristics of Logarithmic Functions of the Form
𝑓(𝑥) = log 𝑏 𝑥

1. The domain of 𝑓(𝑥) = log 𝑏 𝑥 consists of all positive real numbers:

(0, ∞). The range of 𝑓(𝑥) = log 𝑏 𝑥 consists of all real numbers:
−∞, ∞ .
2. The graphs of all logarithmic functions of the form 𝑓(𝑥) = log 𝑏 𝑥
pass through the point (1, 0) because 𝑓(1) = log 𝑏 1 = 0. The
x-intercept is 1. There is no y-intercept.
3. If b > 1, 𝑓(𝑥) = log 𝑏 𝑥 has a graph that goes up to the right and is
an increasing function.
4. If 0 < b < 1, 𝑓(𝑥) = log 𝑏 𝑥 has a graph that goes down to the right
and is a decreasing function.
5. The graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = log 𝑏 𝑥 approaches, but does not touch, the
y-axis. The y-axis, or x = 0, is a vertical asymptote.

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The Domain of a Logarithmic Function

The domain of an exponential function of the form

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑏 𝑥 includes all real numbers and its range is the
set of positive real numbers. Because the logarithmic
function reverses the domain and the range of the
exponential function, the domain of a logarithmic
function of the form 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒙 is the set of all
positive real numbers. In general, the domain of
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒃 𝒈(𝒙) consists of all x for which g(x) > 0.

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Example 7: Finding the Domain of a Logarithmic
Function

Find the domain of 𝑓 𝑥 = log 4 𝑥 − 5 .

Solution:
The domain of f consists of all x for which x – 5 > 0.
x–5>0
x>5

Thus, the domain of f is 5, ∞ .

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Example 7: Finding the Domain of a Logarithmic
Function (continued)

Illustrate the domain of 𝑓 𝑥 = log 4 𝑥 − 5 .

Solution:
We found that the
domain of f is 5, ∞ .
This is illustrated by
the graph of f.

All points on the graph

Vertical
asymptote of f have x-coordinates
x=5 that are greater than 5.

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Common Logarithms

The logarithmic function with base 10 is called the

common logarithmic function.

The function 𝑓 𝑥 = log10 x is usually expressed

𝑓 𝑥 = log 𝑥.

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Example 8: Application

The percentage of adult height attained by a boy who is x

years old can be modeled by f(x) = 29 + 48.8 log(x + 1),
where x represents the boy’s age (from 5 to 15) and f(x)
represents the percentage of his adult height.
Approximately what percentage of his adult height has a
boy attained at age ten?
Solution:
f(x) = 29 + 48.8 log(x + 1)
A ten-year old boy has
f(10) = 29 + 48.8 log(10 + 1)
attained approximately
f(10) = 29 + 48.8 log(11) 80% of his adult height.
≈ 80%
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Properties of Common Logarithms

General Properties Common Logarithms

1. log 𝑏 1 = 0 log 1 = 0

2. log 𝑏 𝑏 = 1 log 10 = 1

3. log 𝑏 𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑥 log 10𝑥 = 𝑥

Inverse
properties
4. 𝑏 log𝑏𝑥 = 𝑥 10log 𝑥 = 𝑥

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Natural Logarithms

The logarithmic function with base e is called the natural

logarithmic function.

The function 𝑓(𝑥) = log 𝑒 𝑥 is usually expressed

𝑓 𝑥 = ln 𝑥.

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Properties of Natural Logarithms

General Properties Natural Logarithms

1. log 𝑏 1 = 0 ln 1 = 0

2. log 𝑏 𝑏 = 1 ln 𝑒 = 1

3. log 𝑏 𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑥 ln 𝑒 𝑥 = 𝑥
Inverse
properties
4. 𝑏 log𝑏𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑒 ln 𝑥 = 𝑥

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Example 11: Application

When the outside air temperature is anywhere from 72° to

96° Fahrenheit, the temperature in an enclosed vehicle
climbs by 43° in the first hour. The function
𝑓 𝑥 = 13.4 ln 𝑥 − 11.6 models the temperature increase,
f(x), in degrees Fahrenheit, after x minutes. Use the
function to find the temperature increase, to the nearest
degree, after 30 minutes.
Solution:
𝑓 𝑥 = 13.4 ln 𝑥 − 11.6 The temperature will increase
𝑓 30 = 13.4 ln 30 − 11.6 by approximately 34° after
≈ 34 30 minutes.
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