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# Logarithms

## Evaluate and convert logarithms to exponential form

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Practice Logarithms
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Defining Logarithms

You go a concert and you want to know how loud it is in decibels. The decibel level of a sound is found by first assigning an intensity I0 to a very soft sound, or the threshold. The decibel level can then be measured with the formula where I is the intensity of the sound. If the intensity of the concert is 1,000,000,000(I0), what is its decibel level?

### Guidance

You can probably guess that in and in . But, what is if ? Until now, we did not have an inverse to an exponential function. But, because we have variables in the exponent, we need a way to get them out of the exponent. Introduce the logarithm. A logarithm is defined as the inverse of an exponential function. It is written such that . Therefore, if (exponential form), then (logarithmic form).

There are two special logarithms, or logs. One has base 10, and rather that writing , we just write log. The other is the natural log, the inverse of the natural number. The natural log has base and is written This is the only log that is not written using .

#### Example A

Rewrite in exponential form.

Solution: Use the definition above, also called the “key”.

#### Example B

Find:

a)

b)

c)

Solution: Using the key, we can rearrange all of these in terms of exponents.

a) .

b) .

c) . There is no solution. A positive number when raised to any power will never be negative.

There are two special logarithms that you may encounter while writing them into exponential form.

The first is , because . The second is because can be any number except 1.

#### Example C

Use your calculator to find the following logarithms. Round your answer to the nearest hundredth.

a)

b)

c)

Solution:

a) Locate the LN button on your calculator. Depending on the brand, you may have to input the number first. For a TI-83 or 84, press LN, followed by the 7 and ENTER. The answer is 1.95.

b) The LOG button on the calculator is base 10. Press LOG, 35, ENTER. The answer is 1.54.

c) To use the calculator for a base other than 10 or the natural log, you need to use the change of base formula.

Change of Base Formula: , such that and and and .

So, to use this for a calculator, you can use either LN or LOG.

or

In the TI-83 or 84, the keystrokes would be LOG(226)/LOG(5), ENTER.

Intro Problem Revisit Plug the given values into the equation and solve for d.

Therefore, the decibel level of the concert is 90.

### Guided Practice

1. Write in logarithmic form.

2. Evaluate the following expressions without a calculator.

a)

b)

c)

3. Use a calculator to evaluate each expression. Round your answers to the hundredths place.

a)

b)

c)

4. Use the change of base formula to evaluate in a calculator.

1. Using the key, we have: .

2. Change each logarithm into exponential form and solve for .

a) . must be negative because the answer is not a fraction, like the base.

, so . Therefore, .

b) . , therefore, .

c) . First, , so . To make this a fraction, we need to make the power negative. , therefore .

3. Using a calculator, we have:

a) 3.47 b) 2.33 c) 1.81

4. Rewriting using the change of base formula, we have: . Plugging it into a calculator, we get .

### Explore More

Convert the following exponential equations to logarithmic equations.

Convert the following logarithmic equations to exponential equations.

convert the following logarithmic expressions without a calculator.

Evaluate the following logarithmic expressions using a calculator. You may need to use the Change of Base Formula for some problems.

### Answers for Explore More Problems

To view the Explore More answers, open this PDF file and look for section 8.5.

### Vocabulary Language: English

Change of Base Formula

Change of Base Formula

Let $b, x,$ and $y$ be positive numbers, $b \ne 1$ and $y \ne 1$. Then, $\log_y x=\frac{\log_b x}{\log_b y}$. More specifically, $\log_y x=\frac{\log x}{\log y}$ and $\log_y x=\frac{\ln x}{\ln y}$, so that expressions can be evaluated using a calculator.
Exponential Form

Exponential Form

The exponential form of an expression is $b^x=a$, where $b$ is the base and $x$ is the exponent.
Logarithm

Logarithm

A logarithm is the inverse of an exponential function and is written $\log_b a=x$ such that $b^x=a$.
Logarithmic Form

Logarithmic Form

Logarithmic form is $\log_b a=x$, such that $b$ is the base.
Natural Log

Natural Log

A natural logarithm is a log with base $e$. The natural logarithm is written as ln.
Natural Logarithm

Natural Logarithm

A natural logarithm is a log with base $e$. The natural logarithm is written as ln.