CMV 6111

Foundation Mathematics

9/2002

Unit 1
Learning Objectives

Indices and logarithms

The students should be able to: l Use the laws of indices to solve simple problems. l Use the properties of logarithms to solve simple problems.

Indices
In dealing with expressions containing exponents along with addition or subtraction or multiplication or division, we work with the exponents first. Lets consider the following examples. Example 1 (a) (b) (c)
3 2 23 = _________ 2 4 + 5 3 = 16 + 125 =___________

3 x 10 4 = 3 x _______ = __________

Example 2 Write each of the following in another way by using exponents. (a) (ab)(ab)(ab) (b) a.a.a.a (c) 4.a.b.4.b.a.a.a.b Solution: (a) (b) (c) Example 3 Evaluate each of the following : (a) -34 (b) (-3)4 (c) 2(1.1)3 Solution: (a) (b) (c)

Unit 1:Indices and Logarithms

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CMV 6111

Foundation Mathematics

9/2002

1. Consider

Multiplication of Exponential Numbers 23 .24 = (2.2.2)(2.2.2.2) = 2.2.2.2.2.2.2 = 27 a2 .a3 = (a.a)(a.a.a) = a.a.a.a.a = a5

In general,

am.an = am+n

2. Division of Exponential Numbers Consider 4 7 4.4.4.4.4.4.4 = 43 4.4.4 4 =4

a 5 a.a.a.a.a = a3 a.a.a 2 =a

In general , am = a m n an

Example 4

Simplify the following : 319 a) 11 = 31911 = ________ 3 X9 b) = _________ X3 a10 b8 c) = a103 b 85 = ________ 3 5 ab

an Consider = a n n n a = a0 ..(1) On the other hand an = 1............................( 2) an Compare (1) & (2): where a is any real number and a 0

a0 = 1

Unit 1:Indices and Logarithms

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CMV 6111

Foundation Mathematics

9/2002

For examples, 20 = 1, (-3)0 = 1 and 100 = 1

Recall Consider

am = a m n ( ) n a Consider 23 22 2 1 = = 24 2 2 2 2 2

If we use the division rule ( ) 23 = 2 34 = 2 1 4 2 1 2-1 = 2

34 3 3 3 3 1 = = 2 6 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

If we use the division rule ( ) 34 = 34 6 = 3 2 36 1 3-2 = 2 3

In general

a-n = a0-n =
1 an

a0 an

a-n =

(a b)n = an bn Example 5 (a) Solution :

an a = n b b

(am)n = amn

Simplify the following : (a2 b)3 (b) (

x3 2 3 2 ) (y) y

Example 6 Carry out each of the following operation. Write all answers with positive exponents and simplify where possible. (a) 7-1 (c) 5(5-3 ) (b) 2-4 (d) 2 5 23

Unit 1:Indices and Logarithms

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CMV 6111

Foundation Mathematics

9/2002

Solutions: (a) (c)

1 7 5(5-3 ) =51 5-3 7 1 =

(b)

2 4 =

1 1 or 4 2 16

= =

(d)

2 5 = 23 =

3.

Radicals

If x2 = y , then x is a square root of y for example 72 = 49 7 = 2 49

or

7=

49

similarly,

81

= 9

( 92 =81 )

If x3 = y , then x is a cube root of y for example, 43 = 64 (

3

64 = 4 )

In general, if xn = y , where n is a positive integer, then x is a nth root of y. 24 =16 4 16 = 2

for example,

Example7 (a) (b) (c) Solution : (a) (b) (c)

Find the values of the following : 6 64 5 100000 4 81

Unit 1:Indices and Logarithms

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CMV 6111

Foundation Mathematics

9/2002

Consider 144=9 16 and 144 = 12 9 16 = 3 4 =12 144 = 9 16 9 16 = 3 4 In general ab = a b a+b a + b 25 = 16 + 9 25 = 5 a = b

n n

a = b

a b

Note that e.g.

but 16 + 9 = 4 + 3 = 7 16 + 9 16 + 9 a b
n

In general

ab = n a n b

Example 8 (a)

Find the values of the following functions : 1 x f(x) = when x = 25 (b) f(x) = x 3 64 (a) (b) f(25) =

when x = 0.027

Solution :

25 25 = = ____ 64 64 3 27 27 f(0.027) = 3 =3 = ____ or 1000 1000

n

4.

Fractional Indices
1 1 n a n = a n =a1 = a

Consider

Similarly ,

an =n a
n

am/n = ( n a )m =

am

Example 9
3

Evaluate the following:

2

(a)

81 4

(b)

1000 3

(c)

9 2 25

Unit 1:Indices and Logarithms

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CMV 6111

Foundation Mathematics

9/2002

Solutions:
3 2

(a) (c)

81 4 = ( 4 81 )3 = __________

(b)

1000 3 = ( 3 1000 )2 = ________

9 9 2 =_______ = 25 25

Example 10

In the compound interest formula A = P (1+r)n , if A = 54874.32 , A = P ( 1+r)n 54874.32 = ( 25000)( 1 + r )6 54874.32 = (1 + r )6 25000 54874.32 1 + r = 6 25000

P = 25000, n = 6, find the value of r . Solution:

r= 5. Definition of Logarithms
y

If a number X = a , where a is positive and a1 , the index y is called the logarithm of the number X to the base a . In symbol, y = log aX. N.B. logaX is undefined only for positive values of X For example, 23 = 8 34 = 81
log2 8 = 3 log3 81 = 4

When the base a is not stated in logaX, it may be assumed a = 10. This is called the common logarithm. For example, log 1000 = log10 1000 =3 log 0.01 = -2
1 (Q 10-2 = 2 = 0.01) 10

Unit 1:Indices and Logarithms

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CMV 6111

Foundation Mathematics

9/2002

6. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Properties of Logarithms : logaa = 1 loga1 = 0 logaMN = logaM + logaN loga M N

= logaM

- logaN

logaXn = n logaX Find the values of the following:

Example 11

(a) log7 11 + Log7 1 11 (b) log6 log60 (c) log5 125 Solution: (a) log7 11 + log7 1 11 (b) log 6 log 60
1 log7 11 = log7 1= 11

log

6 1 = log =____________ 60 10

(c) log5 125 = log5 53 = 3 log5 5 = Example 12 P = 10000, r = 12%, find n correct to 2 decimal places. Solutions: A = P ( 1 + r )n 20000 = 10000 ( 1 + 12% )
20000 = (1 + 0.12) n 10000

In the compound interest formula A = P ( 1 + r )n , if A = 20000,

2 = ( 1.12 )n Taking logarithm on both sides, log2 = log(1.12)n

log2 = n log 1.12 n = log 2 log 1.12 n=

Unit 1:Indices and Logarithms

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CMV 6111

Foundation Mathematics

9/2002

Tutorial 1
1.

Indices and logarithms

Carry out each of the following operation. Write all answers with positive exponents and simplify where possible. (a) 7 3 7 5 46 45
2 5

(b) 34 33
2

35 2 2 38
2 3
1

(c)

(d) (f)

(2-3 )-4

(e)

2.

Evaluate the following : (a) 49

1 2

(b)

1 3

(c)

16

1 4

3.

In the compound interest formula A = P ( 1 + r )n , (a) if P = 100,000 , r = 8 %, n = 5, find the value of A, (b) if A = 49,519.26 , r = 12% , n = 8, find the value of P, (c) if A = 21,003.42 , P = 10,000 , n = 5 , find the value of r , (d) if A = 80957.13, P = 35000, r = 15%, find the value of n.

4.

The loudness, measured in decibels, is defined by the formula p b = 10 log , p 0 where P is the intensity of the sound and Po is the minimum intensity detectable. How many times greater is the intensity of b1 = 105 dB (factory) than the intensity of b2 = 80 dB (busy street) ?

- The End -

Unit 1:Indices and Logarithms

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