SOLVING

EX P O N EN TIA L EQ U ATIO N S

ExponentialEquation

An equation where the unknown/variable

is an exponent.
Examples:

Exponential equations are solved by using

the laws of exponents and the fact that if
, then

Law s ofExponents

For and positive, , , and and are real

numbers,
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Ex.
Ex.
Ex.
Ex.
Ex.
Ex.

G eneralprocedure in solving
basic exponentialequations
1. Express both sides of the equation

using the same base.

2. Equate the exponents to solve for
the unknown.

General Rule:

if and only if

Solve.
6. 103x 4 0.143x

7. 0.06254x 2 0.2524x

x2 1

3. 9

x 3

4. 121

2x2 2

2x 6

1331

10. 54x1 1

LO G A R ITH M S

O bjective:
To solve exponential equations using
logarithms.
To convert from exponential form to
logarithmic form and vice versa.
To evaluate logarithms.

Problem .
How
will you solve exponential equations such as:

when you cannot express both sides using a

common base?

Solution:U se LO G ARITH M S

W hat is a logarithm ?
know that
We

Logarithm is a quantity representing the

power to which a fixed number (the base)
must be raised to produce a given number.
Logarithm is the same as exponent.

W hat is a logarithm ?
We
know that

In the example above, we multiply 2 four

times to get 16. Therefore, the logarithm
of 16 base 2 is 4.

Relationship betw een

Exponentialand Logarithm
Generally,

(exponential)
is the same as
(logarithmic)
Read as is the logarithm of base or
is the logarithm to the base of
is the exponent of to get

Convert from exponentialto logarithm

or vice versa.

Evaluate the follow ing logarithm s.

D o not use a calculator.

Com m on Logarithm s
Logarithm

to the base 10.

is the same as
When the base is not indicated, it implies
base 10.
Powers of 10 and the corresponding
..
logarithms:
..

..
..

N aturalLogarithm s
Logarithm

to the base (Eulers number).

Named after a Swiss mathematician,

Leonhard Euler, is an irrational number
which is approximately
It is called the natural base because of
its technical considerations in calculus.
is the same as
indicates logarithm to the base .

Evaluate the follow ing logarithm s.

D o not use a calculator.

Solve.

Convert

to logarithmic form.

or
Using a calculator to approximate the
value,

Check:

Change ofBase Form ula

calculators only use base or base .
Most

Change ofBase Form ula

So,
the change of base formula allows you
to compute a logarithm to any base, or to
convert a logarithm to base or base .
If and are positive real numbers, then

Change of base formula from base to base .

Change ofBase Form ula

and are positive real numbers, then
If

Change of base formula from base to

base .
Example: Find the value of using
(1) base (log) Ans. 2.3219
(2) base (ln) Ans. 2.3219

Change ofBase Form ula

and are positive real numbers, then
If

Change of base formula from base to

base .
The change of base formula is derived
from the fact that
if , then .

Exercise: Convert to logarithm ic form .Then,

solve using base or base .Use a calculator to

fi
nd the value and leave your answ ers to 4
decim alplaces.

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.

LAWS OF

LO G A R ITH M S

O bjective:
To combine logarithms.
To solve simple exponential
and logarithmic equations
using the laws of logarithms.

Com bining logarithm s

Logarithms
can be combined to make a

single logarithm, and vice versa.

Example:

is equal to :
,

or

and there could be more different

combinations of logarithms that will yield

Law s oflogarithm s
Since logarithms are just exponents,
the laws of exponents will be used to
write the laws of logarithms.
These laws will help you combine or
expand logarithms, and solve
exponential or logarithmic equations.
The next slide will show the first law of
logarithms and how it is derived from the
laws of exponents.

1 Logarithm ofa Product Law

Suppose
you are given the following:

(eqn 1)
(eqn 2)
It follows that
(eqn 3)
(eqn 4)
Multiplying eqn 1 & eqn 2:
or
(eqn 5)
Converting eqn 5 to logarithmic form:
Replacing the left-hand side by eqn 3 & eqn 4:

1 Logarithm ofa Product Law

The logarithm of a product is EQUAL to

the sum of the logarithms of each
factor, and vice versa.
Examples.

CAUTION!!!!!

2 Logarithm ofa Q uotient Law

The logarithm of a quotient is EQUAL to the
differences of the logarithm of the
numerator and the logarithm of the
denominator, and vice versa.
Examples.

2 Logarithm ofa Q uotient Law

The logarithm of a quotient is EQUAL to the
differences of the logarithm of the
numerator and the logarithm of the
denominator, and vice versa.

CAUTION!!!!!

3 Logarithm ofa Pow er Law

The logarithm of a power of a number is EQUAL to
the exponent times the logarithm of the number,
and vice versa.
Examples.

CAUTION!!!!!

Exercise:Express the follow ing as sum or

diff
erence oflogarithm s.

Exercise:Express the follow ing as a single

logarithm .Sim plify ifpossible.

Solving ExponentialEquations using

Logarithm s.
Property:
If , then .

Technique: Given an exponential equation,
take the logarithm of both sides.
Example 1: Solve
Taking the log (base 10) of both sides:
Applying the logarithm of a power law:
Dividing both sides by

Note:
If you are quick,
you would
realize that .
This will make
your
computation

Solving ExponentialEquations using

Logarithm s.
Property:
If , then .

Technique: Given an exponential equation, take the logarithm

of both sides.

Example 2. Solve:
Taking the log (base 10) of both sides:
Applying the logarithm of a power law:
Manipulating the equation:
(Distribute log 3)
(Transpose)
(Factor out x)
Dividing both sides by

Solving ExponentialEquations using

Logarithm s.
Property:
If , then .

Technique: Given an exponential equation, take the
logarithm of both sides.
Example 3. Solve:
Taking the ln (base ) of both sides:
Applying the logarithm of a power law:
Manipulating the equation:
(Distribute )
(Transpose)
Dividing both sides by

Note:

If you are quick,

you would realize
that . This will
make your
computation
much shorter.

Solving Logarithm ic Equations

Properties:
Laws of Logarithms

Technique: Use the laws to combine logarithms into a single

logarithm. Then, convert the equation to exponential form.

Example 1. Solve:
Since one side of the equation
contains a single logarithm, convert
the equation to exponential.
(exponential form)
(Transpose)

Solving Logarithm ic Equations

Properties:
Laws of Logarithms

Technique: Use the laws to combine logarithms into a single

logarithm. Then, convert the equation to exponential form.

Example 2. Solve:
Combine the logarithms on the LHS of the equation. Then,
convert the equation to exponential.
(logarithm of a Quotient Law)
(exponential form)
(cross-multiply)

Solving Logarithm ic Equations

Properties:
Laws of Logarithms

Technique: Use the laws to combine logarithms into a single

logarithm. Then, convert the equation to exponential form.

Example 3. Solve:
Combine the logarithms on the LHS of the equation. Then,
convert the equation to exponential.

(Product, Quotient, and Power Laws)

(exponential form)
(cross-multiply, )
(Transpose)
(divide both sides by 8)

Solving Logarithm ic Equations

Property:
If , then

Technique: If both sides of the equation contains a single

logarithm (with same base b), then drop the and solve the
resulting equation.

Example 4. Solve:
Since each side contains a single logarithm, DROP the
log and solve the resulting equation.

(Transpose)
(Combine like terms)
(Divide both sides by 2)

YOU CANNOT TAKE

THE LOGARITHM OF A
NEGATIVE
NUMBER!!!! =)

Example:

Exer
cise:Solve for .

ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS

EX P O N EN TIA L FU N C TIO N

Sim plest ExponentialFunction

where ,

D ESM O S Activity
Determine
common properties of exponential

functions with the following bases:
(1)Base is greater than 1.
(2)Base is between 0 and 1.

Describe the following properties:

1. Domain and range;
2. asymptotes;
3. x- & y- intercepts; and the
4. behavior of the graph as increases.


The
graphs of

Properties
One-to-one function.
Domain is all real
numbers.
Range is all real
numbers greater than
zero.
Horizontal Asymptote
is the x-axis.
The y-intercept is 1.
The graph passes
through the point
No x-intercept.
The graph is increasing
from left to right. (as
increases, also
increases)


The
graphs of

Properties
One-to-one function.
Domain is all real
numbers.
Range is all real
numbers greater than
zero.
Horizontal Asymptote
is the x-axis.
The y-intercept is 1.
The graph passes
through the point
No x-intercept.
The graph is
decreasing from left to
right. (as increases,

vs.

vs.

Find the inverse of

Since

the exponential function is a

one-to-one function, its inverse exists.

Interchanging the & variables,
Then solving for ,
or

ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS

LO G A R ITH M IC FU N C TIO N

Sim plest Logarithm ic Function

This function is the INVERSE of the

exponential function, In other words, the
logarithmic function UNDOES the
exponential function.
DESMOS ACTIVITY:
Graph the two functions and . Observe and
compare their graphs. Did they meet the
properties or conditions of inverse functions.
Write down your observations.

The &
coordinates
switched.
The graphs are
SYMMETRIC to
the line.
The domain of is
the range of
The range of is
the domain of

vs.


The
graphs of

Properties
One-to-one function.
Domain is all real
numbers greater than
zero.
Range is all real
numbers.
Vertical Asymptote is
the
y-axis.
The x-intercept is 1.
The graph passes
through the point
No y-intercept.
The graph is increasing
on


The
graphs of

Properties
One-to-one function.
Domain is all real
numbers greater than
zero.
Range is all real
numbers.
Vertical Asymptote is
the
y-axis.
The x-intercept is 1.
The graph passes
through the point
No y-intercept.
The graph is
decreasing on

vs.