Prepared by Ladybird

Indices and Logarithms

There are four important parts in this topic.

1. The laws of indices.
2. The laws of logarithms.
3. Convert index to logarithm / convert logarithm to index.
4. Change the base of the logarithm.

Indices

Indices some call it exponentiation, can be written as

n Index / exponential /
base a logarithm
where a is named as base, n is named as index / exponential.

An index arises when a number is multiplied by itself several times. Do not confuse with
the multiplication and additional of a number.

For positive integer of n, the multiplication of the base is

a n = a144
× a ×4
a2444
× a × ... ×3a
n times

Meanwhile the additional of the base is

na = a144
+ a +4a2444
+ a + ... +3a
n times

Laws of Indices:
Ø a m × a n = a m+ n Same base
m n m−n Different index
Ø a ÷a = a
n
Ø ( am ) = a mn
n
Ø ( ab ) = a nb n
Different base
n n
a a Same index
Ø   = n
b b
Ø Zero index → a 0 = 1 , a ≠ 0

http://ladybirdnotes.blogspot.com
Prepared by Ladybird

1
Ø Negative index → a − n =
an
1 m m
Ø Fractional index → a n = n a ; a n = ( a)n

Example:

Evaluate
a. 33 × 32 f. 80
b. 33 ÷ 32 g. 2 −3
2 1
c. ( )
x3 h. 42
2 3
d. ( 3b ) i. 8 2

2
 x
e.  
3
Solution:

a. 33 × 32 = 33+ 2 f. 80 = 1 Any number or

unknown with index 0
= 35 will get answer 1.

1
b. 33 ÷ 32 = 33− 2 g. 2 −3 =
23
1
=3 =
8

2 1
c. ( )
x3 = x3×2 h. 42 = 2 4
= x6 =2

2 2
2
d. ( 3b ) = 32 b 2 i. 83 = ( 8)
3

= 9b 2 =4

2
x x2
e.   = 2
3 3
x2
=
9

http://ladybirdnotes.blogspot.com
Prepared by Ladybird

Logarithms

Logarithm can be written as Base

log a x = y Index

where x is the result, a is the base, y is the index.

Log with 10 as the base, log10 can be written in the form of lg .

Laws of Logarithms
Ø log a xy = log a x + log a y
x
Ø log a = log a x − log a y
y
Ø log a x n = n log a x
Ø log a a = 1 If given log a x where 0 < x < 1 , negative
Ø log a 1 = 0 answer will obtain. This is very important
to solve logarithm inequalities.
Ø a loga x = x
Ø log a 0 = undefined
Ø log a ( negative ) = undefined

Example:

Evaluate
a. log a 3x d. log x x
3
b. log a e. log10 1
5
c. log a 36

Next, prove that a loga x = x

Solution:

a. log a 3x = log a 3 + log a x d. log x x = 1

3
b. log a = log a 3 − log a 5 e. log10 1 = 0
5

c. log a 36 = log a 6 2
= 2 log a 6

http://ladybirdnotes.blogspot.com
Prepared by Ladybird

Let y = a loga x .... (1)

Log of x with base a is the power of another a. Bring
loga x the power to the front.
log a y = log a a
= log a x
y=x Remove log a of both sides.
From (1),
∴ a loga x = x Replace y with the terms of log into previous step.

Convert Index to Logarithm / Convert Logarithm to Index

Logarithm is actually an exponent. It is similar to index. Let’s look at the example below.

Index Logarithm

x = ay log a x = y

Example: Example:

100 = 102 log 10 100 = 2

If both index and logarithm are in the function form, then the relation between index and
logarithm is “function log a x is the inverse of function a y ”.

How to convert index to logarithm?

Given x = ay
lg x = lg a y From the given index, add lg into both left and right
hand side. Then solve the problem.
lg x = y lg a
lg x
y=
lg a

How to convert logarithm to index?

Given log a x = y
Remove the log, the base, a move to right hand side.
x = ay Then the y in the right hand side kicked up become
the power of a.

http://ladybirdnotes.blogspot.com
Prepared by Ladybird

Example:

Find the value of x of

a. 9 = 3x
b. log 4 x = 2
by changing the form.
Put lg into both sides.
Solution:
Remember, calculator is usable for
log when the base is 10. If the base
a. 9 = 3x is other than 10, change the base to
10 then press calculator to get the
lg 9 = lg 3x
value.
The power of 3 is 2, bring the
2 into the front of lg3.
lg 32 = x lg 3
2 lg 3 = x lg 3
x=2

b. Take the 4 to right hand side log 4 x = 2

and 2 becomes its power. x = 42
Remove the log when the 4 is
changing place. = 16

Change the Base of Logarithms

To change the base of a logarithm, two methods are provided.

log a x The base can put in any number or
1. log y x =
log a y unknown depends on the questions.
1
2. log y x =
log x y

Example:

a. Change the base of log 2 5 into 3.

b. Change the base of log 2 7 into 7.

Solution:

log3 5 1
a. log 2 5 = b. log 2 7 =
log3 2 log 7 2

http://ladybirdnotes.blogspot.com