Unit 3 Logarithms Solved Examples

Example 1
Write 30600 in scientific notation

Solution
30600
= 3.06 x 10-4

Example 2
Write 0.000058 in scientific notation

Solution
0.000058
=

5.8 x 10-5

Example 3
Write 6.35 x 106 in ordinary notation

Solution
6.35 x 106
=

6350000

Example 4
Write 7.61 x 10-4 in ordinary notation

Solution
7.61 x 10-4
=

0.000761

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Example 5
Find log42

Solution
Let
Log42 = x
4x = 2
(22)x = 21
22x = 21
2x = 1
x=
log42 =

Example 6
Write the characteristic of the log of the following numbers by expressing them in scientific notation
and noting the power of 10
(i)

0.872

(i)

0.872

(ii)

0.02

(iii)

0.00345

Solution
0.872 = 8.72 x 10-1
Characteristic = -1
(ii)

0.02

Solution
0.02 = 2.0 x 10-2
Characteristic = -2

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(iii)

0.00345

Solution
0.00345 = 3.45 x 10-3
Characteristic = -3

Example 7
Find the mantissa of the logarithm of 43.354

Solution
43.254
log(43.254) = 1.6360
So,

mantissa = .6360

Example 8
Find the mantissa of the logarithm of 0.002347

Solution
0.002347
log(0.002347) = . 3705
So,

mantissa = .3705

Example 9
Find log 278.23

Solution
Log 278.23 = 2.444

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Example 10
Find log 0.07058

Solution
log 0.07058 = . 8487

Example 11
Find the number whose logarithm is 1.3247

Solution
Logarithm =
Ch =

1.3247

Mantissa = .3247
Required number = 21.12

Example 12
Find the number whose logarithm is

. 1324

Solution
Logarithm=

. 1324

Ch =
Mantissa = .1324

1355
+

1
0.01^356

Required number = 0.01356

Example 13
Evaluate 291.3 x 42.36

Solution
Let

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x = 291.3 x 42.36
Taking log of both sides
logx

= log(291.3 x 42.36)

logx

= log 291.3 + log 42.36

logx

= 2.4643 + 1.6270

logx

= 4.0913

= Antilog(4.0913)

Ch = 4
Mantissa = .0913
x = 12340

Example 14
Evaluate 0.2913 x 0.004236

Solution
Let
x = 0.2913 x 0.004236
Taking log of both sides
logx

= log(0.2913 x 0.004236)

logx

= log 0.2913 + log 0.004236

logx

= .4643 + .6270

logx

= -1 + 0.4643 3 + 0.6270

logx

= (-1-3) + (0.4643 + 0.6270)

logx

= -4 + 1.0913

logx

= -4 + 1 + 0.0913

logx

= .0913

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= Antilog( .0913)

Ch =

1233
+

Mantissa = .0913
x = 0.001234

1
1^234
=0.001234

Example 15
Evaluate

Solution
Let
x =
Taking log of both sides
logx

= log

logx

= log 291.3 - log 42.36

logx

= 2.4643 + 1.6270

logx

= 0.8373

= Antilog(0.8373)

Ch = 0
Mantissa = .8373
x = 6.875

Example 16
Evaluate

Solution
Let
x =
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Taking log of both sides

logx

= log

logx

= log 0.002913 - log 0.04236

logx

= .4643 - .6270

logx

= -3 + 0.4643 + 2 - 0.6270

logx

= (-3+2) + (0.4643 - 0.6270)

logx

= -1 0.1627

logx

= -1.1627

logx

= .8373

= Antilog( .8373)

Ch =
Mantissa = .8373

6871
+

5
6^876
=0.6876

x = 0.06876

Example 17
Evaluate

Solution
Let
x = [(0.0163)3]1/4
x = (0.0163)3/4
Taking log of both sides
log x = log (0.0163)3/4
log x = log (0.0163)
log x = ( .2122)

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log x =

log x =
log x =
log x = +
log x = + 0.6592
log x = .6592
x = Anti log

4560

.6592
+

Ch =

Mantissa = 0.6592

4^562

x = 0.04562

= 0.04562

Example 18
Calculate log23 x log38

Solution
log23 x log38
=

=
=
=
=3

Example 19
Show that 7log

+ 5log

+ 3log

= log2

Solution
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L.H.S = 7log

+ 5log

+ 3log

=7[log16 log15] + 5[log25 log24] + 3[log81 log 80]

= 7[log24 log(3 x 5)] + 5[log52 log (23 x 3)] + 3 [log34 log (24 x 5)]
= 7[4log4-(log3 + log5)] + 5[2log5 - (log23 + log3) ]+ 3 [4log3 (log24 + log 5)]
= 7[4log2 log3 log5] + 5[2log5 3log2 log3] + 3[4log3 4log2 log5]
= 7[4log2 log3 log5] + 5[2log5 log 23 log3] + 3[ 4log3 log24 log5]
= 28log2 -7log3 7log5 + 10log5 15log2 5log3 + 12log3 12log2 3log5
= (28 15 12)log2 + ( 12 7 5)log3 + (10 7 3)log5
= log2 + 0 + 0
= log2
R.H.S

= log2

Hence,
7log

+ 5log

+ 3log

= log2

Example 20
Given A = Ao e-kd . If k = 2, what should be the value of d to make A =

Solution
A = Ao e-kd
= Aoe-2d
= 2e-2d
1 = 2e-2d
= e-2d
e-2d =
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Taking log of both sides

log e-2d = log
-2d log e = log 1 log 2
-2d log (2.718) = 0 0.3010
-2d (0.4343) = - 0.3010
2d (0.4343) = 0.3010
2d =
2d = 0.6931
d=
d = 0.3465

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