MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERING

BASIC ALGEBRA

TUTORIAL 5 - INDICES, LOGARITHMS AND FUNCTION

This is the one of a series of basic tutorials in mathematics aimed at beginners or anyone wanting to
refresh themselves on fundamentals. The tutorial contains the following.

On completion of this tutorial you should be able to do the following.

• Explain the laws of Indices.

• Define a logarithm.

• Define an antilogarithm.

• Explain base numbers.

• Explain basic power laws.

• Multiply and divide using logarithms.

• Roots using logarithms.

• Applications.

• Logarithmic graphs.

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1. INTRODUCTION

Before we had electronic calculators, accurate calculations involving multiplication and division
were done with the aid of logarithms, pen and paper. To do this, the logarithms of numbers had to
be looked up in tables and added or subtracted. This is easier than multiplying and dividing. The
greater the accuracy needed, the larger the tables. To do less accurate calculations we used slide
rules and these were devices based on logarithms. Although we do not need these today, we do use
logarithms widely in mathematics as part of the wider understanding of the relationship between
variables so this is an important area work. In order to understand logarithms, it is necessary to
understand indices and we should start with this.

2. INDICES

In algebra, a way of writing a number or symbol such as 'a' that is multiplied by itself 'n' times is an
n is called the index. For example a3 is the shorthand for a x a x a or a.a.a to avoid use of the
multiplication sign. an is called the nth power of a. There are four laws that help us use this to solve
problems.

Law of Multiplication notable results

a x . a y = a x+y

Law of Division
ax ax
= ax−y → 1= x
= a x−x = a0
a y a
1
x
= a −x
a
Law of Powers
ax . ay . az = a x+y+z

a . a . a ....n times = an → y = a n then a = n√y

ax . ax . ax ....n times = anx → (ax)n = anx

Law of Roots
y = a1/n + a1/n + a1/n....n times → a1/n = n√y
y = (a1/n) n → a1/n = n√a

WORKED EXAMPLE No.1

Simplify the following s =

a2 a3 ( )
3

a5
SOLUTION

s = a 2 . a 3.3a -5
s = a 2+ 9 -5 = a 6

© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 2
 SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.1

Simplify the following.

C = x 4 . x3 (C = x7 )
d5
F= 4 (F = d)
d
b5 .b3
A= 6 (A = b2 )
b
D = √a . a 3 (D = a3.5 )
a3
S= (S = a2.5 )
a
x 2 y5
S= (S = x. y3)
xy 2

3. DEFINITION of a LOGARITHM

The logarithm of a number is the power to which a base number must be raised in order to produce
it. The most commonly used base numbers are 10 and the natural number ‘e’ which has a rounded
off value of 2.7183 (also known as Naperian Logarithms). If you have not come across this number
yet, don’t worry about where it comes from but you need to know that it possesses special
properties.

BASE 10

This is usually shown as log on calculators but more correctly it should be written as log10. Since it
is the most widely used, it is always assumed that log means with a base of 10.

Suppose we want the log of 1000. We should know that 1000 = 103 so the log of 1000 is 3.

Similarly : The log of 100 is 2 since 102 is 1000.

The log of 10 is 1 since 101 is 10.
The log of 1 is 0 since 100 is 1.
The log of 0.1 is -1 since 10-1 is 0.1 … and so on.

This is all well and good if we are finding the log of multiples of 10 but what about more difficult
numbers. In general if y = 10n then n is the log of y and without calculators we would have to look
them up in tables. You can use your calculator.

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.2

Use your calculator to find the log of the following numbers. Just enter the number and press the
log button.

260 (2.415) 70 (1.845) 6 (0.778) 0.5 (-0.301)

© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 3
BASE ‘e’

The natural number ‘e’ (2.7183) will not be explained here but it is used for very good reasons.
Natural logarithms are written as loge or more likely as ln as it appears on most calculators.

If y = en then n is the natural logarithm. You get it from your calculator by simply entering the
number and pressing the button marked ln.

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.3

Use your calculator to find the ln of the following numbers. (answers in red)

260 (5.561) 70 (4.248) 6 (1.792) 0.5 (-0.693)

OTHER BASES

Your calculator may allow you to find the logarithms to other bases by programming in the base
number but this won’t be covered here. Here are some simple examples.

WORKED EXAMPLE No.2

Find the log2 of the number 8. Since 23 = 8 then log2(8) = 3.

Find log3(81). Since 34 = 81 then log3(81) = 4

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.4

Find the following (answers in red)

log2(16) (4) log3(27) (3) log5(625) (4)

4. ANTILOGS

An Antilog is the number that gives us the logarithm or put another way, the number resulting from
raising the base number to the power of the logarithm.

For example if the base is 10, Antilog(2) = 102 = 100 Antilog(3) = 103 = 1000
On a calculator this is usually shown as 10x and is often the second function of the same key as
log10.

If the base is ‘e’ then for example anti-ln(5.561) = e5.561 = 260 and so on. On a calculator this is the
button marked ex and is often the second function of the same key as ln.

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5. POWER LAWS

If A = (xn) and B = (xm) then AB = xn+m

If x is the base of our logarithms then n = logx(A) and m = log x(B) and log x(AB)= log xA+ log xB

This is useful because if we can look up the logs of numbers we can solve multiplication problems
by adding the logs.

NEGATIVE POWERS (INDICES)

A xn A
If y = = m = x n −m then log(y) = log = log(A) − log(B) = n − m
B x B

WORKED EXAMPLE No.3

Solve y = (36.5)(17.72)

Taking logs we have log y = log(36.5) + log(17.72) = 1.562 + 1.248 = 2.811

y = antilog(2.811) = 102.811 = 646.78

WORKED EXAMPLE No.4

Solve y = (36.5) ÷ (17.72)

Taking logs we have log y = log(36.5) - log(17.72) = 1.562 - 1.248 = 0.314

y = antilog(0.314) = 100.314 = 2.060

Of course we can get the same answers on our calculators without this process but it is very useful
to change multiplication into adding and division into subtraction.

SIMPLIFYING NUMBERS WITH POWERS (INDEXES)

ROOTS
1 1
n 1
You know that: A = A n hence if y = n A = A n then log(y) = log(A)
n

WORKED EXAMPLE No.5

Find the fifth root of 600 using logarithms.

1
y = 600 = 600
5 5

1 ⎛1⎞
log y = log(600) = ⎜ ⎟(2.778) = 0.556
5 ⎝5⎠
y = antilog(0.566) = 10 0.556 = 3.594

This can be done directly on a calculator to check the answer but the basic transformation is
very useful in derivations and manipulation of formulae.

© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 5
6. DECIBELS

The ratio of two numbers can be expressed in decibels. The definitions is G(db) = 10 log(G) where
G(db) is the ratio in decibels and G is the actual ratio. This is commonly applied to equipment in
which there is a change in POWER such that G = Power Out/Power in and the G is the Gain. The
reason for doing this is that if you put two such items in series the overall gain is:

G(over all) = G1 G2
Taking logarithms G(db) = G1(db) + G2(db)

The gains in db are the sum of the individual

gains.

7. PRACTICAL EXAMPLES OF LOGARITHMS

WORKED EXAMPLE No.6

An electronic amplifier increases the power of the signal by a factor of 20. What is the gain in
decibels?

G(db) = 10 log 20 = 13 db

The amplifier is fed into another amplifier with a gain of 5. What is the overall gain in decibels?

The gain of the second amplifier is G = 10 log 5 = 7 db

The total gain is 13 + 7 = 20 db

Check this way:- Overall gain = 20 x 5 = 100 In decibels G = 10 log 100 = 20 db

WORKED EXAMPLE No.7

⎛ x ⎞ 2π δ
A well known formula used in the analysis of damped vibrations is ln⎜⎜ 1 ⎟⎟ =
⎝ x2 ⎠ 1- δ2
Where x1 and x2 are the amplitude of two successive vibrations and δ is the damping ratio.
Calculate δ when x1= 3 mm and x2 = 0.5 mm respectively. Calculate the amplitude reduction
factor and the damping ratio.

SOLUTION

⎛x ⎞ ⎛ 3 ⎞
ln⎜⎜ 1 ⎟⎟ = ln⎜ ⎟ = ln6 = 1.792
⎝ x2 ⎠ ⎝ 0.5 ⎠
2π δ
1.792 = square both sides
1- δ2
39.478δ 2
3.21 = 2
so 1 - δ 2 = 12.298δ 2
1- δ
1
13.298δ 2 = 1 and δ 2 = = 0.075 and δ = 0.075 = 0.274
13.298

© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 6
 WORKED EXAMPLE No.8

When a gas is compressed from pressure volume V1 and temperature T1 to a final volume V2
C
T ⎛V ⎞ T
and temperature T2 the relationship is : 2 = ⎜⎜ 1 ⎟⎟ where C is a constant. Given 2 = 2.5 and
T1 ⎝ V2 ⎠ T1
V1
= 8 determine C
V2

SOLUTION

2.5 = (8)
C
Take logs and log(2.5) = C log(8) C = log(2.5)/log() = 0.398/0.903 = 0.441

WORKED EXAMPLE No.9

The ratio of the tensions in a pulley belt is given by R = e2.5µ Find the value of µ when R is 5.

SOLUTION

5 = e2.5µ So take natural logs and ln(5) = 2.5µ ln(e) and by definition ln(e) is 1
ln(5) = 2.5µ = 1.609 µ = 1.609/2.5 = 0.644

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.5

1. An amplifier has a gain of 32. What is this in decibels? (Answer 15 db)

2. Given y = xn determine the value of n when y = 6 and x = 20 (Answer 0.598)

3. Given 12 = eµ find µ. (Answer 2.485)

LOGARITHMIC GRAPHS

Logarithms may be used to change to simplify functions by changing them into a straight line graph
law.

Consider the function y = f(x) = Cxn C is a constant and n a power.

Except when n = 1, this a curve when plotted. If we take logarithms we find:-

log(y) = φ(x) = log(C) + n log(x)

The graph of φ(x) is now a straight line law where log(C) is the intercept and n is the gradient. This
is most useful in determining the function from experimental data.
© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 7
 WORKED EXAMPLE No.10

The graph shows the results of an experiment in which a variables x and y are recorded and
plotted. When log(x) and log(y) are plotted the straight line graph shown is produced.
Determine the function f(x).

SOLUTION

From the straight line graph we have an intercept of 0.7 and a gradient of (3.7 – 0.7)/1 = 3

φ(x) = 0.7 + 3 log(x) Take antilogs f(x) = 5x3

WORKED EXAMPLE No.11

The graph shows the results of an experiment in which a variables x and y are recorded and
plotted as logs. Determine the function f(x).

SOLUTION

From the straight line graph we have an intercept of 0.845.

The gradient is (2.345– 0.845)/(-15) = - 0.1

φ(x) = 0.845 – 0.1 log(x) Take antilogs f(x) = 7x-0.1

© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 8
 SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.6

Determine the function f(x) for each of the graphs below,

Answers f(x) = 1.5x2 and f(x) = 0.5x-0.5

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