audio read-through Logarithmic Functions: Review and Additional Properties

A logarithmic function is a function of the form $\,f(x) = \log_b x\,$ for $\,b \gt 0\,$ and $\,b\ne 1\,.$

The expression ‘$\,\log_b x\,$’ is read aloud as:

‘log base $\,b\,$ of $\,x\,$’

‘$\,\log_b\,$’ (read aloud as ‘log base $\,b\,$’) is the name of the function, and it acts on the input $\,x\,.$

When there's no confusion about order of operations, mathematical convention dictates that we can drop the parentheses used to ‘hold’ the input, and write ‘$\,\log_b x\,$’ (without parentheses) instead of the more cumbersome ‘$\,\log_b(x)\,$’.

If order of operations becomes ambiguous, be sure to include parentheses for clarification. Thus, for example, you should write either $\,\log_b(x + 1)\,$ or $\,(\log_b x) + 1\,,$ but never the ambiguous ‘$\,\log_b x + 1\,$’. (Notice, however, that there is no ambiguity in the expression ‘$\,1 + \log_b x\,$’.)

The number $\,b\,$ in $\,\log_b x \,$ is called the base of the logarithm.

When the base is $\,\text{e}\,,$ the function is called the natural logarithm, and can be written as $\,y = \ln x\,.$ (Note: $\text{e}\approx 2.71828\,$)

When the base is $\,10\,,$ the function is called the common logarithm, and can be written as $\,y = \log x\,.$

Logarithmic functions and their graphs were introduced in the Algebra II curriculum:

Additional higher-level information that is important for Precalculus is presented below.

Increasing/Decreasing Properties of Logarithmic Functions

Increasing Logarithmic Functions

When $\,b \gt 1\,,$ $\,f(x) = \log_b x\,$ is an increasing function. That is, for all positive real numbers $\,x\,$ and $\,y\,$:

$$ \cssId{s23}{x \lt y \ \ \Rightarrow\ \ \log_b x \lt \log_b y} $$ an increasing logarithmic function

It is clear from the graph that the other direction is also true:

$$ \cssId{s25}{\log_b x \lt \log_b y \ \ \Rightarrow\ \ x \lt y} $$

Together, we have that for all positive real numbers $\,x\,$ and $\,y\,,$ and for $\,b \gt 1\,$:

$$ \begin{gather} x \lt y\cr \text{is equivalent to}\cr \log_b x \lt \log_b y \end{gather} \tag{1} $$

Notice that when the base of the logarithm is greater than one, the inequality symbols that compare the inputs ($\,x\,$ and $\,y\,$) and their corresponding outputs ($\,\log_b x\,$ and $\,\log_b y\,$) have the same direction:

$$ \begin{gather} x \ {\bf\color{red}{<}}\ y\cr \text{is equivalent to}\cr \log_b x \ {\bf\color{red}{<}}\ \log_b y \end{gather} \tag{1a} $$

This equivalence can be alternatively stated as:

$$ \begin{gather} x \ {\bf\color{red}{\gt}}\ y\cr \text{is equivalent to}\cr \log_b x\ {\bf\color{red}{\gt}}\ \log_b y \end{gather} \tag{1b} $$
an increasing logarithmic function

$y = \log_b x\,,$ for $\,b \gt 1\,$
An increasing logarithmic function
$x \lt y \ \iff\ \log_b x \lt \log_b y$

Decreasing Logarithmic Functions

When $\,0 \lt b \lt 1\,,$ $\,f(x) = \log_b x\,$ is a decreasing function. That is, for all positive real numbers $\,x\,$ and $\,y\,$:

$$ \cssId{s40}{x \lt y \ \ \Rightarrow\ \ \log_b x \gt \log_b y} $$ a decreasing logarithmic function

It is clear from the graph that the other direction is also true:

$$ \cssId{s42}{\log_b x \gt \log_b y \ \ \Rightarrow\ \ x \lt y} $$

Together, we have that for all positive real numbers $\,x\,$ and $\,y\,,$ and for $\,0 \lt b \lt 1\,$:

$$ \begin{gather} x \lt y\cr \text{is equivalent to}\cr \log_b x \gt \log_b y \end{gather} \tag{2} $$

Notice that when the base of the logarithm is between zero and one, the inequality symbols that compare the inputs ($\,x\,$ and $\,y\,$) and their corresponding outputs ($\,\log_b x\,$ and $\,\log_b y\,$) have different directions:

$$ \begin{gather} x \ {\bf\color{red}{<}}\ y\cr \text{is equivalent to}\cr \log_b x \ {\bf\color{red}{>}}\ \log_b y \end{gather} \tag{2a} $$

This equivalence can be alternatively stated as:

$$ \begin{gather} x \ {\bf\color{red}{>}}\ y\cr \ \text{is equivalent to}\cr \log_b x \ {\bf\color{red}{<}}\ \log_b y \end{gather} \tag{2b} $$
a decreasing logarithmic function

$y = \log_b x\,,$ for $\,0 \lt b \lt 1\,$
A decreasing logarithmic function
$x \lt y \ \iff\ \log_b x \gt \log_b y$

Logarithmic Functions are One-to-One

The graphs of logarithmic functions pass both vertical and horizontal lines tests, so they are one-to-one functions. Thus, for all positive real numbers $\,x\,$ and $\,y\,$:

$$ \begin{gather} x = y\cr \text{is equivalent to}\cr \log_b x = \log_b y \end{gather} \tag{3} $$

Consequently, logarithmic functions have inverses.

Logarithmic Functions and Exponential Functions are Inverses

Logarithmic functions and exponential functions with the same bases are inverses—they ‘undo’ each other. Roughly:

These relationships are firmed up mathematically below.

exponential and logarithmic functions undo each other

Drop $\,x\,$ in the  ‘exponential function with base $\,a\,$’  box; get $\,y\,$ out the bottom. (See the top box in the diagram above.) This is expressed mathematically as:

$$\cssId{s71}{y = a^x}$$

Drop $\,y\,$ in the  ‘logarithmic function with base $\,a\,$’  box; get $\,x\,$ out the bottom. (See the bottom box in the diagram above.) This is expressed mathematically as:

$$\cssId{s76}{\log_a y = x}$$

Since the exponential and logarithmic functions with base $\,a\,$ are inverses, these two operations are equivalent:

$$\cssId{s78}{y = a^x\ \ \iff\ \ \log_a y = x}$$

If one is true, so is the other. If one is false, so is the other. They are true and false at the same time. In other words:

‘$\,y = a^x\,$’ is called the exponential form of the equation.

‘$\log_a y = x\,$’ is called the logarithmic form of the equation.

exponential and logarithmic functions undo each other

The exponential and logarithmic functions with the same bases ‘undo’ each other!

When
‘EXP fct, base $\,a\,$’
takes $\,x\,$ to $\,y\,,$

then
‘LOG fct, base $\,a\,$’
takes $\,y\,$ back to $\,x\,.$

Read-Through, Part 2

Going from Logarithmic Form to Exponential Form

Going from logarithmic form  ‘$\,\log_a y = x\,$’  to the equivalent exponential form  ‘$\,y = a^x\,$’  is easy! Start with the base ‘$\,a\,$’, circle counterclockwise to $\,x\,,$ and then to $\,y\,$:

going from logarithmic form to exponential form

This circular motion actually gives  ‘$\,a^x = y\,$’. Then, write it again from right-to-left to get ‘$\,y = a^x\,$’ !

Going from Exponential Form to Logarithmic Form

Here's a thought process to go from exponential form  ‘$\,y = a^x\,$’   to the equivalent logarithmic form  ‘$\,\log_a y = x\,$’:

Domain/Range Considerations for Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Let $\,a \gt 0\,,$ $\,a \ne 1\,.$ These are the allowable bases for logarithmic and exponential functions.

For exponential functions, $\,y = a^x\,$:

For logarithmic functions, $\,y = \log_a x\,$:

Observe that:

The input/output sets for inverses are switched! The input set for one is the output set for the other. The output set for one is the input set for the other.

Two Important Views of Logarithms

Now, you should be comfortable with both important views of logarithms:

Solving Inequalities Involving Logarithmic Functions

Equivalences (1), (2), and (3) can be used to solve certain types of mathematical sentences involving logarithms, as illustrated in the following examples.

IMPORTANT: Whenever you have an expression of the form ‘$\,\log_a (\text{stuff})\,$’, the ‘stuff ’ must be positive!

Example 1

SOLVE:

$$ \cssId{sb47}{\log_2(3x-1) \lt \log_2(5x)} $$

This is an inequality of the form

$$\cssId{sb49}{\log_b(\text{stuff1}) \lt \log_b(\text{stuff2})}$$

where the base of the logarithm, $\,b\,,$ is $\,2\,.$

Notice that the logarithmic functions on both sides use the same base.

In this example, the base is greater than one, so we'll use equivalence $(1)$:

$$\cssId{sb53}{x \lt y \ \ \iff\ \ \log_b x \lt \log_b y}$$

SOLUTION:

$\log_2(3x-1) \ \lt \ \log_2(5x)$
Original inequality
$3x-1 \ \lt \ 5x$
Use (1); inequality symbol doesn't change
$-2x \lt 1$
Addition property for inequalities
$x \gt -\frac 12$
Divide by a negative #; reverse inequality

Since logarithms only act on positive numbers, we must also have:

$$ \begin{gather} 3x - 1 \gt 0 \quad \text{and} \quad 5x \gt 0\cr x \gt \frac 13 \quad \text{and} \quad x \gt 0 \end{gather} $$

Putting everything together:

$$ \begin{gather} x \gt -\frac 12 \ \ \text{and} \ \ x \gt \frac 13 \ \ \text{and} \ \ x \gt 0\cr \text{is equivalent to}\cr x \gt \frac 13 \end{gather} $$

The solution set of this inequality is:

$$ \cssId{sb61}{\underbrace{\{x\ |\ x > \frac 13\}}_{\text{set-builder notation}} = \underbrace{(\frac 13,\infty)}_{\text{interval notation}}} $$
Example 1
Example 1

Blue curve:  $y = \log_2 (3x - 1)$

Red curve:  $y = \log_2 (5x)$

The blue curve is only defined for $\,x \gt \frac 13\,.$

The blue curve lies below the red curve everywhere that it is defined.

Head up to wolframalpha.com and type in:

log_2 (3x -1) < log_2 (5x)

Voila!

Example 2

SOLVE:

$$ \cssId{sb71}{\log_{0.3}(7) - \log_{0.3}(1 - 6x) \gt 0} $$

This is an inequality that can be easily transformed to

$$\cssId{sb73}{\log_b(\text{stuff1}) > \log_b(\text{stuff2})}$$

where the base of the logarithm, $\,b\,,$ is $\,0.3\,.$ Notice that the logarithmic functions use the same base.

In this example, the base is between zero and one, so we'll use equivalence $(2)$:

$$\cssId{sb77}{x \lt y \ \ \iff\ \ \log_b x \gt \log_b y}$$

Compare the solution below to what you get at wolframalpha.com:

log_(0.3) (7) - log_(0.3) (1 - 6x) > 0

SOLUTION:

$$ \begin{gather} \log_{0.3}(7) - \log_{0.3}(1 - 6x) \gt 0\cr\cr \log_{0.3}(7) \gt \log_{0.3}(1 - 6x)\cr\cr 7 \lt 1 - 6x \ \ \text{and}\ \ 1 - 6x \gt 0\cr\cr 6x \lt -6 \ \ \text{and}\ \ -6x \gt -1\cr\cr x \lt -1 \ \ \ \text{and}\ \ \ x \lt \frac 16\cr\cr x \lt -1 \end{gather} $$

Here are the reasons for each step:

Notice in the third step that the inequality symbol changed direction, since equivalence $(2)$ is being used.

Example 3

SOLVE:

$$ \cssId{sb94}{\ln(2x + 1) = \ln(7x - 3)} $$

Here's a screenshot from wolframalpha.com:

Wolfram Alpha screenshot

Writing a list of equivalent mathematical sentences:

$$ \begin{gather} \ln(2x + 1) = \ln(7x - 3)\cr\cr 2x + 1 = 7x - 3\cr \text{and}\ \ 2x + 1 \gt 0 \ \ \text{and}\ \ 7x-3 \gt 0\cr\cr -5x = -4\cr \text{and}\ \ 2x \gt -1 \ \ \text{and}\ \ 7x \gt 3\cr\cr x = \frac 45\cr \text{and}\ \ \ x \gt -\frac 12 \ \ \ \text{and}\ \ \ x \gt \frac{3}{7}\cr\cr x = \frac 45 \end{gather} $$

Concept Practice