So, we have powers of two. If you take the number from the bottom line, you can easily find the power to which you will have to raise two to get this number. For example, to get 16, you need to raise two to the fourth power. And to get 64, you need to raise two to the sixth power. This can be seen from the table.

And now, actually, the definition of the logarithm:

The base a logarithm of x is the power to which a must be raised to get x.

Notation: log a x = b, where a is the base, x is the argument, b is what the logarithm is actually equal to.

For example, 2 3 = 8 ⇒ log 2 8 = 3 (the base 2 logarithm of 8 is three because 2 3 = 8). With the same success, log 2 64 = 6, since 2 6 = 64.

The operation of finding the logarithm of a number to a given base is called logarithmization. So, let's add a new line to our table:

2 1	2 2	2 3	2 4	2 5	2 6
2	4	8	16	32	64
log 2 2 = 1	log 2 4 = 2	log 2 8 = 3	log 2 16 = 4	log 2 32 = 5	log 2 64 = 6

Unfortunately, not all logarithms are calculated so easily. For example, try to find log 2 5. The number 5 is not in the table, but logic dictates that the logarithm will lie somewhere on the interval. Because 2 2< 5 < 2 3 , а чем больше степень двойки, тем больше получится число.

Such numbers are called irrational: the numbers after the decimal point can be written ad infinitum, and they are never repeated. If the logarithm turns out to be irrational, it is better to leave it that way: log 2 5, log 3 8, log 5 100.

It is important to understand that a logarithm is an expression with two variables (the base and the argument). Many people at first confuse where the basis is and where the argument is. To avoid annoying misunderstandings, just look at the picture:

[Caption for the picture]

Before us is nothing more than the definition of a logarithm. Remember: logarithm is a power, into which the base must be built in order to obtain an argument. It is the base that is raised to a power - it is highlighted in red in the picture. It turns out that the base is always at the bottom! I tell my students this wonderful rule at the very first lesson - and no confusion arises.

We've figured out the definition - all that's left is to learn how to count logarithms, i.e. get rid of the "log" sign. To begin with, we note that two important facts follow from the definition:

1. The argument and the base must always be greater than zero. This follows from the definition of a degree by a rational exponent, to which the definition of a logarithm is reduced.
2. The base must be different from one, since one to any degree still remains one. Because of this, the question “to what power must one be raised to get two” is meaningless. There is no such degree!

Such restrictions are called range of acceptable values(ODZ). It turns out that the ODZ of the logarithm looks like this: log a x = b ⇒ x > 0, a > 0, a ≠ 1.

Note that there are no restrictions on the number b (the value of the logarithm). For example, the logarithm may well be negative: log 2 0.5 = −1, because 0.5 = 2 −1.

However, now we are considering only numerical expressions, where it is not required to know the VA of the logarithm. All restrictions have already been taken into account by the authors of the problems. But when logarithmic equations and inequalities come into play, DL requirements will become mandatory. After all, the basis and argument may contain very strong constructions that do not necessarily correspond to the above restrictions.

Now let's look at the general scheme for calculating logarithms. It consists of three steps:

1. Express the base a and the argument x as a power with the minimum possible base greater than one. Along the way, it’s better to get rid of decimals;
2. Solve the equation for variable b: x = a b ;
3. The resulting number b will be the answer.

That's all! If the logarithm turns out to be irrational, this will be visible already in the first step. The requirement that the base be greater than one is very important: this reduces the likelihood of error and greatly simplifies the calculations. It’s the same with decimal fractions: if you immediately convert them into ordinary ones, there will be many fewer errors.

Let's see how this scheme works using specific examples:

Task. Calculate the logarithm: log 5 25

1. Let's imagine the base and argument as a power of five: 5 = 5 1 ; 25 = 5 2 ;
2. Let's create and solve the equation:
   log 5 25 = b ⇒ (5 1) b = 5 2 ⇒ 5 b = 5 2 ⇒ b = 2;
3. We received the answer: 2.

Task. Calculate the logarithm:

[Caption for the picture]

Task. Calculate the logarithm: log 4 64

1. Let's imagine the base and argument as a power of two: 4 = 2 2 ; 64 = 2 6 ;
2. Let's create and solve the equation:
   log 4 64 = b ⇒ (2 2) b = 2 6 ⇒ 2 2b = 2 6 ⇒ 2b = 6 ⇒ b = 3;
3. We received the answer: 3.

Task. Calculate the logarithm: log 16 1

1. Let's imagine the base and argument as a power of two: 16 = 2 4 ; 1 = 2 0 ;
2. Let's create and solve the equation:
   log 16 1 = b ⇒ (2 4) b = 2 0 ⇒ 2 4b = 2 0 ⇒ 4b = 0 ⇒ b = 0;
3. We received the answer: 0.

Task. Calculate the logarithm: log 7 14

1. Let's imagine the base and argument as a power of seven: 7 = 7 1 ; 14 cannot be represented as a power of seven, since 7 1< 14 < 7 2 ;
2. From the previous paragraph it follows that the logarithm does not count;
3. The answer is no change: log 7 14.

A small note on the last example. How can you be sure that a number is not an exact power of another number? It’s very simple - just factor it into prime factors. And if such factors cannot be collected into powers with the same exponents, then the original number is not an exact power.

Task. Find out whether the numbers are exact powers: 8; 48; 81; 35; 14.

8 = 2 · 2 · 2 = 2 3 - exact degree, because there is only one multiplier;
48 = 6 · 8 = 3 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 = 3 · 2 4 - is not an exact power, since there are two factors: 3 and 2;
81 = 9 · 9 = 3 · 3 · 3 · 3 = 3 4 - exact degree;
35 = 7 · 5 - again not an exact power;
14 = 7 · 2 - again not an exact degree;

Note also that the prime numbers themselves are always exact powers of themselves.

Decimal logarithm

Some logarithms are so common that they have a special name and symbol.

The decimal logarithm of x is the logarithm to base 10, i.e. The power to which the number 10 must be raised to obtain the number x. Designation: lg x.

For example, log 10 = 1; lg 100 = 2; lg 1000 = 3 - etc.

From now on, when a phrase like “Find lg 0.01” appears in a textbook, know that this is not a typo. This is a decimal logarithm. However, if you are unfamiliar with this notation, you can always rewrite it:
log x = log 10 x

Everything that is true for ordinary logarithms is also true for decimal logarithms.

Natural logarithm

There is another logarithm that has its own designation. In some ways, it's even more important than decimal. We are talking about the natural logarithm.

The natural logarithm of x is the logarithm to base e, i.e. the power to which the number e must be raised to obtain the number x. Designation: ln x .

Many will ask: what is the number e? This is an irrational number; its exact value cannot be found and written down. I will give only the first figures:
e = 2.718281828459...

We won’t go into detail about what this number is and why it is needed. Just remember that e is the base of the natural logarithm:
ln x = log e x

Thus ln e = 1; ln e 2 = 2; ln e 16 = 16 - etc. On the other hand, ln 2 is an irrational number. In general, the natural logarithm of any rational number is irrational. Except, of course, for one: ln 1 = 0.

For natural logarithms, all the rules that are true for ordinary logarithms are valid.

Logarithm of a given number is called the exponent to which another number must be raised, called basis logarithm to get this number. For example, the base 10 logarithm of 100 is 2. In other words, 10 must be squared to get 100 (10 2 = 100). If n– a given number, b– base and l– logarithm, then b l = n. Number n also called base antilogarithm b numbers l. For example, the antilogarithm of 2 to base 10 is equal to 100. This can be written in the form of the relations log b n = l and antilog b l = n.

Basic properties of logarithms:

Any positive number other than one can serve as a base for logarithms, but unfortunately it turns out that if b And n are rational numbers, then in rare cases there is such a rational number l, What b l = n. However, it is possible to define an irrational number l, for example, such that 10 l= 2; this is an irrational number l can be approximated with any required accuracy by rational numbers. It turns out that in the given example l is approximately equal to 0.3010, and this approximation of the base 10 logarithm of 2 can be found in four-digit tables of decimal logarithms. Base 10 logarithms (or base 10 logarithms) are so commonly used in calculations that they are called ordinary logarithms and written as log2 = 0.3010 or log2 = 0.3010, omitting the explicit indication of the base of the logarithm. Logarithms to the base e, a transcendental number approximately equal to 2.71828, are called natural logarithms. They are found mainly in works on mathematical analysis and its applications to various sciences. Natural logarithms are also written without explicitly indicating the base, but using the special notation ln: for example, ln2 = 0.6931, because e 0,6931 = 2.

Using tables of ordinary logarithms.

The regular logarithm of a number is an exponent to which 10 must be raised to obtain a given number. Since 10 0 = 1, 10 1 = 10 and 10 2 = 100, we immediately get that log1 = 0, log10 = 1, log100 = 2, etc. for increasing integer powers 10. Likewise, 10 –1 = 0.1, 10 –2 = 0.01 and therefore log0.1 = –1, log0.01 = –2, etc. for all negative integer powers 10. The usual logarithms of the remaining numbers are enclosed between the logarithms of the nearest integer powers of 10; log2 must be between 0 and 1, log20 must be between 1 and 2, and log0.2 must be between -1 and 0. Thus, the logarithm consists of two parts, an integer and a decimal, enclosed between 0 and 1. The integer part called characteristic logarithm and is determined by the number itself, the fractional part is called mantissa and can be found from tables. Also, log20 = log(2ґ10) = log2 + log10 = (log2) + 1. The logarithm of 2 is 0.3010, so log20 = 0.3010 + 1 = 1.3010. Similarly, log0.2 = log(2о10) = log2 – log10 = (log2) – 1 = 0.3010 – 1. After subtraction, we get log0.2 = – 0.6990. However, it is more convenient to represent log0.2 as 0.3010 – 1 or as 9.3010 – 10; A general rule can also be formulated: all numbers obtained from a given number by multiplication by a power of 10 have identical mantissas equal to the mantissa of the given number. Most tables show the mantissas of numbers in the range from 1 to 10, since the mantissas of all other numbers can be obtained from those given in the table.

Most tables give logarithms with four or five decimal places, although there are seven-digit tables and tables with even more decimal places. The easiest way to learn how to use such tables is with examples. To find log3.59, first of all, we note that the number 3.59 is between 10 0 and 10 1, so its characteristic is 0. We find the number 35 (on the left) in the table and move along the row to the column that has the number 9 at the top ; the intersection of this column and row 35 is 5551, so log3.59 = 0.5551. To find the mantissa of a number with four significant digits, you must use interpolation. In some tables, interpolation is facilitated by the proportions given in the last nine columns on the right side of each page of the tables. Let us now find log736.4; the number 736.4 lies between 10 2 and 10 3, therefore the characteristic of its logarithm is 2. In the table we find a row to the left of which there is 73 and column 6. At the intersection of this row and this column there is the number 8669. Among the linear parts we find column 4 At the intersection of row 73 and column 4 there is the number 2. By adding 2 to 8669, we get the mantissa - it is equal to 8671. Thus, log736.4 = 2.8671.

Natural logarithms.

The tables and properties of natural logarithms are similar to the tables and properties of ordinary logarithms. The main difference between both is that the integer part of the natural logarithm is not significant in determining the position of the decimal point, and therefore the difference between the mantissa and the characteristic does not play a special role. Natural logarithms of numbers 5.432; 54.32 and 543.2 are equal to 1.6923, respectively; 3.9949 and 6.2975. The relationship between these logarithms will become obvious if we consider the differences between them: log543.2 – log54.32 = 6.2975 – 3.9949 = 2.3026; the last number is nothing more than the natural logarithm of the number 10 (written like this: ln10); log543.2 – log5.432 = 4.6052; the last number is 2ln10. But 543.2 = 10ґ54.32 = 10 2ґ5.432. Thus, by the natural logarithm of a given number a you can find the natural logarithms of numbers equal to the products of the number a for any degree n numbers 10 if to ln a add ln10 multiplied by n, i.e. ln( aґ10n) = log a + n ln10 = ln a + 2,3026n. For example, ln0.005432 = ln(5.432ґ10 –3) = ln5.432 – 3ln10 = 1.6923 – (3ґ2.3026) = – 5.2155. Therefore, tables of natural logarithms, like tables of ordinary logarithms, usually contain only logarithms of numbers from 1 to 10. In the system of natural logarithms, one can talk about antilogarithms, but more often they talk about an exponential function or an exponent. If x= log y, That y = e x, And y called the exponent of x(for typographic convenience, they often write y= exp x). The exponent plays the role of the antilogarithm of the number x.

Using tables of decimal and natural logarithms, you can create tables of logarithms in any base other than 10 and e. If log b a = x, That b x = a, and therefore log c b x=log c a or x log c b=log c a, or x=log c a/log c b=log b a. Therefore, using this inversion formula from the base logarithm table c you can build tables of logarithms in any other base b. Multiplier 1/log c b called transition module from the base c to the base b. Nothing prevents, for example, using the inversion formula or transition from one system of logarithms to another, finding natural logarithms from the table of ordinary logarithms or making the reverse transition. For example, log105.432 = log e 5.432/log e 10 = 1.6923/2.3026 = 1.6923ґ0.4343 = 0.7350. The number 0.4343, by which the natural logarithm of a given number must be multiplied to obtain an ordinary logarithm, is the modulus of the transition to the system of ordinary logarithms.

Special tables.

Logarithms were originally invented so that, using their properties log ab=log a+ log b and log a/b=log a– log b, turn products into sums and quotients into differences. In other words, if log a and log b are known, then using addition and subtraction we can easily find the logarithm of the product and the quotient. In astronomy, however, often given values ​​of log a and log b need to find log( a + b) or log( a – b). Of course, one could first find from tables of logarithms a And b, then perform the indicated addition or subtraction and, again referring to the tables, find the required logarithms, but such a procedure would require referring to the tables three times. Z. Leonelli in 1802 published tables of the so-called. Gaussian logarithms– logarithms for adding sums and differences – which made it possible to limit oneself to one access to tables.

In 1624, I. Kepler proposed tables of proportional logarithms, i.e. logarithms of numbers a/x, Where a– some positive constant value. These tables are used primarily by astronomers and navigators.

Proportional logarithms at a= 1 are called cologarithms and are used in calculations when one has to deal with products and quotients. Cologarithm of a number n equal to the logarithm of the reciprocal number; those. colog n= log1/ n= – log n. If log2 = 0.3010, then colog2 = – 0.3010 = 0.6990 – 1. The advantage of using cologarithms is that when calculating the value of the logarithm of expressions like pq/r triple sum of positive decimals log p+ log q+colog r is easier to find than the mixed sum and difference log p+ log q– log r.

Story.

The principle underlying any system of logarithms has been known for a very long time and can be traced back to ancient Babylonian mathematics (circa 2000 BC). In those days, interpolation between table values ​​of positive integer powers of integers was used to calculate compound interest. Much later, Archimedes (287–212 BC) used powers of 108 to find an upper limit on the number of grains of sand required to completely fill the then known Universe. Archimedes drew attention to the property of exponents that underlies the effectiveness of logarithms: the product of powers corresponds to the sum of the exponents. At the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the modern era, mathematicians increasingly began to turn to the relationship between geometric and arithmetic progressions. M. Stiefel in his essay Integer Arithmetic(1544) gave a table of positive and negative powers of the number 2:

Stiefel noticed that the sum of the two numbers in the first row (the exponent row) is equal to the exponent of two corresponding to the product of the two corresponding numbers in the bottom row (the exponent row). In connection with this table, Stiefel formulated four rules equivalent to the four modern rules for operations on exponents or the four rules for operations on logarithms: the sum on the top line corresponds to the product on the bottom line; subtraction on the top line corresponds to division on the bottom line; multiplication on the top line corresponds to exponentiation on the bottom line; division on the top line corresponds to rooting on the bottom line.

Apparently, rules similar to Stiefel’s rules led J. Naper to formally introduce the first system of logarithms in his work Description of the amazing table of logarithms, published in 1614. But Napier’s thoughts were occupied with the problem of converting products into sums ever since, more than ten years before the publication of his work, Napier received news from Denmark that at the Tycho Brahe Observatory his assistants had a method that made it possible to convert products into sums. The method discussed in the message Napier received was based on the use of trigonometric formulas like

therefore Naper's tables consisted mainly of logarithms of trigonometric functions. Although the concept of base was not explicitly included in the definition proposed by Napier, the role equivalent to the base of the system of logarithms in his system was played by the number (1 – 10 –7)ґ10 7, approximately equal to 1/ e.

Independently of Naper and almost simultaneously with him, a system of logarithms, quite similar in type, was invented and published by J. Bürgi in Prague, published in 1620 Arithmetic and geometric progression tables. These were tables of antilogarithms to the base (1 + 10 –4) ґ10 4, a fairly good approximation of the number e.

In the Naper system, the logarithm of the number 10 7 was taken to be zero, and as the numbers decreased, the logarithms increased. When G. Briggs (1561–1631) visited Napier, both agreed that it would be more convenient to use the number 10 as the base and consider the logarithm of one to be zero. Then, as the numbers increased, their logarithms would increase. Thus we obtained the modern system of decimal logarithms, the table of which Briggs published in his work Logarithmic arithmetic(1620). Logarithms to the base e, although not exactly those introduced by Naper, are often called Naper's. The terms "characteristic" and "mantissa" were proposed by Briggs.

The first logarithms, for historical reasons, used approximations to the numbers 1/ e And e. Somewhat later, the idea of ​​natural logarithms began to be associated with the study of areas under a hyperbola xy= 1 (Fig. 1). In the 17th century it was shown that the area bounded by this curve, the axis x and ordinates x= 1 and x = a(in Fig. 1 this area is covered with bolder and sparse dots) increases in arithmetic progression when a increases exponentially. It is precisely this dependence that arises in the rules for operations with exponents and logarithms. This gave rise to calling Naperian logarithms “hyperbolic logarithms.”

Logarithmic function.

There was a time when logarithms were considered solely as a means of calculation, but in the 18th century, mainly thanks to the work of Euler, the concept of a logarithmic function was formed. Graph of such a function y= log x, whose ordinates increase in an arithmetic progression, while the abscissas increase in a geometric progression, is presented in Fig. 2, A. Graph of an inverse or exponential function y = e x, whose ordinates increase in geometric progression, and whose abscissas increase in arithmetic progression, is presented, respectively, in Fig. 2, b. (Curves y=log x And y = 10x similar in shape to curves y= log x And y = e x.) Alternative definitions of the logarithmic function have also been proposed, e.g.

kpi ; and, similarly, the natural logarithms of the number -1 are complex numbers of the form (2 k + 1)pi, Where k– an integer. Similar statements are true for general logarithms or other systems of logarithms. Additionally, the definition of logarithms can be generalized using Euler's identities to include complex logarithms of complex numbers.

An alternative definition of a logarithmic function is provided by functional analysis. If f(x) – continuous function of a real number x, having the following three properties: f (1) = 0, f (b) = 1, f (uv) = f (u) + f (v), That f(x) is defined as the logarithm of the number x based on b. This definition has a number of advantages over the definition given at the beginning of this article.

Applications.

Logarithms were originally used solely to simplify calculations, and this application is still one of their most important. The calculation of products, quotients, powers and roots is facilitated not only by the wide availability of published tables of logarithms, but also by the use of so-called. slide rule - a computational tool whose operating principle is based on the properties of logarithms. The ruler is equipped with logarithmic scales, i.e. distance from number 1 to any number x chosen to be equal to log x; By shifting one scale relative to another, it is possible to plot the sums or differences of logarithms, which makes it possible to read directly from the scale the products or quotients of the corresponding numbers. You can also take advantage of the advantages of representing numbers in logarithmic form. logarithmic paper for plotting graphs (paper with logarithmic scales printed on it on both coordinate axes). If a function satisfies a power law of the form y = kxn, then its logarithmic graph looks like a straight line, because log y=log k + n log x– equation linear with respect to log y and log x. On the contrary, if the logarithmic graph of some functional dependence looks like a straight line, then this dependence is a power one. Semi-log paper (where the y-axis has a logarithmic scale and the x-axis has a uniform scale) is useful when you need to identify exponential functions. Equations of the form y = kb rx occur whenever a quantity, such as a population, an amount of radioactive material, or a bank balance, decreases or increases at a rate proportional to the amount of population, radioactive material, or money currently available. If such a dependence is plotted on semi-logarithmic paper, the graph will look like a straight line.

The logarithmic function arises in connection with a wide variety of natural forms. Flowers in sunflower inflorescences are arranged in logarithmic spirals, mollusk shells are twisted Nautilus, mountain sheep horns and parrot beaks. All of these natural shapes can serve as examples of a curve known as a logarithmic spiral because, in a polar coordinate system, its equation is r = ae bq, or ln r= log a + bq. Such a curve is described by a moving point, the distance from the pole of which increases in geometric progression, and the angle described by its radius vector increases in arithmetic progression. The ubiquity of such a curve, and therefore of the logarithmic function, is well illustrated by the fact that it occurs in such distant and completely different areas as the contour of an eccentric cam and the trajectory of some insects flying towards the light.

As you know, when multiplying expressions with powers, their exponents always add up (a b *a c = a b+c). This mathematical law was derived by Archimedes, and later, in the 8th century, the mathematician Virasen created a table of integer exponents. It was they who served for the further discovery of logarithms. Examples of using this function can be found almost everywhere where you need to simplify cumbersome multiplication by simple addition. If you spend 10 minutes reading this article, we will explain to you what logarithms are and how to work with them. In simple and accessible language.

Definition in mathematics

A logarithm is an expression of the following form: log a b=c, that is, the logarithm of any non-negative number (that is, any positive) “b” to its base “a” is considered to be the power “c” to which the base “a” must be raised in order to ultimately get the value "b". Let's analyze the logarithm using examples, let's say there is an expression log 2 8. How to find the answer? It’s very simple, you need to find a power such that from 2 to the required power you get 8. After doing some calculations in your head, we get the number 3! And that’s true, because 2 to the power of 3 gives the answer as 8.

Types of logarithms

For many pupils and students, this topic seems complicated and incomprehensible, but in fact logarithms are not so scary, the main thing is to understand their general meaning and remember their properties and some rules. There are three separate types of logarithmic expressions:

1. Natural logarithm ln a, where the base is the Euler number (e = 2.7).
2. Decimal a, where the base is 10.
3. Logarithm of any number b to base a>1.

Each of them is solved in a standard way, including simplification, reduction and subsequent reduction to a single logarithm using logarithmic theorems. To obtain the correct values ​​of logarithms, you should remember their properties and the sequence of actions when solving them.

Rules and some restrictions

In mathematics, there are several rules-constraints that are accepted as an axiom, that is, they are not subject to discussion and are the truth. For example, it is impossible to divide numbers by zero, and it is also impossible to extract the even root of negative numbers. Logarithms also have their own rules, following which you can easily learn to work even with long and capacious logarithmic expressions:

• The base “a” must always be greater than zero, and not equal to 1, otherwise the expression will lose its meaning, because “1” and “0” to any degree are always equal to their values;
• if a > 0, then a b >0, it turns out that “c” must also be greater than zero.

How to solve logarithms?

For example, the task is given to find the answer to the equation 10 x = 100. This is very easy, you need to choose a power by raising the number ten to which we get 100. This, of course, is 10 2 = 100.

Now let's represent this expression in logarithmic form. We get log 10 100 = 2. When solving logarithms, all actions practically converge to find the power to which it is necessary to enter the base of the logarithm in order to obtain a given number.

To accurately determine the value of an unknown degree, you need to learn how to work with a table of degrees. It looks like this:

As you can see, some exponents can be guessed intuitively if you have a technical mind and knowledge of the multiplication table. However, for larger values ​​you will need a power table. It can be used even by those who know nothing at all about complex mathematical topics. The left column contains numbers (base a), the top row of numbers is the value of the power c to which the number a is raised. At the intersection, the cells contain the number values ​​that are the answer (a c =b). Let's take, for example, the very first cell with the number 10 and square it, we get the value 100, which is indicated at the intersection of our two cells. Everything is so simple and easy that even the most true humanist will understand!

Equations and inequalities

It turns out that under certain conditions the exponent is the logarithm. Therefore, any mathematical numerical expressions can be written as a logarithmic equality. For example, 3 4 =81 can be written as the base 3 logarithm of 81 equal to four (log 3 81 = 4). For negative powers the rules are the same: 2 -5 = 1/32 we write it as a logarithm, we get log 2 (1/32) = -5. One of the most fascinating sections of mathematics is the topic of “logarithms”. We will look at examples and solutions of equations below, immediately after studying their properties. Now let's look at what inequalities look like and how to distinguish them from equations.

The following expression is given: log 2 (x-1) > 3 - it is a logarithmic inequality, since the unknown value “x” is under the logarithmic sign. And also in the expression two quantities are compared: the logarithm of the desired number to base two is greater than the number three.

The most important difference between logarithmic equations and inequalities is that equations with logarithms (for example, the logarithm 2 x = √9) imply one or more specific numerical values ​​in the answer, while when solving an inequality, both the range of acceptable values ​​​​and the points are determined breaking this function. As a consequence, the answer is not a simple set of individual numbers, as in the answer to an equation, but a continuous series or set of numbers.

Basic theorems about logarithms

When solving primitive tasks of finding the values ​​of the logarithm, its properties may not be known. However, when it comes to logarithmic equations or inequalities, first of all, it is necessary to clearly understand and apply in practice all the basic properties of logarithms. We will look at examples of equations later; let's first look at each property in more detail.

1. The main identity looks like this: a logaB =B. It applies only when a is greater than 0, not equal to one, and B is greater than zero.
2. The logarithm of the product can be represented in the following formula: log d (s 1 * s 2) = log d s 1 + log d s 2. In this case, the mandatory condition is: d, s 1 and s 2 > 0; a≠1. You can give a proof for this logarithmic formula, with examples and solution. Let log a s 1 = f 1 and log a s 2 = f 2, then a f1 = s 1, a f2 = s 2. We obtain that s 1 * s 2 = a f1 *a f2 = a f1+f2 (properties of degrees ), and then by definition: log a (s 1 * s 2) = f 1 + f 2 = log a s1 + log a s 2, which is what needed to be proven.
3. The logarithm of the quotient looks like this: log a (s 1/ s 2) = log a s 1 - log a s 2.
4. The theorem in the form of a formula takes the following form: log a q b n = n/q log a b.

This formula is called the “property of the degree of logarithm.” It resembles the properties of ordinary degrees, and it is not surprising, because all mathematics is based on natural postulates. Let's look at the proof.

Let log a b = t, it turns out a t =b. If we raise both parts to the power m: a tn = b n ;

but since a tn = (a q) nt/q = b n, therefore log a q b n = (n*t)/t, then log a q b n = n/q log a b. The theorem has been proven.

Examples of problems and inequalities

The most common types of problems on logarithms are examples of equations and inequalities. They are found in almost all problem books, and are also a required part of mathematics exams. To enter a university or pass entrance examinations in mathematics, you need to know how to correctly solve such tasks.

Unfortunately, there is no single plan or scheme for solving and determining the unknown value of the logarithm, but certain rules can be applied to each mathematical inequality or logarithmic equation. First of all, you should find out whether the expression can be simplified or reduced to a general form. You can simplify long logarithmic expressions if you use their properties correctly. Let's get to know them quickly.

When solving logarithmic equations, we must determine what type of logarithm we have: an example expression may contain a natural logarithm or a decimal one.

Here are examples ln100, ln1026. Their solution boils down to the fact that they need to determine the power to which the base 10 will be equal to 100 and 1026, respectively. To solve natural logarithms, you need to apply logarithmic identities or their properties. Let's look at examples of solving logarithmic problems of various types.

How to Use Logarithm Formulas: With Examples and Solutions

So, let's look at examples of using the basic theorems about logarithms.

1. The property of the logarithm of a product can be used in tasks where it is necessary to decompose a large value of the number b into simpler factors. For example, log 2 4 + log 2 128 = log 2 (4*128) = log 2 512. The answer is 9.
2. log 4 8 = log 2 2 2 3 = 3/2 log 2 2 = 1.5 - as you can see, using the fourth property of the logarithm power, we managed to solve a seemingly complex and unsolvable expression. You just need to factor the base and then take the exponent values ​​out of the sign of the logarithm.

Assignments from the Unified State Exam

Logarithms are often found in entrance exams, especially many logarithmic problems in the Unified State Exam (state exam for all school graduates). Typically, these tasks are present not only in part A (the easiest test part of the exam), but also in part C (the most complex and voluminous tasks). The exam requires accurate and perfect knowledge of the topic “Natural logarithms”.

Examples and solutions to problems are taken from the official versions of the Unified State Exam. Let's see how such tasks are solved.

Given log 2 (2x-1) = 4. Solution:
let's rewrite the expression, simplifying it a little log 2 (2x-1) = 2 2, by the definition of the logarithm we get that 2x-1 = 2 4, therefore 2x = 17; x = 8.5.

• It is best to reduce all logarithms to the same base so that the solution is not cumbersome and confusing.
• All expressions under the logarithm sign are indicated as positive, therefore, when the exponent of an expression that is under the logarithm sign and as its base is taken out as a multiplier, the expression remaining under the logarithm must be positive.

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log a r b r =log a b or log a b= log a r b r

The value of the logarithm will not change if the base of the logarithm and the number under the logarithm sign are raised to the same power.

Only positive numbers can be under the logarithm sign, and the base of the logarithm is not equal to one.

Examples.

1) Compare log 3 9 and log 9 81.

log 3 9=2, since 3 2 =9;

log 9 81=2, since 9 2 =81.

So log 3 9=log 9 81.

Note that the base of the second logarithm is equal to the square of the base of the first logarithm: 9=3 2, and the number under the sign of the second logarithm is equal to the square of the number under the sign of the first logarithm: 81=9 2. It turns out that both the number and the base of the first logarithm log 3 9 were raised to the second power, and the value of the logarithm did not change from this:

Next, since extracting the root n th degree from among A is the raising of a number A to the degree ( 1/n), then from log 9 81 you can get log 3 9 by taking the square root of the number and the base of the logarithm:

2) Check equality: log 4 25=log 0.5 0.2.

Let's look at the first logarithm. Taking the square root of the base 4 and from among 25 ; we get: log 4 25=log 2 5.

Let's look at the second logarithm. Logarithm base: 0.5= 1 / 2. The number under the sign of this logarithm: 0.2= 1/5. Let's raise each of these numbers to the minus first power:

0,5 -1 =(1 / 2) -1 =2;

0,2 -1 =(1 / 5) -1 =5.

So log 0.5 0.2=log 2 5. Conclusion: this equality is true.

Solve the equation:

log 4 x 4 +log 16 81=log 2 (5x+2). Let's reduce logarithms from the left to the base 2 .

log 2 x 2 +log 2 3=log 2 (5x+2). Take the square root of the number and the base of the first logarithm. Extract the fourth root of the number and the base of the second logarithm.

log 2 (3x 2)=log 2 (5x+2). Convert the sum of logarithms into the logarithm of the product.

3x 2 =5x+2. Received after potentiation.

3x 2 -5x-2=0. We solve a quadratic equation using the general formula for a complete quadratic equation:

a=3, b=-5, c=-2.

D=b 2 -4ac=(-5) 2 -4∙3∙(-2)=25+24=49=7 2 >0; 2 real roots.

Examination.

x=2.

log 4 2 4 +log 16 81=log 2 (5∙2+2);

log 2 2 2 +log 2 3=log 2 12;

log 2 (4∙3)=log 2 12;

log 2 12=log 2 12;

log a n b=(1/ n)∙ log a b

Logarithm of a number b based on a n equal to the product of the fraction 1/ n to the logarithm of a number b based on a.

Find:1) 21log 8 3+40log 25 2; 2) 30log 32 3∙log 125 2 , if it is known that log 2 3=b,log 5 2=c.

Solution.

Solve equations:

1) log 2 x+log 4 x+log 16 x=5.25.

Solution.

Let's reduce these logarithms to base 2. Apply the formula: log a n b=(1/ n)∙ log a b

log 2 x+(½) log 2 x+(¼) log 2 x=5.25;

log 2 x+0.5log 2 x+0.25log 2 x=5.25. Here are similar terms:

(1+0.5+0.25) log 2 x=5.25;

1.75 log 2 x=5.25 |:1.75

log 2 x=3. By definition of logarithm:

2) 0.5log 4 (x-2)+log 16 (x-3)=0.25.

Solution. Let's convert the logarithm to base 16 to base 4.

0.5log 4 (x-2)+0.5log 4 (x-3)=0.25 |:0.5

log 4 (x-2)+log 4 (x-3)=0.5. Let's convert the sum of logarithms into the logarithm of the product.

log 4 ((x-2)(x-3))=0.5;

log 4 (x 2 -2x-3x+6)=0.5;

log 4 (x 2 -5x+6)=0.5. By definition of logarithm:

x 2 -5x+4=0. According to Vieta's theorem:

x 1 =1; x 2 =4. The first value of x will not work, since at x = 1 the logarithms of this equality do not exist, because Only positive numbers can be under the logarithm sign.

Let's check this equation at x=4.

Examination.

0.5log 4 (4-2)+log 16 (4-3)=0.25

0.5log 4 2+log 16 1=0.25

0,5∙0,5+0=0,25

log a b=log c b/log c a

Logarithm of a number b based on A equal to the logarithm of the number b on a new basis With, divided by the logarithm of the old base A on a new basis With.

Examples:

1) log 2 3=lg3/lg2;

2) log 8 7=ln7/ln8.

Calculate:

1) log 5 7, if it is known that lg7≈0,8451; lg5≈0,6990.

c b / log c a.

log 5 7=log7/log5≈0.8451:0.6990≈1.2090.

Answer: log 5 7≈1,209 0≈1,209 .

2) log 5 7 , if it is known that ln7≈1,9459; ln5≈1,6094.

Solution. Apply the formula: log a b =log c b / log c a.

log 5 7=ln7/ln5≈1.9459:1.6094≈1.2091.

Answer: log 5 7≈1,209 1≈1,209 .

Find x:

1) log 3 x=log 3 4+log 5 6/log 5 3+log 7 8/log 7 3.

We use the formula: log c b / log c a = log a b . We get:

log 3 x=log 3 4+log 3 6+log 3 8;

log 3 x=log 3 (4∙6∙8);

log 3 x=log 3 192;

x=192 .

2) log 7 x=lg143-log 6 11/log 6 10-log 5 13/log 5 10.

We use the formula: log c b / log c a = log a b . We get:

log 7 x=lg143-lg11-lg13;

log 7 x=lg143- (lg11+lg13);

log 7 x=lg143-lg (11∙13);

log 7 x=lg143-lg143;

x=1.

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