Logarithm

 

Welcome to class! 

In today’s class, we will be talking about logarithm. Enjoy the class!

Logarithm

logarithm classnotes.ng

What is a logarithm?

Logarithms are another way of thinking about exponents.

Example: How many 2s do we multiply to get 8?

Answer: 2 × 2 × 2 = 8, so we had to multiply 3 of the 2s to get 8

So, the logarithm is 3

So, these two things are the same:

(2 x 2 x 2 = 8 )  ≡    ( log2(8) = 3)

How to write it

We write “the number of 2s we need to multiply to get 8 is 3” as:

log2(8) = 3

The number we multiply is called the “base”, so we can say:

  • “the logarithm of 8 with base 2 is 3”
  • or “log base 2 of 8 is 3”
  • or “the base-2 log of 8 is 3”

Notice we are dealing with three numbers:

  • the base: the number we are multiplying (a “2” in the example above)
  • how often to use it in a multiplication (3 times, which is the logarithm)
  • The number we want to get (an “8”)
Example: What is log5(625) …?

We are asking “how many 5s need to be multiplied together to get 625?”

5 × 5 × 5 × 5 = 625, so we need 4 of the 5s

Answer: log5(625) = 4

Example: What is log2(64) …?

We are asking “how many 2s need to be multiplied together to get 64?”

2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 64, so we need 6 of the 2s

Answer: log2(64) = 6

Exponents

Exponents and Logarithms are related, let’s find out how …

The exponent says how many times to use the number in a multiplication.

In this example: 23 = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8

(2 is used 3 times in multiplication to get 8)

So a logarithm answers a question like this:

log

In this way:

log

The logarithm tells us what the exponent is!

In that example, the “base” is 2 and the “exponent” is 3:

So, the logarithm answers the question:

What exponent do we need?

(for one number to become another number) ?

The general case is:

log

Example: What is log10(100) …?

102 = 100

So, an exponent of 2 is needed to make 10 into 100, and:

log10(100) = 2

Example: What is log3(81) …?

34 = 81

So, an exponent of 4 is needed to make 3 into 81, and:

log3(81) = 4

 

In our next class, we will be talking about the Quadratic Equation by Factorization and Completing the Square Method.  We hope you enjoyed the class.

Should you have any further question, feel free to ask in the comment section below and trust us to respond as soon as possible.

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14 thoughts on “Logarithm”

  1. I’m really enjoying
    And i’m also understanding it
    I like the way they broke it down for me to understand better
    And the explaination is amazing
    It’s also my first day and i understand it so well
    Keep it guys
    Love this class

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