1. 7-4 Properties of Logarithms Warm Up Lesson Presentation Lesson Quiz
Holt McDougal Algebra 2
Holt Algebra 2

2. Warm Up Simplify. 1. (26)(28) 214 2. (3–2)(35) 33 3. 38 4. 44 5. (73)5
715
Write in exponential form.
6. logx x = 1
7. 0 = logx1
x1 = x
x0 = 1

3. Objectives Use properties to simplify logarithmic expressions.
Translate between logarithms in any base.

4. The logarithmic function for pH that you saw in the previous lessons, pH =–log[H+], can also be expressed in exponential form, as 10–pH = [H+].
Because logarithms are exponents, you can derive the properties of logarithms from the properties of exponents

5. Remember that to multiply powers with the same base, you add exponents.

6. The property in the previous slide can be used in reverse to write a sum of logarithms (exponents) as a single logarithm, which can often be simplified.
Helpful Hint
Think: logj + loga + logm = logjam

7. Example 1: Adding Logarithms
Express log64 + log69 as a single logarithm. Simplify.
log64 + log69
To add the logarithms, multiply the numbers.
log6 (4  9)
log6 36
Simplify. 2
Think: 6? = 36.

8. Check It Out! Example 1a
Express as a single logarithm. Simplify, if possible.
log log525
log5 (625 • 25)
To add the logarithms, multiply the numbers.
log5 15,625
Simplify. 6
Think: 5? = 15625

9. Express as a single logarithm. Simplify, if possible.
Check It Out! Example 1b
Express as a single logarithm. Simplify, if possible.
log log 1 3 9 1 3
log (27 • ) 9
To add the logarithms, multiply the numbers. 1 3
log 3
Simplify. –1
Think: ? = 3 1 3

10. Remember that to divide powers with the same base, you subtract exponents
Because logarithms are exponents, subtracting logarithms with the same base is the same as finding the logarithms of the quotient with that base.

11. The property above can also be used in reverse.
Just as a5b3 cannot be simplified, logarithms must have the same base to be simplified.
Caution

12. Example 2: Subtracting Logarithms
Express log5100 – log54 as a single logarithm. Simplify, if possible.
log5100 – log54
To subtract the logarithms, divide the numbers.
log5(100 ÷ 4)
log525
Simplify. 2
Think: 5? = 25.

13. Check It Out! Example 2
Express log749 – log77 as a single logarithm. Simplify, if possible.
log749 – log77
To subtract the logarithms, divide the numbers
log7(49 ÷ 7)
log77
Simplify. 1
Think: 7? = 7.

14. Because you can multiply logarithms, you can also take powers of logarithms.

15. Example 3: Simplifying Logarithms with Exponents
Express as a product. Simplify, if possible.
A. log2326
B. log8420
6log232
20log84
Because = 32, log232 = 5.
Because = 4, log84 = 2 3
6(5) = 30
20( ) = 40 3 2

16. Check It Out! Example 3
Express as a product. Simplify, if possibly.
a. log104
b. log5252
4log10
2log525
Because = 10, log 10 = 1.
Because = 25, log525 = 2.
4(1) = 4
2(2) = 4

17. Express as a product. Simplify, if possibly.
Check It Out! Example 3
Express as a product. Simplify, if possibly.
c. log2 ( )5 1 2
5log2 ( ) 1 2
Because 2–1 = , log2 = –1. 1 2
5(–1) = –5

18. Exponential and logarithmic operations undo each other since they are inverse operations.

19. Example 4: Recognizing Inverses
Simplify each expression.
a. log3311
b. log381
c. 5log510
log3311
log33  3  3  3
5log510 11
log334 10 4

20. Check It Out! Example 4
a. Simplify log100.9
b. Simplify 2log2(8x)
log 100.9
2log2(8x)
0.9 8x

21. Most calculators calculate logarithms only in base 10 or base e (see Lesson 7-6). You can change a logarithm in one base to a logarithm in another base with the following formula.

22. Example 5: Changing the Base of a Logarithm
Evaluate log328.
Method 1 Change to base 10
log328 =
log8
log32
0.903
1.51 ≈
Use a calculator.
Divide.
≈ 0.6

23. Method 2 Change to base 2, because both 32 and 8 are powers of 2.
Example 5 Continued
Evaluate log328.
Method 2 Change to base 2, because both 32 and 8 are powers of 2.
log328 =
log28
log232 = 3 5
Use a calculator.
= 0.6

24. Check It Out! Example 5a Evaluate log927. Method 1 Change to base 10.
1.431
0.954 ≈
Use a calculator.
≈ 1.5
Divide.

25. Check It Out! Example 5a Continued
Evaluate log927.
Method 2 Change to base 3, because both 27 and 9 are powers of 3.
log927 =
log327
log39 = 3 2
Use a calculator.
= 1.5

26. Check It Out! Example 5b Evaluate log816. Method 1 Change to base 10.
1.204
0.903 ≈
Use a calculator.
Divide.
≈ 1.3

27. Check It Out! Example 5b Continued
Evaluate log816.
Method 2 Change to base 4, because both 16 and 8 are powers of 2.
log816 =
log416
log48 = 2
1.5
Use a calculator.
= 1.3

28. Express each as a single logarithm. 1. log69 + log624 log6216 = 3
Lesson Quiz: Part I
Express each as a single logarithm.
1. log69 + log624
log6216 = 3
2. log3108 – log34
log327 = 3
Simplify.
3. log2810,000
30,000
4. log44x –1
x – 1
5. 10log125
125
6. log64128 7 6

29. Use a calculator to find each logarithm to the nearest thousandth.
Lesson Quiz: Part II
Use a calculator to find each logarithm to the nearest thousandth.
7. log320
2.727
8. log 10 1 2
–3.322
9. How many times as much energy is released by a magnitude-8.5 earthquake as a magntitude-6.5 earthquake?
1000