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Logarithmic Identities

log (10) = 1

log (1) = 0

log(ab) = log(a) + log(b)

log(a/b) = log(a) - log(b)

log(am) = m ∙ log(a)

log(m√(a)) = 1/m ∙ log(a)

For natural logarithm (ln) functions the following identities apply

ln (10) = 1

ln (1) = 0

ln(ab) = ln(a) + ln(b)

ln(a/b) = ln(a) - ln(b)

ln(am) = m ∙ ln(a)

ln(m√(a)) = 1/m ∙ ln(a)


Example 1: Solve log2(x) + log2(x – 2) = 3
Solution: Here we need to use logarithmic identities to combine the two terms on the left-hand side of the equation:
log2(x) + log2(x – 2) = 3
log
2 ((x) (x – 2)) = 3
log
2(x2 – 2x) = 3  

Then we’ll use the relationship to convert the log form to the corresponding exponential form, and then move further,

log2(x2 – 2x) = 3
2
3 = x2 – 2x
8 = x
2 – 2x
0 = x
2 – 2x – 8
0 = (x – 4) (x + 2)
x = 4, –2  


But if x = –2, then "log2(x)", from the original logarithmic equation, will have a negative number for its argument (as will the term "log2(x – 2)"). Since logs cannot have zero or negative arguments, then the solution to the original equation cannot be x = –2.
The solution is x = 4 

Example 2: Solve log2(x2) = (log2(x)) 2.
Solution: First, we'll write out the square on the right-hand side:
log2(x2) = (log2(x)) 2
log
2(x2) = (log2(x)) (log2(x))  

Then we’ll apply the log rule to move the "squared", from inside the log on the left-hand side of the equation, out in front of that log as a multiplier. Then we'll move that term to the right-hand side:
2log
2(x) = [log2(x)] [log2(x)]
0 = [log
2(x)] [log2(x)] – 2log2(x)  

Factorize the above equation to obtain
0 = [log
2(x)] [log2(x) – 2]
log
2(x) = 0 or log2(x) – 2 = 0
2
0 = x   or log2(x) = 2
1 = x or 22 = x
1 = x or 4 = x 
 

Example 3: Solve  
Solution:  Since 4/x is the base of a log function x is greater than 0.
The equation is then equivalent with  (4/x) 2 = x2- 6
<=>  16 = x4- 6x2  

Now, let x2 = t
<=>  16 = t2- 6t 
<=>  t=-2 or t=8 
<=>  x = sqrt (8)   (since x >0) 

The solution is x = 1, 4.

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