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Chapter 7 l Logarithmic Functions 279
7.1 What’s the Inverse of an Exponent?Logarithmic Functions as
Inverses | p. 281
7.2 Do I Have the Right Form?Exponential and Logarithmic
Forms | p. 289
7.3 It’s All in the GraphGraphs of Logarithmic
Functions | p. 293
7.4 Transformers Again!Transformations of Logarithmic
Functions | p. 301
Logarithmic Functions7CHAPTER
The human ear is capable of hearing sounds across a wide dynamic range. The softest noise the
average human can hear is 0 decibels (dB), which is equivalent to a mosquito flying three meters
away. By comparison, a pop music concert, at about 115 dB, is over 10 billion times louder. The
decibel scale is an example of a logarithmic scale, which can be used to plot very large and very
small numbers along a single axis. You will learn about logarithms and their uses.
280 Chapter 7 l Logarithmic Functions
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Lesson 7.1 l Logarithmic Functions as Inverses 281
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7.1 What’s the Inverse of an Exponent?Logarithmic Functions as Inverses
ObjectivesIn this lesson you will:
l Graph the inverse of exponential
functions.
l Define the inverse of exponential
functions.
l Determine the domain, range, and
asymptotes of the inverse of
exponential functions.
Key Termsl logarithm
l logarithmic function
l common logarithm
l natural logarithm
Problem 1 Graphing the Inverse of Exponential Functions
1. Graph and label the function f(x) � 2x and the line y � x.
86
4
2
–2
–4
6
8
–2 42–4–6
–6
–8
–8
y
x
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2. Complete the tables for the function f(x) � 2x and its inverse. Then plot each
point on the grid from Question 1.
x f( x) � 2x
�3 1 __ 8
�2
�1
0
1
2
3
x f �1( x)
1 __ 8
3. Connect the points of f �1(x) with a smooth curve. Then, label the graph
as f �1(x).
4. Is the inverse f �1(x) a function? Explain.
5. What are the domain and range of the exponential function?
6. What are the domain and range of the inverse of the exponential function?
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7
7. What do you notice about the domain and range of the exponential function
and its inverse?
8. What is the asymptote of the exponential function?
9. What is the asymptote of the inverse of the exponential function?
10. What do you notice about the asymptotes of the exponential function
and its inverse?
11. Graph and label the function g(x) � 3x and the line y � x.
86
4
2
–4
–2
6
8
–2 42–4–6
–6
–8
–8
y
x
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12. Complete the tables for the function g(x) � 3x and its inverse. Then plot each
point on the grid from Question 11.
x g( x) � 3x
�3 1 ___ 27
�2
�1
0
1
2
x g�1( x)
13. Connect the points of g�1(x) with a smooth curve. Then, label the graph
as g�1(x).
14. Is the inverse g�1(x) a function? Explain.
15. What are the domain and range of the exponential function?
16. What are the domain and range of the inverse of the exponential function?
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7
17. What do you notice about the domain and range of the exponential function
and its inverse?
18. What is the asymptote of the exponential function?
19. What is the asymptote of the inverse of the exponential function?
20. What do you notice about the asymptotes of the exponential function and
its inverse?
21. The graph of the function h( x) � bx and the line y � x are shown. Sketch the
graph of h�1( x).
y
x
y = xh(x)
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22. Is the inverse h�1(x) a function? Explain.
23. What are the domain and range of the exponential function?
24. What are the domain and range of the inverse of the exponential function?
25. What do you notice about the domain and range of the exponential function
and its inverse?
26. What is the asymptote of the exponential function?
27. What is the asymptote of the inverse of the exponential function?
28. What do you notice about the asymptotes of the exponential function and
its inverse?
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7
Problem 2 Defining the Inverse of an Exponential Function
In Problem 1, you graphed the inverse of the exponential function h(x) � bx as
a reflection about the line y � x. You also examined the domain, range, and
asymptote of the exponential function and its inverse. You have not encountered
a function with the properties of the inverse of an exponential function. So, it is
necessary to define a new function for the inverse of an exponential function.
The logarithm of a number to a given base is the power or exponent to which
the base must be raised in order to produce the number. For example, if a � bc,
then the logarithm of a to the base b is c. This logarithm is written as logb a � c.
A logarithmic function is a function involving a logarithm.
Logarithms were first conceived by a Swiss clockmaker and amateur mathematician
Joost Bürgi but became more widely known and used after the publication of a
book by Scottish mathematician John Napier in 1614. Logarithms were originally
used to make complex computations in astronomy, surveying, and other sciences
easier and more accurate. With the invention of calculators and computers, the use
of logarithms as a tool for calculation has decreased. However, many real-world
situations can be modeled using logarithmic functions.
The two frequently used logarithms are logarithms with base 10 and base e.
A common logarithm is a logarithm with base 10 and is usually written log without
a base specified. A natural logarithm is a logarithm with base e, Euler’s constant,
and is usually written as In. Many graphing calculators only have keys for common
logarithms and natural logarithms.
1. Graph and label the functions f (x) � log x and g(x) � In x using a
graphing calculator.
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2. What is the inverse of the logarithmic function f(x) � log x?
3. What is the inverse of the logarithmic function f(x) � In x?
Be prepared to share your methods and solutions.
Lesson 7.2 l Exponential and Logarithmic Forms 289
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7.2 Do I Have the Right Form?Exponential and Logarithmic Forms
ObjectivesIn this lesson you will:
l Convert from exponential equations to logarithmic equations.
l Convert from logarithmic equations to exponential equations.
l Evaluate logarithmic expressions.
Problem 1 Converting Between Exponential and Logarithmic Forms
Remember that the definition of a logarithm allows you to convert the exponential
equation a � bc to the logarithmic equation logb a � c.
1. Write each exponential equation as a logarithmic equation using the definition
of logarithms.
a. 23 � 8 b. 5�2 � 1 ___ 25
c. 104 � 10,000 d. 122 � 144
e. ( 1 __ 3 )
�4
� 81 f. ( 1 __ 5 )
4
� 1 ____ 625
2. Write each logarithmic equation as an exponential equation using the
definition of logarithms.
a. log2 16 � 4 b. log
3 1 ___ 27
� �3
c. log 0.0001 � �4 d. loga b � c
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Problem 2 Evaluating Logarithmic Expressions
1. Evaluate each logarithmic expression without using a calculator. Explain how
you calculated each.
a. log2 1024 b. log
5 1 ___ 25
c. log7 343 d. log 100,000
e. log4 2 f. log
3 1 ___ 27
g. log5
3 ���� 25 h. log 7 ��������� 100,000
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Lesson 7.2 l Exponential and Logarithmic Forms 291
7
2. Evaluate each logarithmic expression. Use a calculator if necessary.
a. log 100 b. log 0.01
c. log 7 d. log 70
e. log 700 f. log 0.07
g. log 343
3. Evaluate each logarithmic expression. Use a calculator if necessary.
a. In 100 b. In 10
c. In 25 d. In 0.25
e. In 0.004 f. In e
g. In e 2 __ 3 h. In 6.25
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4. Evaluate each logarithmic expression. Use a calculator if necessary.
a. log 64 b. log 8
c. 2 log 8 d. In 12
e. In 4 f. In 3
g. log 36 h. log 6
i. In 5 __ 3 j. In 5
k. In 3
Be prepared to share your methods and solutions.
Lesson 7.3 l Graphs of Logarithmic Functions 293
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7.3 It’s All in the GraphGraphs of Logarithmic Functions
ObjectivesIn this lesson you will:
l Graph logarithmic functions.
l Determine the characteristics of logarithmic functions.
Problem 1 The Extraordinary Graph of an Exponential Function
1. Graph the function f (x) � 10x for x-values between �5 and 5 and y-values
between 0 and 100.
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2. Graph the function f (x) � 10x for x-values between �10 and 10 and y-values
between 0 and 1000.
3. Graph the function f (x) � 10x for x-values between �20 and 20 and y-values
between 0 and 10,000.
4. Describe the similarities and differences between the graphs in
Questions 1 through 3.
5. Describe how the scale of the x-axis changes from each graph.
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7
6. Describe how the scale of the y-axis changes from each graph.
7. Imagine a very large sheet of graph paper with every square grid measuring
one tenth of an inch. You set the scale on both the x-axis and the y-axis at
one unit. Describe the coordinates of each point on the graph of the function
f (x) � 10x and the point’s distance from the origin on the graph paper.
a. A point one inch above the x-axis.
b. A point one foot above the x-axis.
c. A point one hundred feet above the x-axis.
d. A point one mile above the x-axis.
e. A point one foot to the right of the origin.
As you can see in Problem 1, the y-values of an exponential function increase very
rapidly, even for relatively small changes in the values of x.
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Problem 2 The Extraordinary Graph of a Logarithmic Function
1. Graph the function f (x) � log x for x-values between 0 and 100 and y-values
between �5 and 5.
2. Graph the function f (x) � log x for x-values between 0 and 1000 and y-values
between �10 and 10.
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7
3. Graph the function f (x) � log x for x-values between 0 and 10,000 and y-values
between �20 and 20.
4. Describe the similarities and differences between the graphs in
Questions 1 through 3.
5. Describe how the scale of the x-axis changes from each graph.
6. Describe how the scale of the y-axis changes from each graph.
7. Imagine a very large sheet of graph paper with every square grid measuring
one tenth of an inch. You set the scale on both the x-axis and the y-axis at
one unit. Describe the coordinates of each point on the graph of the function
f (x) � log x and the point’s distance from the origin on the graph paper.
a. A point one inch along the x-axis.
b. A point one foot along the x-axis.
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c. A point one hundred feet along the x-axis.
d. A point one mile along the x-axis.
e. A point one foot above the x-axis.
As you can see in Problem 2, the y-values of a logarithmic function increase very
slowly, even for relatively large values of x.
Problem 3 Logarithmic Functions 1. The graph of f (x) � log
a x is shown. Label the coordinates of each of the
three points.
x
–1
–2
–3
y
–4
4
3
2
1
f(x) = loga x
2. What are the domain and range of f (x) � loga x ?
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7
3. What are the intercepts of f (x) � loga x?
4. What are the asymptotes of f (x) � loga x?
5. For what x-values is the function f (x) � loga x increasing or decreasing?
Be prepared to share your methods and solutions.
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Lesson 7.4 l Transformations of Logarithmic Functions 301
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7.4 Transformers Again!Transformations of Logarithmic Functions
ObjectiveIn this lesson you will:
l Transform logarithmic functions algebraically and graphically.
Problem 1 Horizontal and Vertical Translations
Earlier you learned that the graph of a function f (x) is translated vertically k units if a
constant k is added to the equation: f (x) � k.
1. Sketch and label the graphs of f (x) � log x, f (x) � log x � 3,
and f (x) � log x � 4.
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The graph of a function f (x) is translated horizontally h units if a constant h is
subtracted from the variable in the function: f (x � h).
2. Sketch and label the graphs of f (x) � log x, f (x) � log(x � 3), and
f (x) � log (x � 4).
3. Sketch and label the graph of f (x) � In(x � 3) � 5 using the graph of
f (x) � In x.
x86
2
4
6
8
–2–2
4 1412102
–4
–6
–8
y
f(x) = In x
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7
Problem 2 ReflectionsEarlier you learned that the graph of a function f (x) is reflected about the x-axis if
the equation of the function is multiplied by �1: �f (x).
1. Sketch and label the graph of f (x) � �In x using the graph of f (x) � In x.
x86
2
4
6
8
–2–2
4 1412102
–4
–6
–8
y
f(x) = In x
Earlier you learned that the graph of a function f (x) is reflected about the y-axis if
the argument of the equation of the function is multiplied by �1: f (�x) .
2. Sketch and label the graph of f (x) � log(�x) using the graph of f (x) � log x.
x42
2
4
6
8
–8–2
–2 86–4
–4
–6
–8
–6
y
f(x) = log x
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3. Sketch and label the graph of f (x) � �In(�x) using the graph of f (x) � In x.
x42
2
4
6
8
–8–2
–2 86–4
–4
–6
–8
–6
y
f(x) = In(x)
Problem 3 DilationsEarlier you learned that the graph of a function f (x) is dilated a units vertically if the
function is multiplied by a constant a: af (x).
1. Sketch and label the graphs of f (x) � log x, f (x) � 2 log x, and f (x) � 1 __ 2 log x.
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The graph of a function f (x) is dilated horizontally c units if the argument of the
function is multiplied by the constant c: f (cx).
2. Sketch and label the graphs of f (x) � log x, f (x) � log 3x, and f (x) � log 1 __ 3 x.
Problem 4 Putting It All Together! 1. Sketch and label the graph of f (x) � 2 In x � 3 using the graph of f (x) � In x.
x42
1
2
3
4
–2–1
86 10 1412
–2
–3
–4
y
f(x) = In x
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2. Sketch and label the graph of f (x) � �In(x � 2) � 3 using the graph
of f (x) � In x.
x42
1
2
3
4
–2–1
86 10 1412
–2
–3
–4
y
f(x) = In x
3. Sketch and label the graph of f (x) � 2 log(�(x � 2)) using the graph
of f (x) � log x.
x42
1
2
3
4
–8–1
–2 86–4
–2
–3
–4
–6
y
f(x) = log x
Be prepared to share your methods and solutions.