Indices and Logarithms

Indices & Log, SPM Additional Maths

Indices

\text{Positive Index: }{{a}^{n}},a\ne 0    eg:{{2}^{3}},{{4}^{2}}

\text{Negative Index: }{{a}^{-n}}=\frac{1}{{{a}^{n}}}    eg:{{2}^{-3}}=\frac{1}{{{2}^{3}}}=\frac{1}{8} 

\text{Zero Index: }{{a}^{0}}=1,a\ne 0    eg:{{2}^{0}}=1

Fractional Indices:

{{a}^{\frac{1}{n}}}=\sqrt[n]{a},a\ne 0       eg:{{8}^{\frac{1}{3}}}=\sqrt[3]{8}=2

{{a}^{\frac{m}{n}}}={{(\sqrt[n]{a})}^{m}},a\ne 0   eg:{{8}^{\frac{2}{3}}}={{(\sqrt[3]{8})}^{2}}={{(2)}^{2}}=4

Law of Indices:

\text{Rule 1: }{{a}^{m}}\times {{a}^{n}}={{a}^{m+n}}   eg:{{2}^{2}}\times {{2}^{3}}={{2}^{2+3}}={{2}^{5}}=32

\text{Rule 2: }{{a}^{m}}\div {{a}^{n}}={{a}^{m-n}}   eg:{{2}^{4}}\div {{2}^{2}}={{2}^{4-2}}={{2}^{2}}=4

\text{Rule 3: }{{({{a}^{m}})}^{n}}={{a}^{m\times n}}      eg:{{({{2}^{2}})}^{3}}={{2}^{2\times 3}}={{2}^{6}}=64

How to simplify algebraic expressions

Example 1:

\begin{array}{rcl} {{2}^{n+4}}-{{2}^{n-1}} &=&{{2}^{n}}\times {{2}^{4}}-{{2}^{n}}\times {{2}^{-1}} \text{[Split the power, use Rule 1]}\\ &=&{{2}^{n}}({{2}^{4}}-{{2}^{-1}}) \text{ [Factorize }{{\text{2}}^{n}}]\\ &=&{{2}^{n}}(16-\frac{1}{2}) \text{ [Simplify the fraction]}\\ &=&{{2}^{n}}(\frac{31}{2})\\ &=&{{2}^{n}}(31\times {{2}^{-1}}) \text{[Convert }\frac{1}{2}\text{into index form of }{{\text{2}}^{-1}}\text{] }\\ &=&31({{2}^{n-1}})\text{[Join }{{\text{2}}^{n}}\times \text{ }{{\text{2}}^{-1}}\text{ by using Rule 1]} \end{array}

Example 2:

\begin{array}{rcl} {{4}^{3n}}\times {{4}^{-1}}\div {{4}^{3}} &=&{{4}^{3n+(-1)-3}}\text{ }\left[ \text{Join the power together, use Rule 1 , 2} \right] \\ &=&{{4}^{3n-4}} \end{array}

Example 3:

\begin{array}{rcl} & {{4}^{2n-1}}\times {{2}^{n+3}} \\ &=&{{({{2}^{2}})}^{(2n-1)}}\times {{2}^{n+3}}\text{ }[\text{Change base 4 to base 2},\text{ 4}={{2}^{2}}] \\ &=&{{2}^{4n-2}}\times {{2}^{n+3}}\text{ }\!\![\!\!\text{ Use Rule 3, }{{({{2}^{2}})}^{(2n-1)}}={{2}^{4n-2}}] \\ &=&{{2}^{4n-2+n+3}}\text{ }[\text{Join the power, use Rule 1}] \\ &=&{{2}^{5n+1}} \\ \end{array}

 

Logarithms

If N={{a}^{x}} then {{\log }_{a}}N=x. So N={{a}^{x}}\leftrightarrow {{\log }_{a}}N=x. For example, if 16={{2}^{4}}, then {{\log }_{2}}16=4, where index 4 becomes the logarithms and 2 as the base.

In general, {{\log }_{10}}x=\log x=\lg x , we call them as common logarithms (base 10). The [log] where you can find from calculator is the common logarithm.

Example 4: 

Find the value of {{\log }_{10}}19

Answer: 1.2788 [Use Calculator to find the answer]

Example 5:

Solve {{\log }_{10}}m=-2.5686

Answer: m = 0.0027 [Press (shift)(log)(-2.5686)]

 

Laws of Logarithms: 

1) {{\log }_{a}}xy={{\log }_{a}}x+{{\log }_{a}}y

Example 6:

{{\log }_{6}}54+{{\log }_{6}}4

\begin{array}{rcl} & =&{{\log }_{6}}54\times 4\left[ \text{Join the logarithm} \right ] \\ & =&{{\log }_{6}}216 \\ & =&{{\log }_{6}}{{6}^{3}}\text{ }\!\! [ \!\!\text{ }216={{6}^{3}}] \\ & =&3{{\log }_{6}}6\left[ \text{bring the power to the front} \right ] \\ & =&3(1)\text{ }\!\![\!\!\text{ }{{\log }_{n}}n=1,\text{ so }{{\log }_{6}}6=1\text{ }\!\!]\!\!\text{ } \\ & =&3 \\ \end{array}

 

2) {{\log }_{a}}\frac{x}{y}={{\log }_{a}}x-{{\log }_{a}}y

Example 7:

{{\log }_{3}}54-{{\log }_{3}}2

\begin{array}{rcl} & =&{{\log }_{3}}\frac{54}{2} \\ & =&{{\log }_{3}}27 \\ & =&{{\log }_{3}}{{3}^{3}} \\ & =&3{{\log }_{3}}3 \\ & =&3(1) \\ & =&3 \\ \end{array}

 

3) {{\log }_{a}}{{x}^{q}}=q{{\log }_{a}}x

Example 8: 

{{\log }_{5}}125

\begin{array}{rcl} & =&{{\log }_{5}}{{5}^{3}} \\ & =&3{{\log }_{5}}5 \\ & =&3(1) \\ & =&3 \\ \end{array}

 

4) {{\log }_{a}}1=0

Example 9:

{{\log }_{100}}1=0

 

5) {{\log }_{a}}a=1

Example 10:

{{\log }_{2}}2=1 ,

{{\log }_{100}}100=1

 

Change the Base of Logarithm 

1) {{\log }_{a}}b=\frac{{{\log }_{c}}b}{{{\log }_{c}}a}

2) {{\log }_{a}}b=\frac{1}{{{\log }_{b}}a}

Example 11: 

Evaluate {{\log }_{5}}8

{{\log }_{5}}8 =\frac{{{\log }_{10}}8}{{{\log }_{10}}5} =1.292

 

The following examples need to be solved using the Laws of Logarithms and change of base. So please remember the laws of logarithms and the change of the base of logarithms.

Example 12:

Find the value of {{\log }_{\sqrt{3}}}8\times {{\log }_{2}}7\times {{\log }_{7}}3

 

2013-09-16 23_12_52-Indices and Logarithms (Repaired).docx - Microsoft Word

 

Example 13: 

Simplify

2013-09-16 23_17_37-Indices and Logarithms (Repaired).docx - Microsoft Word

Solving Equation involving indices and logarithms

a) Method 1: Expressing the equation to same base and compare the indices.

2013-09-16 23_22_07-Indices and Logarithms (Repaired).docx - Microsoft Word

2013-09-16 23_24_43-Indices and Logarithms (Repaired).docx - Microsoft Word

2013-09-16 23_26_38-Indices and Logarithms (Repaired).docx - Microsoft Word

b) Method 2: Expressing the equation to same indices and compare the base.

2013-09-17 01_34_26-Indices and Logarithms (Repaired).docx - Microsoft Word

c) Method 3: Using y={{a}^{x}}

2013-09-16 23_44_02-Indices and Logarithms (Repaired).docx - Microsoft Word

d) Method 4: Expressing the equation as a single logarithms form to the same base

2013-09-17 01_45_23-Indices and Logarithms (Repaired).docx - Microsoft Word

About the Authors:

Mr Low – A full time tutor from Malaysia, passionate about teaching Mathematics for PMR Maths, SPM Additional Maths, SPM Modern Maths and International School Maths included SAT,GCSE, Checkpoint, IGCSE syllabus.

Ms Tifeny – A full time tutor from Malaysia teaching Mathematics for SPM Additional Maths, STPM Maths and International School Maths included SAT,GCSE, Checkpoint, IGCSE syllabus, A-level, Pre-U and IB. 

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