Question 4.20: Use the log rules to simplify the following expressions to a......

(a) log_b (25) + log_b (70)  –  log_b (55)   all logs have the same base

= log_b (25 × 70)  −  log_b (55)       so use rule 1 to add the first two terms

Rule 1     Add      \log_{b}(M)+\log_{b}(N)\Leftrightarrow\log_{b}(M N)

= log_b \left(\frac {25 × 70}{55}\right)     use rule 2 to divide by the negative term

Rule 2    Subtract     \log_{b}(M)-\log_{b}(N)\Leftrightarrow\log_{b}\left({\frac{M}{N}}\right)

= log_b (31.818)     this cannot be evaluated unless b is given a value

If b = 3 then using rule 4 to change base 3 to base 10, we have

Rule 4   Change of base      \log_{b}(N)\Leftrightarrow{\frac{\log_{x}(N)}{\log_{x}(b)}}

\log_{3}(31.818)={\frac{\log(31.818)}{\log(3)}}={\frac{1.502\,67}{0.4771}}=3.149\,46

(b) In 4 log_x (7)  –  3 log_x (0.85) + log_x (10) start by using rule 3 in reverse, bringing the numbers in that multiply the log term as powers before adding or subtracting using rules 1 and 2. If you look at rules 1 and 2, there are no numbers outside the log terms before adding or subtracting:

4  log_x (7)  –  3 log_x (0.85) + log_x (10)

= log_x (7)^4  −  log_x (0.85)^3 + log_x (10)      using rule 3 in reverse

Rule 3   Log of an exponential    \log_{b}(M^{z})\Leftrightarrow{{{z\log_{b}(M)}}}

=\log_{x}\left({\frac{7^{4}}{0.85^{3}}}\right)+\log_{x}(10)      use rule 2

= log_x (39 096.275) + log_x (10)

= log_x (39 096.275 × 10)    use rule 1

= log_x (39 096.275)

If x = e we obtain In(39 096.275) = 10.573 78.

(c) In this problem there are two different bases, therefore combine terms with the same base only:

12  log_b(12) + 3 log_x (8.25)  –  2 log_b(5)

= log_b (12)^{12} + log_x (8.25)^3  −  log_b (5)^2    rule 3 in reverse, bring in the constants as powers

=log_b \left( \frac {12^{12}}{5^2}\right) + log_x(561.516)     rule 2 for base b terms

= log_b(3.566 44 × 10^{11}) + log_x(561.516)    simplify the numbers

This cannot be simplified to a single term as the bases are different. Given b = 3 and x = e, the expression may be evaluated as

\log_{3}(3.56644\times10^{11})+\log_{x}(561.516) =\frac{\ln(3.56644\times10^{11})}{\ln(3)}+\ln(561.516)=30.543