Pre-Calculus 11 January 2010

Homework: pages 236 – 237, 32 – 38 Even, 39 – 44 All, 46 – 60 Even, 79 – 86 All

Due: Friday, 15 January 2010
Overview: 5 min
We’ve covered:
•Definition of Log Function of Base a: pg 229
•Reviewed 7 Laws of Exponents: instructor notes
•Evaluating Logarithms
•Log Functions to base 10 called the common logarithm
•Properties of logarithms and using properties of logarithms
•One-to-one property with exponents and logarithms
•Graph of exponential and logarithmic function

I.Sketching the graph of a logarithmic function 10 min

II.Shifting graphs of logarithmic functions 10 min
III.The Natural Logarithmic Function 10 min
IV.Summary/Questions 10 minutes
V.Questions 5 min, Reginald.Goodwin@hutto.txed.net
VI.Bell
 Sketching the Graph of a Logarithmic
Function
• Construct a table of values
• Plot the points and connect with a smooth line
• y = 2x; y = (1/2)x
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
2-4 = 2-3 = 2-2 = 2-1 = 20 = 21 = 22 = 23 = 24 =
1/24 = 1/23 = 1/22 =

1/16 1/8 ¼ ½ 1 2 4 8 16
(1/2)-4 = (1/2)-3 (1/2)-2 (1/2)-1 (1/2)0 (1/2)1 (1/2)2 (1/2)3 (1/2)4 =
1/(1/2)4 = = = = 12/22 =
= 1/(1/2) 1/(1/2) 1/(1/2)1 13/23 14/24
1/1/16 3= 2= = 1/1/2
1/1/8 1/1/4

= 16 =8 =4 =2 =1 =½ =¼ = 1/8 = 1/16
Sketching the Graph of a Logarithmic
Function (cont’d)

The graphs are reflections of each other in the y axis. Similarly, an exponential
function is a one-to-one function since its graph passes the horizontal line test and
as a result, has an inverse function. One-To-One Property: an exponential
equation whereby each side is a power of the same base, such that the equation
can be solved by setting the exponents equal to each other solved algebraically.
 Sketching the Graph of a Logarithmic
Function (cont’d)
• A logarithm is an exponent.
• Log b x = y: “log base b resulting in x equals the
exponent/power value y.”
• by = x: “base b raised to the y power equals the result x.”
• f (x) = log3x x 0* 1 2 3
f (x) log30: log31: log32: log33:
3y = 0 3y = 1 3y = 2 3y = 3
log3y = log3y = log3y = log(2) log3y =
log(0) log(1) y log(3)
ylog3 = ylog3 = 0 log(3)=log(2) ylog3 =
error y = log2/log3 log(3)

y = -∞ y=0 y = 0.631 y=1

 Sketching the Graph of a Logarithmic
Function (cont’d)
• Why f (x) = log3x errors on your calculator:
– log(0.5) = -0.301
– log(0.25) = -0.602
– log(0.125) = -0.903
– log (0.0625) = -1.204
– log (0.03125) = -1.505
Halving the value of x makes the y value more
negative: this test yields the direction of the
graph, -∞ and the vertical asymptote x = 0.
 Shifting Graphs of Logarithmic
Functions
• A logarithm is an exponent.
• Log b x = y: “log base b resulting in x equals the
exponent/power value y.”
• by = x: “base b raised to the y power equals
the result x.”
• Shifting graphs of logarithmic functions
involves following certain rules of algebra:
– Log 3 (x – 1)
– Log 3 (x + 2)
Shifting Graphs of Logarithmic
Functions (cont’d)
f (x) = log3(x + 2)

f (x) = log3(x)

f (x) = log3(x)-1
 The Natural Logarithmic Function
• f (x) = log e x = ln (x): “log of result x to the
base e = the natural logarithm of x, where ‘e’
is defined as Euler’s constant.”
• Euler proved e is an irrational number, like ∏
or the square root of 2, and literally like those
numbers goes on forever:
– e = 2.718281828459045235260287471352662497757………..

Using log b x = y and by = x: b = e; y = ln (x)

 The Natural Logarithmic Function
(cont’d)
• Using log b x = y and by = x: b = e; y = ln (x)
• e ln(x) = x (Inverse Property Identity)
• f (x) = ex defined as the natural exponential
function;
• g (x) = ln (x) defined as the natural
logarithmic function, base e are inverse
functions of each other
The Natural Logarithmic Function
(cont’d)
 Natural Logarithmic Functions:
Properties
1. ln 1 = 0 because e0 = 1.
2. ln e = 1 because e1 = e.
3. ln ex = x and e ln(x) = x : Inverse
Property.
4. If ln x = ln y, then x = y: One-to One
Property
 Web Resources
• http://www.mathwords.com/l/logarithm_rule
s.htm Logarithm Rules
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=820nRDr5
wHM Graphing Logarithms
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7g0GrQ
wJsY Graphing a Logarithmic Function
• http://www.mathphysicsgroove.edublogs.org:
Mr. Goodwin’s blog; lecture notes posted
there.