https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sULa9Lc4pck $$log_a(b) $$ Pronounced log *base* a, this function is used to figure out what exponent you need to raise $a$ to to get $b$. $log_ab = c$ can be rewritten as $a^c = b$. $$ 5^{log_5^{(x+2)}}=x+2 $$ By default, $log$ refers to $log_{10}$. $ln$ is shorthand for $log_e$. $$ \sqrt{x} = x^{1/2} $$ To get the reciprocal of a value, change the sign of the exponent. $$ x^{-1} = \frac{1}{x} $$ ## Domain There are 3 places you need to worry about domain. - You can't divide by 0 - You can't take the square root of a negative without complex numbers - You cannot take the $log$ of a zero, or a negative number. - There's no way to raise a number to an exponent and have it equal zero, or be a negative number. - This can be used to help solve inequalities, because you know an equation that's wrapped in a logarithm must be $> 0$. ## Adding logarithms $$ log(x+2) + log(2x-3) $$ With the above example, you can find the domain of each function separately, then find the overlap of valid numbers. # Expanding logarithms $$ log_b(x*y) = log_b x + log_b y $$ $$log_b(\frac{x}{y}) = log_b x - log_b y $$ Example Problem: $$ log_5 z = 3 $$ $$ log_5 y = 2 $$$$log_5(yz) = log_5 y + log_5 z $$$$ 2 + 3 = 5 $$ Exponents can be moved to the front of a logarithm $$ log_3 x^5 = 5*log_3 x $$ Roots are just the inverse, so: $$ log_3 sqrt(x) = \frac{1}{2}*log_3x $$