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.