notes/education/math/Logarithms.md
2024-01-25 10:20:02 -07:00

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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. The third is specific to logarithms.

  • 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 $> 0$.

Finding the domain of added 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 

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 

Change of base

 log_b x = \frac{\log x}{\log b} = \frac{\ln x}{\ln b} 

The above are all equivalent because the ratios are the same

The compound interest formula

 A= Pe^{rt} 
Value Description
A Ending amount
P or A_0 Starting amount
r or k Rate (a %)
t The amount of times interest is compounded