7.

4
Techniques for Solving
Logarithmic Equations
The sensitivity to light intensity of the human eye, as well as of
certain optical equipment such as cameras, follows a logarithmic
relationship. Adjusting the size of the aperture that permits
light into the camera, called the f-stop, can compensate for poor
lighting conditions. A good understanding of the underlying
mathematics and optical physics is essential for the skilled
photographer in such situations.

You have seen that any positive number can be represented as

• a power of any other positive base

• a logarithm of any other positive base

For example, the number 4 can be written as

• a power: • a logarithm:
1
_
41 22 16 2 10log 4 log2 16 log3 81 log 10 000

Can any of these representations of numbers be useful for solving equations

that involve logarithms? If so, how?

Investigate How can you solve an equation involving logarithms?

1. Use Technology Consider the equation log (x  5)  2 log (x  1). Tools

a) Describe a method of finding the solution using graphing technology. • graphing calculator
b) Carry out your method and determine the solution. • grid paper

2. a) Apply the power law of logarithms to the right side of the equation
in step 1.
b) Expand the squared binomial that results on the right side.
3. R e f l e c t
a) How is the perfect square trinomial you obtained on the right side
related to x  5, which appears on the left side of the equation?
How do you know this?
b) How could this be useful in finding an algebraic solution to the equation?

7.4 Techniques for Solving Logarithmic Equations • MHR 387

 Example 1 Solve Simple Logarithmic Equations
Find the roots of each equation.
a) log (x  4)  1
b) log5 (2x  3)  2

Solution
a) Method 1: Use Algebraic Reasoning
log (x  4)  1
x  4  101 Rewrite in exponential form, using base 10.
x  10  4 Solve for x.
x6

Method 2: Use Graphical Reasoning

Graph the left side and the right side as a linear-logarithmic system and
identify the x-coordinate of their point of intersection.
y
Let y1  log (x  4) and y2  1.
4
Graph y1 by graphing y  log x and
2 y  log 共x  4兲
applying a horizontal translation of
4 units to the left.
4 2 0 2 4 6x
2
y  log x
4

Graph the horizontal line y2  1 y

on the same grid, and identify the 4
x-coordinate of the point of intersection.
y1 2 y  log 共x  4兲
The two functions intersect when x  6.
Therefore, x  6 is the root of the 4 2 0 2 4 6x

equation log (x  4)  1. 2
CONNECTIONS
4
If logm a  logm b, then a  b
for any base m, as shown below.
logm a  logm b
b) log5 (2x  3)  2
logm a
_ 1 log5 (2x  3)  log5 25 Express the right side
logm b
as a base-5 logarithm.
logb a  1 Use the 2x  3  52
change of
2x  25  3
base formula.
2x  28
b1  a Rewrite in
exponential form. x  14
b a

388 MHR • Advanced Functions • Chapter 7

 Example 2 Apply Factoring Strategies to Solve Equations
Solve. Identify and reject any extraneous roots.
a) log (x  1)  1  log (x  2)

b) log √
3 2
x2  48x  _
3

Solution
a) log (x  1)  1  log (x  2)
log (x  1)  log (x  2)  1 Isolate logarithmic terms on one side
of the equation.
log [(x  1)(x  2)]  1 Apply the product law of logarithms.
log (x  x  2)  log 10
2
Expand the product of binomials on the
left side. Express the right side as a
common logarithm.
x2  x  2  10
x  x  2  10  0
2

x2  x  12  0 Express the quadratic equation in standard form.

(x  4)(x  3)  0 Solve the quadratic equation.
x  4 or x  3
Looking back at the original equation, it is necessary to reject x  4
as an extraneous root. Both log (x  1) and log (x  2) are undefined
for this value because the logarithm of a negative number is undefined.
Therefore, the only solution is x  3.

b) log √
3 2
x2  48x  _
3
1
_
log (x  48x) 
2 3 2
_
3
1 log (x2  48x)  _
_ 2 Write the radical as a power and apply the power law of logarithms.
3 3
log (x2  48x)  2 Multiply both sides by 3.
log (x2  48x)  log 100 Express the right side as a common logarithm.

x2  48x  100
x2  48x  100  0
(x  50)(x  2)  0
x  50 or x  2
Check these values for extraneous roots. For a valid solution, the argument
in green in the equation must be positive, and the left side must equal the
right side: log √x
3

2 2.
 48x  _
3

7.4 Techniques for Solving Logarithmic Equations • MHR 389

 Check x  50:
√ x2  48x  √

3 3
(50)2  48(50)
 √
3
2500  2400
 √
3
100

L.S.  log √

3
x2  48x
 log √
3
100
1
_
 log 100 3
_1 log 100
3
_1 (2)
3
_2
3
 R.S.
√
3
100  0, and the solution satisfies the equation, so x  50 is a
valid solution.
Check x  2:
√ x2  48x  √

3 3
(2)2  48(2)
 √
3
100

L.S.  log √100
3

_1 log 100

3
 1 (2)
_
3
2_
3
 R.S.
This is also a valid solution. Therefore, the roots of this equation are
x  50 and x  2.

< KEY CONCEPTS

>
It is possible to solve an equation involving logarithms by expressing
both sides as a logarithm of the same base: if a  b, then log a  log b,
and if log a  log b, then a  b.
When a quadratic equation is obtained, methods such as factoring or
applying the quadratic formula may be useful.
Some algebraic methods of solving logarithmic equations lead to
extraneous roots, which are not valid solutions to the original equation.

390 MHR • Advanced Functions • Chapter 7

Communicate Your Understanding
C1 Consider the equation log4 (x  5)  2.
a) Which of the following expressions are equivalent to the right side
of the equation?
log2 4 log4 16 log5 25 log 100
b) Which one would you use to solve the equation for x, and why?
C2 Examine these graphing calculator screens.

a) What equation is being solved?

b) What is the solution? Explain how you can tell.
C3 Consider the following statement: “When solving a logarithmic equation
that results in a quadratic, you always obtain two roots: one valid and
one extraneous.”
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? If you agree, explain why
it is correct. If you disagree, provide a counterexample.

A Practise
For help with questions 1 and 2, refer to Example 1. For help with questions 3 and 4, refer to Example 2.
1. Find the roots of each equation. Check your 3. Solve. Identify and reject any extraneous roots.
solutions using graphing technology. Check your solutions using graphing technology.
a) log (x  2)  1 a) log x  log (x  4)  1
b) 2  log (x  25) b) log x3  log 2  log (2x2)
c) 4  2 log (p  62) c) log (v  1)  2  log (v  16)
d) 1  log (w  7)  0 d) 1  log y  log (y  9)
e) log (k  8)  2 e) log (k  2)  log (k  1)  1
f) 6  3 log 2n  0 f) log (p  5)  log (p  1)  3
2. Solve. 4. Use Technology Refer to Example 2b). Verify
a) log3 (x  4)  2 the solutions to the equation using graphing
technology. Explain your method.
b) 5  log2 (2x  10)
c) 2  log4 (k  11)  0
d) 9  log5 (x  100)  6
e) log8 (t  1)  1  0
f) log3 (n2  3n  5)  2

7.4 Techniques for Solving Logarithmic Equations • MHR 391

 B Connect and Apply
5. Solve. Check for extraneous roots. Check your 9. a) Is the following statement true?
results using graphing technology. log (3)  log (4)  log 12
x2  3x  _
a) log √ 1 b) log √
x2  48x  1 Explain why or why not.
2
6. Solve. Identify any extraneous roots. b) Is the following statement true?
a) log2 (x  5)  log2 (2x)  8 log 3  log 4  log 12
b) log (2k  4)  1  log k Explain why or why not.
7. Use Technology Find the roots of each equation, 10. The aperture setting, or f-stop, of a digital
correct to two decimal places, using graphing camera controls the amount of light exposure
technology. Sketch the graphical solution. on the sensor. Each higher number of the
a) log (x  2)  2  log x f-stop doubles the amount of light exposure.
The formula n  log2 _ 1 represents the change
b) 3 log (x  2)  log (2x)  3 p
8. Chapter Problem At a concert, the loudness of in the number, n, of the f-stop needed, where p
sound, L, in decibels, is given by the equation is the amount of light exposed on the sensor.
L  10 log _ I , where I is the intensity, in a) A photographer wishes to change the f-stop
I0 to accommodate a cloudy day in which
watts per square metre, and I0 is the minimum 1 of the sunlight is available. How many
intensity of sound audible to the average only _
4
person, or 1.0  1012 W/m2. f-stops does the setting need to be moved?
a) The sound intensity at the concert is b) If the photographer decreases the f-stop
measured to be 0.9 W/m2. How loud is by four settings, what fraction of light is
the concert? allowed to fall on the sensor?
b) At the concert, the person beside you
whispers with a loudness of 20 dB. What 11. a) Solve and check for Reasoning and Proving

is the whisper’s intensity? any extraneous roots. Representing Selecting Tools

2  log √
_ 3

w2  10w Problem Solving
c) On the way home from the concert, your
3 Connecting Reflecting
car stereo produces 120 dB of sound.
What is its intensity? b) Solve the equation in Communicating

part a) graphically.
CONNECTIONS Verify that the graphical and algebraic
You used the decibel scale in Chapter 6. Refer to Section 6.5. solutions agree.

C Extend and Challenge

1 x.
12. Solve the equation 2 log (x  11)  _
2 () 15. Math Contest Given that 3  √ m_ 1 ,
√m
Explain your method. determine the value of m  _ 1.
m
13. Show that if Reasoning and Proving
16. Math Contest Let u and v be two positive
logb a  c and Representing Selecting Tools
real numbers satisfying the two equations
logy b  c, then Problem Solving
u  v  uv  10 and u2  v2  40. What is
loga y  c2. Connecting Reflecting
the value of the integer closest to u  v?
Communicating
A 4 B 5 C 6 D 7 E 8
14. Math Contest Find the minimum value
of 1 䊐 2 䊐 3 䊐 4 䊐 5 䊐 6 䊐 7 䊐 8 䊐 9,
where 䊐 represents either  or .

392 MHR • Advanced Functions • Chapter 7