Given some equation like the one above, with a base and the result after raising it to a power, how do we find the power that was used? Essentially, we are taking the inverse of the exponential function. This inverse function is a logarithm written as "log".
Calculating the logarithm is akin to asking: raised to what power is Since
What is
Which is larger from the options on the right?
(Remember, you can read as: raised to what power is
Since exponents don't need to be integers...
...the results of logarithms don't need to be either!
We can think of the logarithms that come out to be integers as "reference points".
is...
Which statement is true? (Assume you are working with numbers in base 10.)
is...
We're going to finish our tour of exponential and logarithm functions by going back into space on a journey to the edge of the universe. We'll use something called a logarithmic scale to help us out, and establish the framework for the mathematics that starts our Pre-Calculus course. Read on!