Convert Between Logarithmic and Exponential Practice

Site: Saylor Academy
Course: MA120: Applied College Algebra
Book: Convert Between Logarithmic and Exponential Practice
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Date: Tuesday, 6 May 2025, 10:28 PM

Description

Table of contents

Practice Problems

  1. Rewrite the following equation in logarithmic form.

    \quad 0.25=2^{ \Large{-2}}

    Rewrite the following equation in exponential form.

    \quad \log_{8}{\left(512\right)}=3

  2. The 3 points plotted below are on the graph of y=b^x.

    Based only on these 3 points, plot the 3 corresponding points that must be on the graph of y=\log_b{x}.

    graph

  3. Table I contains outputs of the function f(x)=b^x for some x values, and Table II contains outputs of the function g(x)=\log_b(x) for some x values. In both functions, b is the same positive constant.

    Fill in the missing values in the tables. If necessary, round your answer to three decimal places.

    You do not need a calculator.

    Table I


    x 0.631 
    _____ 2 
    2.183
    f(x)=b^x
    2 6
    9
    11

    Table II

    x 2 3 
    6   _____
    g(x)=\log_{b}(x)
    0.631
    1
    1.631 2

  4. Rewrite the following equation in logarithmic form.

    \quad 25=5^{ \Large{2}}

    Rewrite the following equation in exponential form.

    \quad \log_{32}{\left(16\right)}=\dfrac{4}{5}


Source: Khan Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra2/x2ec2f6f830c9fb89:logs/x2ec2f6f830c9fb89:log-intro/e/understanding-logs-as-inverse-exponentials
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Answers

  1. The inverse relationship of exponents and logarithms
    For m>0 and b>0, b\neq 1, we have the following relationship:

    \qquad { b^{ {\Large{ q}}}}=m\quad if and only if \quad \log_{ b }{m}= q

    Converting the exponential equation

    So \, {{2}^{ { \Large{-2}}}}={0.25}\, implies that \,\log_{ {2}}({ {0.25}})= {-2}.

    Converting the logarithmic equation

    Similarly \, \log_{ 8}({{512}})= {3}\, implies that \, 8^{ { \Large{3}}}={512}.

    The logarithmic form of \,0.25=2^{ \Large{-2}} is:

    \log_2{{(0.25)}}={-2}

    The exponential form of \log_{8}{\left(512\right)}=3 is:

    \,8^{{ \Large{3}}}={512}


  2. Let's consider the point on y = { b}^ x with coordinates (1, 4).

    Since y = \log_{ b}{ x} is the inverse of  y={ b}^ x, the point ( 4,1 ) is on the graph of  y = \log_{b}{x}.

    In general, if (p, q) is on  y={ b}^ x, then ( q,p ) is on  y = \log_{ b}{x}.

    For each point on y=b^x, we just switch the order of its coordinates to get a point on y=\log_b{x}.

    So, y=\log_b{x} also has points with coordinates (1, 0) and  (16, 2).

    Given the points that we know are on {y=b^x}, the graph below shows the 3 points that must be on {y=\log_b{x}}.

    The original 3 points are also plotted for reference.

    Points are plotted on an x y coordinate plane. The both axes scale by one. The original points are plotted at (zero, one), (o


  3. The inverse relationship of exponents and logarithms

    By definition, we know that f(x)=b^x and g(x)=\log_b x are inverse functions.

    Therefore, if (p,q) satisfies function f, then we know that (q,p) must satisfy function g.

    Filling table I

    From the second table, we see that (6,1.631) satisfies function g, and so \log_b{6}=1.631.

    This also implies that b^{1.631}=6 , and so (1.631,6) satisfies function f

    Filling table II

    From the first table, we see that (2,9) satisfies function f, and so b^{2}=9.

    This also implies that \log_b{9}=2, and so (9,2) satisfies function g

    Here are the complete tables:

    Table I


    x 0.631 
    1.631  2 
    2.183
    f(x)=b^x
    2 6
    9
    11

    Table II

    x 2 3 
    6   9  
    g(x)=\log_{b}(x)
    0.631
    1
    1.631 2

  4. The inverse relationship of exponents and logarithms
    For m>0 and b>0, b\neq 1, we have the following relationship:

    \qquad { b^{ {\Large{ q}}}}=m\quad if and only if  \quad \log_{ b }{m}= q

    Converting the exponential equation

    So \, {{5}^{ { \Large{2}}}}={25}\, implies that \,\log_{ {5}}({{25}})= {2}.

    Converting the logarithmic equation

    Similarly \, \log_{ {32}}\left({{16}}\right)= {\dfrac{4}{5}}\, implies that  \, {32}^{ { \Large{\frac{4}{5}}}}={16}.

    The logarithmic form of 25=5^{ \Large{2}} is:

    \log_5{{(25)}}={2}

    The exponential form of  \log_{32}{\left(16\right)}=\dfrac{4}{5} is:

    \,32^{{ \Large{\frac45}}}={16}