Simplification of different base logarithms

You can do a bit more simplification. The important properties of the log function are, for any base $a>0$,

  • $\log_a(bc)=\log_ab+\log_ac$, so, for example, $\log_26=\log_22+\log_23$
  • $\log_a(b/c)=\log_ab-\log_ac$
  • $\log_ab^n=n\log_ab$
  • $\log_ab=1/\log_ba$
  • $(\log_ab)(\log_bc)=\log_ac$
  • $\log_aa=1$

So, for example, we can simplify $\log_26-\log_49$ as $$ \begin{align} \log_26-\log_49&=\log_2(2\cdot3)-\log_4(3^2) \\ &= \log_22+\log_23-2\log_43 &\text{using the first and third identities}\\ &=1+\log_23-2\log_43 &\text{using the sixth identity}\\ &=1+\log_23-2\log_42\log_23 &\text{using the fifth}\\ &=1+\log_23-2(\log_23)/\log_24 &\text{using the fourth}\\ &=1+\log_23-2(\log_23)/2 &\text{using the third}\\ &=1+\log_23-\log_23 &\text{using a bit of algebra}\\ &=1 \end{align} $$


You're correct so far. Bring out the factor of $\frac{1}{2}$ to get $\frac{1}{2}(2\log_{2}(6)-\log_{2}(9))$. Since $a\log(b)=\log(b^{a})$ $\log(a)-\log(b)=\log(\frac{a}{b})$, you get $2\log_{2}(6)=\log_{2}(6^{2})$, and $$\frac{1}{2}(\log_{2}(36)-\log_{2}(9))=\frac{1}{2}\left(\log_{2}\left(\frac{36}{9}\right)\right)=\log_{2}(4)/2=2/2=1 $$

Tags:

Logarithms