1.

Solve the equation (1/2)2x + 1 = 1

2. Solve x ym = y x3 for m.

3. Given: log8(5) = b. Express log4(10) in terms of b.

4. Simplify without calculator: log6(216) + [ log(42) - log(6) ] / log(49)

5. Simplify without calculator: ((3-1 - 9-1) / 6)1/3

6. Express (logxa)(logab) as a single logarithm.

7. Find a so that the graph of y = logax passes through the point (e , 2).

8. Find constant A such that log3 x = A log5x

for all x > 0.

9. Solve for x the equation log [ log (2 + log2(x + 1)) ] = 0

10. Solve for x the equation 2 x b4 logbx = 486

11. Solve for x the equation ln (x - 1) + ln (2x - 1) = 2 ln (x + 1)

12. Find the x intercept of the graph of y = 2 log( sqrt(x - 1) - 2)

13. Solve for x the equation 9x - 3x - 8 = 0

14. Solve for x the equation 4x - 2 = 3x + 4

15. If logx(1 / 8) = -3 / 4, than what is x?

16.

Given that 32 = 9 in exponent form, how would you write this in logarithm form?
log 3(9) = 2

17.

Given that 25 = 32 in exponent form, how would you write this in logarithm
form?
log 2(32) = 5

18.

Solve 2log3(x) = 5

19.
20.
21.

x = 9(3)

Solve 3loga(8) = 10 to find the value of "a" to 2 decimal places

1.87

z=
Calculate log0.18(0.39) to 3 decimal places (you can use a calculator).

22.

23.

24.

1.27

0.549

x = 2.74

25.

Calculate

log2(3) log3(5) to 2 decimal places (you can use a calculator).

D 2.32

26.

Chemists define
the acidity or alkalinity of a substance according to the formula
"pH = log[H+]" where [H+] is the hydrogen ion concentration, measured in moles per liter.
Solutions with a pH value of less than 7 are acidic; solutions with a pH value of greater than 7
are basic; solutions with a pH of 7 (such as pure water) are neutral.
a) Suppose that you test apple juice and find that the hydrogen ion concentration is
= 0.0003. Find the pH value and determine whether the juice is basic or acidic.

[H+]

b) You test some ammonia and determine the hydrogen ion concentration to be [H+]
109. Find the pH value and determine whether the ammonia is basic or acidic.

= 1.3

In each case, I need to evaluate the pH function at the given value of [H+].

a) In the case of the apple juice, the hydrogen ion concentration is [H +] = 0.0003, so:

pH = log[H+] = log[0.0003] = 3.52287874528...

...which is less than 7, so this is acidic.

b) In the case of the ammonia, the hydrogen ion concentration is [H+] = 1.3 109, so:

pH = log[H+] = log[1.3 109] = 8.88605664769...

...which is more than 7, so this is basic.

The j uice is acidic with a pH of about 3.5,

and the ammonia is basic with a pH of about 8.9.

"Loudness" is measured in decibels. The formula for the loudness of a sound is given by "dB =
10log[ I I0 ]" where I0 is the intensity of "threshold sound", or sound that can barely be
perceived. Other sounds are defined in terms of how many times more intense they are than
threshold sound. For instance, a cat's purr is about 316 times as intense as threshold sound, for
a decibel rating of:
Db = 10log[ I

I0 ]
= 10log[ (316 I0) I0 ]
= 10log[ 316 ]
= 24.9968708262...,

...or

25 decibels.

Considering that prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can cause hearing damage or
loss, and considering that a gunshot from a .22 rimfire rifle has an intensity of about I = (2.5
1013)I0, should you follow the rules and wear ear protection when relaxing at the rifle range?

I need to evaluate the decibel equation at I = (2.5 1013)I 0:

Db = 10log[ I I 0 ]
= 10log[ (2.5 1013)I0 I0 ]
= 10log[2.5 1013]

= 133.979400087...

In other word s, my rifle create s a noise level of about 134 decibels. Since this is well above the level at which I can suffer hearing damage,

I should follow the rules and wear ear protection.

Earthquake intensity is measured by the Richter scale. The formula for the Richter rating of a
given quake is given by "R = log[ I I0 ]" where I0 is the "threshold quake", or movement that
can barely be detected, and the intensity I is given in terms of multiples of that threshold
intensity. You have a seismograph set up at home, and see that there was an event while you
were out that had an intensity of I = 989I0. Given that a heavy truck rumbling by can cause a
microquake with a Richter rating of 3 or 3.5, and "moderate" quakes have a Richter rating of 4 or
more, what was likely the event that occurred while you were out?
To determine the probable event, I need to convert the intensity to a Richter rating by evaluating the Richter function at I = 989I 0:

R = log[ I I0 ]
= log[ 989I0 I 0 ]
= log[989]
= 2.9951962916...

A Richter rating of about 3 is not a high enough rating to have been a moderate qua ke;

the ev ent was probably just a big truck going too fast ov er the speed humps in my neighborhood

Solutions to the Above Problems

1. Rewrite equation as (1/2)2x + 1 = (1/2)0
Leads to 2x + 1 = 0
Solve for x: x = -1/2

2. Divide all terms by x y and rewrite equation as: y m - 1 = x2

Take ln of both sides (m - 1) ln y = 2 ln x
Solve for m: m = 1 + 2 ln(x) / ln(y)

3. Use log rule of product: log4(10) = log4(2) + log4(5)

log4(2) = log4(41/2) = 1/2
Use change of base formula to write: log4(5) = log8(5) / log8(4) = b / (2/3) , since
log8(4) = 2/3
log4(10) = log4(2) + log4(5) = (1 + 3b) / 2

4. log6(216) + [ log(42) - log(6) ] / log(49)

= log6(63) + log(42/6) / log(72)
= 3 + log(7) /2 log(7) = 3 + 1/2 = 7/2

5. ((3-1 - 9-1) / 6)1/3

= ((1/3 - 1/9) / 6)1/3
= ((6 / 27) / 6)1/3 = 1/3

6. Use change of base formula: (logxa)(logab)

= logxa (logxb / logxa) = logxb

7. 2 = logae
a2 = e
ln(a2) = ln e
2 ln a = 1
a = e1/2

8. Use change of base formula using ln to rewrite the given equation as follows
ln (x) / ln(3) = A ln(x) / ln(5)
A = ln(5) / ln(3)

9. Rewrite given equation as: log [ log (2 + log2(x + 1)) ] = log (1) , since log(1) = 0.
log (2 + log2(x + 1)) = 1
2 + log2(x + 1) = 10
log2(x + 1) = 8
x + 1 = 28
x = 28 - 1

10. Note that b4 logbx = x4

The given equation may be written as: 2x x4 = 486
x = 2431/5 = 3

11. Group terms and use power rule: ln (x - 1)(2x - 1) = ln (x + 1) 2

ln function is a one to one function, hence: (x - 1)(2x - 1) = (x + 1) 2
Solve the above quadratic function: x = 0 and x = 5
Only x = 5 is a valid solution to the equation given above since x = 0 is not in the
domain of the expressions making the equations.

12. Solve: 0 = 2 log( sqrt(x - 1) - 2)

Divide both sides by 2: log( sqrt(x - 1) - 2) = 0

Use the fact that log(1)= 0: sqrt(x - 1) - 2 = 1

Rewrite as: sqrt(x - 1) = 3
Raise both sides to the power 2: (x - 1) = 32
x-1=9
x = 10

13. Given: 9x - 3x - 8 = 0
Note that: 9x = (3x)2
Equation may be written as: (3x)2 - 3x - 8 = 0
Let y = 3x and rewite equation with y: y2 - y - 8 = 0
Solve for y: y = ( 1 + sqrt(33) ) / 2 and ( 1 - sqrt(33) ) / 2
Since y = 3x, the only acceptable solution is y = ( 1 + sqrt(33) ) / 2
3x = ( 1 + sqrt(33) ) / 2
Use ln on both sides: ln 3x = ln [ ( 1 + sqrt(33) ) / 2]
Simplify and solve: x = ln [ ( 1 + sqrt(33) ) / 2] / ln 3

14. Given: 4x - 2 = 3x + 4
Take ln of both sides: ln ( 4x - 2 ) = ln ( 3x + 4 )
Simplify: (x - 2) ln 4 = (x + 4) ln 3
Expand: x ln 4 - 2 ln 4 = x ln 3 + 4 ln 3
Group like terms: x ln 4 - x ln 3 = 4 ln 3 + 2 ln 4
Solve for x: x = ( 4 ln 3 + 2 ln 4 ) / (ln 4 - ln 3) = ln (3 4 * 42) / ln (4/3) = ln (34 * 24) /
ln (4/3)
= 4 ln(6) / ln(4/3)

15. Rewrite the given equation using exponential form: x - 3 / 4 = 1 / 8

Raise both sides of the above equation to the power -4 / 3: (x- 3 / 4)- 4 / 3 = (1 / 8)- 4 / 3
simplify: x = 84 / 3 = 24 = 16