Logarithm of A Number:

The logarithm of the number N to the base ' a ' is the exponent indicating the power to which the base
' a ' must be raised to obtain the number N. This number is designated as loga N. Hence:
logaN = x  ax = N , a > 0, a  1 & N > 0
If a = 10, then we write log b rather than log10 b.
If a = e, we write ln b rather than loge b. Here ' e ' is called as Napier's base & has numerical value equal
to 2.7182.
Remember
log102 0.3010 ; log103 0.4771; n 2 0.693 ; n 10 2.303

Domain of Definition :
The existence and uniqueness of the number loga N can be determined with the help of set of
conditions, a > 0 & a  1 & N > 0.
The base of the logarithm ' a ' must not equal unity otherwise numbers not equal to unity will not have a
logarithm and any number will be the logarithm of unity.

Graph of Logarithmic function:

f(x) = loga x is called logarithmic function where a > 0 and a  1 and x > 0. Its graph can be as follows:

Case- I Case- II
For a > 1 For 0 < a < 1

Fundamental Logarithmic Identity: = N, a > 0, a  1 & N > 0

The Principal Properties of Logarithm:

Let M & N are arbitrary positive numbers, a > 0, a  1, b > 0, b  1 and are any real numbers,
then :
(i) loga (M.N) = loga M + loga N ; in general loga (x1 x2 ......xn) = logax1 + loga x2 + ........+ loga xn
(ii) loga (M/N) = loga M  loga N (iii) loga M =  loga M

(iv) = logaM (v) logb M = (base changing theorem)

NOTE : loga1 = 0 loga a = 1 log1/a a =  1  logba =  ax = 

Note : (i) If the number and the base are on the same side of the unity, then the logarithm is positive.
(ii) If the number and the base are on the opposite sides of unity, then the logarithm is negative.

Example# 1: Find the value of the followings: (i) log272 + log2 + log2 (ii)

Ans. (i) 2 (ii) 5

Self practice problem :
(1) Find the value of the followings:
(i) log49343 (ii) 4 log27243 (iii) log(1/100)1000 (iv) (v) log125625
(2) log8 9.log910 ......... log6364
 (3) Find the value of log cot 1° + log cot 2° + log cot 3° + .... + log cot 89°
Ans. (1) (i) 3 / 2 (ii) 20 / 3 (iii) – 3 / 2 (iv) –1 (v) 4 / 3 (2) 2 (3) 0
Logarithmic Equation :
The equality loga x = loga y is possible if and only if x = y i.e. loga x = loga y x = y
Always check validity of given equation, (x > 0, y > 0, a > 0, a  1)

Example# 2 : logx(4x – 3) = 2 Ans. x=3

Exmaple# 3 : log2 (log3{log5 (x + 4)} = 0
2
Ans. x = ± 11

Example# 4 : Solve for ‘x’, log2(x2) + log2 (x + 2) = 4 Ans. x=2

Self practice problem

(4) (5) (log10x)2 – (log10x) – 6 = 0
(6) 3 (log7x + logx7) = 10 (7)

Ans. (4) x = 3 (5) x = 103, (6) x = 343, (7) x = 6 or –3 / 2

Logarithmic Inequality:
Let 'a' is a real number such that
(i) If a > 1, then logax > loga y  x > y (ii) If a > 1, then logax < 0 < x < a
(iii) If a > 1, then logax > x > a  (iv) If 0 < a < 1, then logax > logay  0 < x < y
(v) If 0 < a < 1, then loga x <  x > a
Form - I : f(x) > 0, g(x) > 0, g(x)  1
Form Collection of system

(a) logg(x) f(x)  0

(b) logg(x) f(x)  0

(c) logg(x) f(x)  a

(d) logg(x) f(x) a

From - II : When the inequality of the form

Form Collection of system

(a) log(x) f(x) log(x) g(x) 

(b) log(x) f(x) log(x) g(x) 

Example # 5 : Solve the logarithmic inequality log1/5 (2x2 + 7x + 7)  0. Ans: x 

Example # 6 : Solve the inequality log1/3 (5x – 1) > 0. Ans:

Example # 7 : Solve the inequality log(2x + 3) x2 < log(2x + 3) (2x + 3). Ans:x  (– 1,

3)
Example # 8 : Solve the in equation > 0. Ans: x  ( ,6– (10,

)
Self practice problems :
(8) Solve the following inequalities
(i) log3x + 5 (9x2 + 8x + 8) > 2 (ii) log0.2 (x2 – x – 2) > log0.2 (– x2 + 2x + 3)
(iii) logx (x3 – x2 – 2x) < 3

Answers : (8) (i) (ii) (iii) (2, )

Characteristic & Mantissa

[loga N] is called characteristic of log of N with base ‘a’. It is always an integer.

{loga N} is called mantissa of log of N with base ‘a’. Mantissa  [0, 1)

Characteristic of log of 1 with base 10 = 0

Characteristic of log of 10 with base 10 = 1
Characteristic of log of 100 with base 10 = 2
Characteristic of log of 1000 with base 10 = 3
Characteristic of log of 83.5609 with base 10 = 1
Characteristic of log of 613.0965 with base 10 = 2

Interval, Cha.(Base 10) number of digits (in no.) No. of integers in the interval
[1, 10) 0 1 9 = 9 × 10º
[10, 100) 1 2 90 = 9 × 101
[100, 1000) 2 3 900 = 9 × 102
[100, 10000) 3 4 9000 = 9 × 103
|
n (n + 1) 9 × 10n
Note :
If Characteristic of a number (base of log is 10) is found to be n, then there would be (n + 1) digits in
that number.

Characteristic of log of = 0.1 with base 10 = – 1

Characteristic of log of = 0.01 with base 10 = – 2

Characteristic of log of = 0.001 with base 10 = – 3

Interval Characteristic (base 10) No. of zeros immedi- No.of integer reciprocal
ately after decimal of which lies in interval.

[1 / 10, 1) –1 0 9 = 9×101–1
[1 / 100, 1 / 10) –2 1 90 = 9×102–1
 [0.01, 0.1)
[1 / 103, 1 / 102)  [0.0001, 0.01) –3 2 900 = 9×103–1
[0.0001, 0.001) –4 3 9000 = 9×104–1
–n (n – 1) = 9 × 10n–1
Note : If characteristic of a number (base of log is 10) is found to be –n, then there would be (n –1) zeros
immediately after decimal before first significant digit.
Example # 9 Find the total number of digits in the number 1850. (Given log102 = 0.3010; log103 = 0.4771)

Ans. 63
Self practice problem
(9) Find the total number of zeros immediately after the decimal in 6– 200. Ans. 155

 Marked questions are recommended for Revision.

Section (A) : Logarithm (Subjective Questions)

A-1. Find the value of (i) log105.log1020 + (log102)2 (ii)
Ans. (i) 1 (ii) – 72

A-2. Which of the following numbers are positive / negative

(i) (ii) log1/7(2) (iii) log1/3(1 / 5) (iv) log3(4) (v) log7(2.11) (vi) log3

(vii) log4 (viii) log3 (ix)log10 (log10 9)

Ans. (i) +ve (ii) – ve (iii) +ve (iv) +ve (v) +ve (vi) – ve
(vii) +ve (viii) – ve (ix) – ve

A-3. Let log102 = a and log103 = b, then determine the following logarithms in terms of a and b.

(i) log10 (ii) log100 4 + 2 log100 27 (iii) log29 + log38 (iv)

Ans. (i) b – 2a (ii) a + 3b (iii) (iv)

A-4. Compute the following (i) (ii) log0.75 log2

(iii) + (iv)

Ans. (i) 2 (ii) 1 (iii) 7 + (iv) 0

A-5. (i) Let n = 75600, then find the value of .

(ii) If and and , then find the sum

of x, y and z is
Ans. (i) 1 (ii) 89

A-6. Show that the number log 2 7 is an irrational number.

Sol. Let log 2 7 = , where p & q are coprime numbers.

 7 = 2p/q  7q = 2p
 7 is an odd number, while 2 p is an even number
q

 this is not possible & log 2 7 is an irrational number.

A-7. Suppose n be an integer greater than 1. Let an = . Suppose b = a2 + a3 + a4 + a5 and

c = a10 + a11 + a12 + a13 + a14. Then find the value of (b – c) Ans. –1

A-8. If , show that a a . b b . c c = 1.

A-9. Solve the following equations:
(i) logx (4x – 3) = 2 Ans. 3
(ii) log2 (log3(x2 – 1)) = 0 Ans. ±2
(iii) Ans. 3
(iv) = 3 – log2 x Ans. 2
(v) log 4 (log 2 x) + log 2 (log 4 x) = 2. Ans. 16
(vi) log 4 log 3 log 2 x = 0 Ans. 8

(vii) log 3 = 2x. Ans. {1/3}

(viii) 2log 4 (4 – x) = 4 – log 2 (– 2 – x). Ans. {– 4}

(log 2 x)
(ix) x x 4 Ans. no root

A-10. (i) Find the real value of 'x' satisfying the equation . Ans. (2)

(ii) Solve for x : Ans. 10 or

(iii) Solve for x : = Ans. {10 5 , 103}

(iv) Find the product of roots of the equation (log3x)2 – 2(log3x) – 5 = 0 Ans. 9
x x
(v) Find sum of roots of the equation 4 – 7.2 + 6 = 0 Ans. log26

Section (B) : Logarithmic inequalities (Subjective Questions)

B-1. Solve the following inequalities

(i) 1 Ans. 

(ii) log 1 ( x2  5 x  6)   1 Ans. (1, 2) (3, 4)

2

2x  6 F
G 1I
 , J
(iii) log7
2x  1
0 Ans. H 2K

log1/4(2 – x) > log1/4 G

F 2 IJ
(iv) H x  1K
Ans. (  1, 0) (1, 2)

(v) log1/3(2x+2 – 4x)  – 2 Ans. (–, 2)

(vi) logx(4x – 3)  2 Ans.

B-2. Find the number of integers satisfying log1/5 0 Ans. 1

B-3. Find the number of positive integers not satisfying the inequality log2 (4x – 2.2x + 17) > 5. Ans. 2

B-4. Solve the following inequalities:

(i) 2< Ans. (,  1)  (1, )
(ii) logx² (2 + x) < 1 Ans. x  (– 2, –1)  (– 1, 0)  (0, 1)  (2, )

Section (C) : Logarithm (Objective Questions)

C-1. If a4 · b5 = 1 then the value of loga (a5 b4) equals
(A*) 9 / 5 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 8 / 5

C-2. + + has the value equal to

(A) abc (B) (C) 0 (D*) 1

C-3. + + has the value equal to

(A) 1 / 2 (B*) 1 (C) 2 (D) 4

C-4. (log210) . (log280) – (log25) . (log2160) is equal to

(A) log25 (B) log220 (C) log210 (D*) log216

C-5. The ratio simplifies to

(A) a2  a  1 (B) a2 + a  1 (C) a2  a + 1 (D*) a2 + a + 1

C-6. Let and where base of the logarithm is 10, then which one of the following holds
good?
(A) 2x < y (B) 2y < x (C) 3x = 2y (D*) y = x

C-7. If loga(ab) = x, then logb(ab) is equal to

(A) (B) (C) (D*)

C-8. = 1 and = 0, then 'p' equals

(A*) rq/r (B) rq (C) 1 (D) rr/q
C-9. Which one of the following is the smallest?

(A*) log10 (B) (C) (D)

C-10. log10 (log23) + log10 (log34) + log10 (log45) + ........ + log10 (log10231024) simplifies to
(A) a composite (B) a prime number
(C) rational which is not an integer (D*) an integer

C-11. The sum of all the solutions to the equation 2 log10 x – log10 (2x – 75) = 2
(A) 30 (B) 350 (C) 75 (D*) 200

C-12. If the solution of the equation logx (125x) . x = 1 are  and ( < ). Then the value of 1 / is
(A) 5 (B) 25 (C*) 125 (D) 625
C-13. The positive integral solution of the equation logx + logx5x = + is

(A) Composite number (B*) Prime number (C) Even number (D) Divisible by 3

C-14. The expression logp , where p  2, p  N ; n  N when simplified is

(A*) independent of p (B) independent of p and of n

(C) dependent on both p and n (D) positive
C-15. If logx log18 = . Then the value of 1000 x is equal to

(A) 8 (B) 1 / 8 (C) 1 / 125 (D*) 125

C-16. If  2 x  3 = 0, then the number of values of 'x' satisfying the equation is

(A) zero (B*) 1 (C) 2 (D) more than 2
C-17. Number of real solutions of the equation = log10 is
(A) zero (B) exactly 1 (C*) exactly 2 (D) 4
C-18. The correct graph of y = is

(A) (B*) (C) (D)

Section (D) : Logarithmic inequalities (Objective Questions)

D-1. The solution set of the inequality is

(A) (B) (C*) (D)

D-2. If log0.3 (x  1) < log0.09 (x  1), then x lies in the interval

(A*) (2, ) (B) (1, 2) (C) ( 2,  1) (D)

D-3. Solution set of the inequality 2  log2 (x2 + 3x)  0 is

(A) [ 4, 1] (B*) [ 4,  3)  (0, 1] (C) (  3)  (1, ) (D) (  4)  [1, )

D-4. If log0.5 log5 (x2 – 4) > log0.51, then ‘x’ lies in the interval
(A*) (– 3, – )( , 3) (B) (– 3, – )( , 2) (C) ( ,3 ) (D) 
D-5. The set of all solutions of the inequality < 1 / 4 contains the set
(A) (– , 0) (B) (– , 1) (C) (1, ) (D*) (3, )

D-6. The set of all the solutions of the inequality log1 – x (x – 2)  – 1 is

(A) (– , 0) (B) (2, ) (C) (– , 1) (D*) 

MATCH THE COLUMN

1. Column - I Column - II

(A) If a = 3 ,b= , (p) –1
then the value of logab is equal to
(B) If a = – ,b= – , (q) 1
then the value of logab is equal to
(C) If a = ,b= , (r) 2
then the value of logab is equal to

(D) If a = ,b= , (s)

then the value of logab is equal to
(E) The number of zeroes at the end of the product of first 20 (t) None
 prime numbers, is
(F) The number of solutions of 22x – 32y = 55, in which x and y
are integers, is
Ans. (A)  r, (B)  s, (C)  p, (D)  p, (E)  q, (F)  q

2. Column - I Column - II
(A) When the repeating decimal 0.363636............. is written as a rational (p) 4
fraction in the simplest form, the sum of the numerator and denominator is
(B) Given positive integer p, q and r with p = 3q · 2r and 100 < p < 1000. (q) 0
The difference between maximum and minimum values of (q + r), is
(C) If log8 a + log8 b = (log8a) (log8b) and logab = 3, then the value of 'a' is (r) 15
(D) If P = – then value of P is (s) 16
Ans. (A)  r, (B)  p, (C)  s, (D)  q

3. Column - I Column - II
(A) Anti logarithm of to the base 27 has the value equal to (p) 5
(B) Characteristic of the logarithm of 2008 to the base 2 is
(C) The value of b satisfying the equation, (q) 7
loge2 · logb625 = log1016 · loge10 is
(D) Number of naughts after decimal before a significant figure (r) 9

comes in the number , is (s) 10

(Given log102 = 0.3010 and log103 = 0.4771)

Ans. (A)  r, (B)  s, (C)  p, (D)  q

 Marked questions are recommended for Revision.

* Marked Questions may have more than one correct option.

PART - I : ONLY ONE OPTION CORRECT TYPE

1. If logab = 2; logbc = 2 and log3c = 3 + log3a then (a + b + c) equals

(A) 90 (B*) 93 (C) 102 (D) 243

2. The sum of the solutions of the equation 9x – 6·3x + 8 = 0 is

(A) log3 2 (B) log3 6 (C*) log3 8 (D) log3 4

3. The expression: reduces to

(A*) (B) (C) (D) x

4. If a, b, c are positive real numbers such that = 27; = 49 and = . The value of

equals
(A) 489 (B*) 469 (C) 464 (D) 400

5. The set of values of x satisfying simultaneously the inequalities  0 and

2x  3  31 > 0 is
 (A*) a unit set (B) an empty set
(C) an infinite set (D) a set consisting of exactly two elements.

6. The solution set of the inequality  0 is

(A) (–, 0]  (4, ) (B) (– 2, 0]  (4, ) (C) (– 1, 0]  (4, ) (D*) (– 2, – 1)  (– 1, 0]  (4, )

1
7. Number of integers for which f ( x)   log( 2x  3) ( x2  x  1) is defined is equal to
log( 3 x  2) (2x  3)

(A) 1 (B*) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4

8. If is defined x R, then the set of values of 'a' is
(A*) [9, ) (B) [10, ) (C) [15, ) (D) [2, )
PART - II : SINGLE AND DOUBLE VALUE INTEGER TYPE

1. Find the value of (log312) (log372) – log3(192) log36 Ans. 1

2. Let and y = , then the value of x2 + y2 is
Ans. 34

3. If c (a – b) = a (b – c), then find the value of . Ans. 2

4. If logb a. logc a + loga b. logc b + loga c. logb c = 3 (where a, b, c are different positive real numbers  1),
then find the value of a b c. Ans. 1

5. If 4A + 9B = 10C, where A = log164, B = log39 & C = logx83, then find x. Ans. 10

6. Find the natural number, x, which satisfies the equation log10 (x²  12 x + 36) = 2. Ans. 16

7. Find the value of x satisfying the equation . Ans. x = 3

8. Find the non negative square root of product of reciprocal of roots of the equation
log x + log10x2 = log 2  1. Ans. 10

9. If log(2x + 3) (6x2 + 23x + 21) = 4 – log(3x + 7) (4x2 + 12x + 9), then find the value of 64 x2. Ans. 4

10. Let a, b, c, d are positive integers such that logab = and logcd = . If (a – c) = 9, find the value of

. Ans. 93

11. If the product of all solutions of the equation can be expressed in the lowest

form as , then the value of (m – n) is Ans 1

12. If the complete solution set of the inequality (log10 x)2  log10 x + 2 is (0, a]  [b, ) then find the value of
ab. Ans. 10
1 1

13. The complete solution set of the inequality log x 1
4 x2 log4 ( x  3) , is (–a, ), then determine ‘a’. Ans. 1

14. Find the number of integers which do not satisfy the inequality log1/2 (x + 5)2 > log1/2 (3x – 1)2. Ans. 6

15. If log10 2 = 0.3010 and log10 3 = 0.4771, then find sum of the number of digits in 6 15 and the number of
zeros immediately after the decimal in 3–100 . Ans. 59

PART - III : ONE OR MORE THAN ONE OPTIONS CORRECT TYPE

1. Let N = – . Then N is

(A*) a natural number (B*) a prime number (C*) a rational number (D*) an integer

2. Values of x satisfying the equation log52 x + log5x = 1 are

(A*) 1 (B*) 5 (C*) 1 / 25 (D) 3

3. The equation 16 + log2x64 = 3 has
(A*) one irrational solution (B*) no prime solution
(C*) two real solutions (D*) one integral solution
4. The equation =3 has
(A*) exactly three real solution (B*) at least one real solution
(C*) exactly one irrational solution (D*) complex roots.

5. The solution set of the system of equations log3 x + log3 y = 2 + log3 2 and log27 (x + y) = 2 / 3 is
(A*) {6, 3} (B*) {3, 6} (C) {6, 12} (D) {12, 6}

6. Consider the quadratic equation, (log108) x2 – (log105) x = 2 (log210)–1 – x. Which of the following
quantities are irrational?
(A) sum of the roots (B) product of the roots (C*) sum of the coefficients (D*) discriminant

7. If loga x = b for permissible values of a and x, then identify the statement(s) which can be correct?
(A*) If a and b are two irrational numbers, then x can be rational.
(B*) If a rational and b irrational, then x can be rational.
(C*) If a irrational and b rational, then x can be rational.
(D*) If a rational and b rational, then x can be rational.

8. Which of the following statements are true?

(A) log2 3 < log12 10 (B*) log6 5 < log7 8 (C*) log326 < log29 (D) log1615 > log1011 > log76

9. If  log0.1 x  2, then

(A*) maximum value of x is (B*) x lies between and

(C) minimum value of x is (D*) minimum value of x is

PART - IV : COMPREHENSION
Comprehension # 1

Let A denotes the sum of the roots of the equation + = 3.

B denotes the value of the product of m and n, if 2m = 3 and 3n = 4.

C denotes the sum of the integral roots of the equation log3x + (log3 x)2 = 1.

1. The value of A + B equals

(A) 10 (B) 6 (C*) 8 (D) 4
2. The value of B + C equals
(A*) 6 (B) 2 (C) 4 (D) 8
3. The value of A + C  B equals
(A) 5 (B*) 8 (C) 7 (D) 4

Comprehension # 2
 A function f(x) = ax (a > 0, a  1, x  R) is called an exponential function. Graph of exponential function
can be as follows:
Case -  Case - 
For a > 1 For 0 < a < 1

4*. Which of the following is correct?

Y Y
–x –x
y=3 y=2
y=2 –x y=3–x
(A) (B*) (C*) (D)
X X

5. Number of solutions of 3x + x – 2 = 0 is / are

(A*) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4

6. The number of positive solutions of log1/2 x = 7x is / are

(A) 0 (B*) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3

 Marked questions are recommended for Revision.

PART - I : JEE (ADVANCED) / IIT-JEE PROBLEMS (PREVIOUS YEARS)

* Marked Questions may have more than one correct option.
1. Indicate all correct alternatives, where base of the log is 2.
The equation x ( 3 / 4 ) ( l o g x ) ² + l o g x   ( 5 / 4 ) = has
(A*) at least one real solution (B*) exactly three real solutions
(C*) exactly one irrational solution (D*) complex roots

2. The number log 2 7 is

(A) an integer (B) a rational number (C*) an irrational number (D) a prime number

3. Find all real numbers x which satisfy the equation 2 log 2 log 2 x + log 1 / 2 log 2 = 1.
Ans. x=8

4. Solve the equation log 3 / 4 log 8 (x 2 + 7) + log 1 / 2 log 1 / 4 (x 2 + 7) 1 =  2. Ans. x = 3 or – 3

5. The number of solution(s) of log 4 (x – 1) = log 2 (x – 3) is / are

(A) 3 (B*) 1 (C) 2 (D) 0

7. The value of is Ans (4)

8. Let (x0, y0) be the solution of the following equations (2x)n 2 = (3y)n 3 , 3nx = 2ny . Then x0 is

(A) 1 / 6 (B) 1 / 3 (C*) 1 / 2 (D) 6

9*. If 3x = 4x – 1 , then x =
 (A*) (B*) (C*) (D)

10. The value of is Ans. (8)

PART - II : PREVIOUS YEARS PROBLEMS OF MAINS LEVEL

1. If log p x =  and log q x = , then the value of log p / q x is

(1) (2) (3) (4*)

2. If log x a, a x / 2 and log b x are in G.P. Then x is equal to

(1*) log a (log b a) (2) log a (log e a) + log a log b b (3) – log a (log a b) (4) none of these

3. If log x 256 = 8 / 5, then x is equal to

(1) 64 (2) 16 (3*) 32 (4) 8

4. If log 2, log (2 x – 1) and log (2 x + 3) are in A.P., then x is equal to

(1) 5 / 2 (2*) log 2 5 (3) log 2 3 (4) log 3 2

5. The number log 2 7 is

(1) an integer (2) a rational (3*) an irrational (4)a prime number

6. The roots of the equation log 2 (x 2 – 4x + 5) = (x – 2) are

(1) 4, 5 (2) 2, – 3 (3*) 2, 3 (4) 3, 5

7. If x = 198!, then value of the expression equals

(1) –1 (2) 0 (3*) 1 (4) 198

8. If log 0 . 3 (x – 1) < log 0 . 0 9 (x – 1), then x lies in the interval

(1*) (2, ) (2) (1, 2) (3) (–2, –1) (4) none of these