Log proofs

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May 12th 2009, 01:09 AM
slaypullingcat

Log proofs

Hi I am terrible at proofs. I am going to write 'log base b' as logb. I need to prove the following:
1. logb 1=0
2. logb b=1
3. logb 1/b=-1
4. logb 1/x=-logb x

I realise this may a bit time consuming so thank you in advance. Or if anyone has seen these proofs somewhere? Thanks.
May 12th 2009, 02:59 AM
mr fantastic

Quote:

Originally Posted by slaypullingcat

Hi I am terrible at proofs. I am going to write 'log base b' as logb. I need to prove the following:
1. logb 1=0
2. logb b=1
3. logb 1/b=-1
4. logb 1/x=-logb x

I realise this may a bit time consuming so thank you in advance. Or if anyone has seen these proofs somewhere? Thanks.

In each case you should use the fact that $\log_b a = c \iff b^c = a$ .
May 12th 2009, 06:30 AM
stapel

Quote:

Originally Posted by slaypullingcat

Hi I am terrible at proofs. I am going to write 'log base b' as logb. I need to prove the following:
1. logb 1=0
2. logb b=1
3. logb 1/b=-1
4. logb 1/x=-logb x

I realise this may a bit time consuming so thank you in advance. Or if anyone has seen these proofs somewhere? Thanks.

These all follow, fairly immediately, from the basic definition of logarithms, as pointed out in the previous reply. Where are you having difficulty?

Please be specific. Thank you! (Wink)
May 12th 2009, 02:23 PM
slaypullingcat

I'm having trouble with the fourth one. I guess I can show the relationships as stated in the link you posted, but, I don't feel like I have proved anything.

For example, with No.3, I just wrote
log b (1/b)=-1 then log 4 (1/4)=-1 because 4^-1=1/4
Thats it, I did the same for the first two but I'm stuck on the fourth. I just don't know if what I have done constitutes a proof?
Thank you
May 12th 2009, 07:32 PM
mr fantastic

Quote:

Originally Posted by slaypullingcat

I'm having trouble with the fourth one. I guess I can show the relationships as stated in the link you posted, but, I don't feel like I have proved anything.

For example, with No.3, I just wrote
log b (1/b)=-1 then log 4 (1/4)=-1 because 4^-1=1/4
Thats it, I did the same for the first two but I'm stuck on the fourth. I just don't know if what I have done constitutes a proof?
Thank you

$\log_b \frac{1}{x} = c$ .... (1)

$\Rightarrow b^c = \frac{1}{x} \Rightarrow b^{-c} = x$

$\Rightarrow -c = \log_b x \Rightarrow c = - \log_b x$ .... (2)

Now equate (1) and (2).