Logarithm Laws Made Easy: A Complete Guide with Examples

Logarithm Laws: Video Lesson

What are the Laws of Logarithms?

The laws of logarithms are algebraic rules that allow for the simplification and rearrangement of logarithmic expressions. The 3 main logarithm laws are:

1. The Product Law: log(mn) = log(m) + log(n).
2. The Quotient Law: log(m/n) = log(m) – log(n).
3. The Power Law: log(m^k) = k·log(m).

The three fundamental laws of logarithms are shown below.

Rules when using the Laws of Logarithms

The rules for the laws of logarithms are:

• To simplify logarithms with the product or quotient laws, the bases of the logarithms must be equal.
• The base of the logarithms must be greater than zero.
• The base of the logarithms cannot be equal to 1.
• The inputs of the logarithms must be greater than zero.
• The logarithm of 1 is equal to zero, no matter what the base of the logarithm is.

The three fundamental laws of logarithms can also be written as:

• log_a(m) + log_a(n) = log_a(mn)
• log_a(m) – log_a(n) = log_a(m/n)
• log_a(m^k) = klog_a(m)

Examples of Using Logarithm Laws

The three most important logarithm laws are shown below with an example of each.

List of the Logarithm Laws

The following table shows the complete list of log laws with examples of how they are used:

Logarithm Law	Formula	Example
Product Law	loga(m) + loga(n) = loga(mn)	log(2) + log(3) = log(6)
Quotient Law	loga(m) – loga(n) = loga(m/n)	log(12) – log(3) = log(4)
Power Law	loga(mk) = k ·loga(m)	log(9) = log(32) = 2log(3)
Inverse Logarithm Property	loga(ak) = k	log2(8) = log2(23) = 3
Zero Law	loga(1) = 0	log3(1) = 0
Logarithm of a Reciprocal	loga(1/m) = -loga(m)	log(1/2) = -log(2)
Identity Property of a Logarithm	loga(a) = 1	log5(5) = 1
Inverse Property of an Exponent	aloga(k) = k	3log3(5) = 5
Change of Base Law	loga(m) = logc(m)/logc(a)	log2(5) = log3(5)/log3(2)

Here is a visual list of 5 of the most commonly used logarithm laws.

The colours used in this list show how the different rearrangements are made in a more simple, visual manner.

The following sections take a look at each of the logarithm laws in greater detail.

The logarithm laws are:

1. The Product Rule
2. The Quotient Rule
3. The Power Rule
4. The Inverse Property of Logarithms
5. The Zero Rule
6. The Identity Rule
7. The Inverse Property of the Exponent

The Product (Addition) Logarithm Law

To add two or more logarithms that have the same base, simply multiply the numbers inside the logarithms. For example, log(3)+log(2) = log(6). The result is a single logarithm with the same base as those being added.

The formula for the product law of logarithms is given as:

The product rule of logarithm laws

Two logarithms can only be simplified using the addition (product) rule if they have the same base. This base remains the same in the resulting answer.

For example, log₃(2) + log₃(5) = log₃(2 × 5) = log₃(10).

Here is another example of adding logarithms using log laws and then simplifying.

log₄(2) + log₄(8) = log₄(16)

Since two logarithms of the same base were added, the resulting logarithm input was equal to the product of the inputs given.

Now log₄(16) = 2 because 4² = 16.

A logarithm simply asks what power the base of the logarithm must be raised to in order to obtain the input.

4 must be raised to the power of 2 to obtain 16 and so, the final answer of this question is just 2.

The product rule for logarithms can also be written in reverse using the formula:

The product rule of logarithm laws

The product rule of logarithms states that a single logarithm can be separated into the sum of individual logarithms which have inputs that multiply to make the input of the original logarithm.

For example, log(21) = log(3) + log(7).

Here are some examples of how to add logarithms using the addition log law.

Question		Solution
log(5) + log(3)	= log(5×3)	= log(15)
log3(2) + log3(7)	= log3(2×7)	= log3(14)
log(2) + log(3) + log(4)	= log(2×3×4)	= log(24)
log(1) + log(20) + log(0.25)	= log(1×20×0.25)	= log(5)
ln(4) + ln(5)	= ln(4×5)	= ln(20)
log(𝑥2) + log(y)	= log(𝑥2 × y)	= log(𝑥2y)

The Quotient (Subtraction )Logarithm Law

Logarithms of the same base can be subtracted by dividing their inputs. For example, log(8) – log(4) = log(2), since 8 ÷ 4 = 2. The result is a single logarithm with the same base as those being subtracted.

The formula for subtracting logarithms using the quotient law is given as:

The quotient law of logarithms

Two or more logarithms can only be simplified using the quotient law if they have the same base. The input of the first logarithm is divided by the input of the logarithm being subtracted. The result is a single logarithm with the same base.

For example, log₃(20) – log₃(4) = log₃(5).

The result is a single logarithm, also base 3.

Here is another example of subtracting logarithms using the quotient logarithm law.

log₅(100) – log₅(4) = log₃(100 ÷ 4) which equals log₅(25).

log₅(25) can be evaluated since 25 is a power of 5.

5² = 25 and so, log₅(25) = 2.

The quotient rule for logarithms can also be written in reverse using the formula:

The product rule of logarithm laws

The quotient rule of logarithms states that a single logarithm can be written as a logarithm subtracted from another logarithm.

For example, log(²/₅) = log(2) – log(5).

Here are some examples of how to subtract logarithms using the subtraction log law.

Question		Solution
log(10) – log(2)	= log(10÷2)	= log(5)
log3(6) – log3(3)	= log3(6÷3)	= log3(2)
log(20) – log(2) – log(5)	= log(20÷2÷5)	= log(2)
log(30) – log(5) – log(1)	= log(30÷5÷1)	= log(6)
ln(12) – ln(6)	= ln(12÷6)	= ln(2)
log(𝑥2) – log(y)	= log(𝑥2 ÷ y)	= log(𝑥2/y)

The Logarithm Law for Exponents

If there is a coefficient in front of a logarithm, the power law of logarithms states that the input to the logarithm can be raised to the power of this coefficient. For example, 2log(3) = log(3²) which equals log(9).

The formula for the power law of logarithms is:

The power law of logarithms

For example, 3log₂(10) can be written as log₂(10³).

This is because the coefficient of 3 immediately in front of the log can be moved so that it is acting as a power on the number inside the log.

Now log₂(10³) = log₂(1000).

Reciprocal Rule of Logarithms

When the reciprocal of the input to a logarithm is taken, the result is equal to -1 multiplied by the logarithm of the original input. That is log(¹/_b) = -log(b). For example, log(¹/₂) = -log(2).

We can see that since then .

We can use the power law of logarithms to move the power of -1 down to become the coefficient of the logarithm so that or more simply, .

For example, .

The formula for the reciprocal of the input to a logarithm is given by:

Reciprocal of the input to a logarithm

The reciprocal logarithm law can be applied in the following circumstances.

• 
• 
• (since both sides of the equation equal zero)
• 

Logarithms Involving a Square Root

When the coefficient of a logarithm is equal to one half, the input inside the logarithm can be raised to the power of this half. Raising a value to the power of one half is equivalent to finding its square root. Therefore (¹/₂)log_a(b) = log_a(√b). For example, (¹/₂)log(16) = log(√16) = log(4).

The formula for the a logarithm with a coefficient of one half is given as:

Formula for a logarithm with a coefficient of one half

In the example below, using the power logarithm law, (¹/₂)log(16) = log(16^1/₂).

When 16 is raised to the power of one half, it is equivalent of finding the square root of 16.

Therefore (¹/₂)log(16) = log(16^1/₂) = log(√16) = log(4).

In general, .

And so, the formula for any fractional coefficient of a logarithm is:

Formula for a fractional coefficient of a logarithm

For example, and so, .

The Inverse Property of Logarithms

The inverse property of logarithms states that log_a(a^k) = k. When the base number inside the logarithm is equal to the base of the logarithm, the result is simply the value of the exponent inside the logarithm. For example, log₃(3⁵) = 5.

The formula for the inverse property of logarithms is:

The Inverse Property of Logarithms

The other example of the inverse property of logarithms listed above is .

That is because when 2 is raised to the power of 𝑥, we obtain 2^𝑥.

Logarithm Law: The Zero Rule

The logarithm of one is equal to zero no matter what the base of the logarithm is. That is, log_a(1) = 0 for all valid values of ‘a’. Some of the many examples include: log₂(1) = 0, log₅(1) = 0, log(1) = 0 and ln(1) = 0.

This rule is true since the value of a logarithmic expression is always equal to the power that the base of the logarithm must be raised to in order to obtain the value of the input of the logarithm.

Since any positive or negative number raised to the power of zero is equal to 1 (that is, a⁰=1), then log_a(1) must be equal to 0.

Logarithm Law: The Identity Rule

The identity rule of logarithms states that if the input to a logarithm is equal in value to the base of the logarithm, the result is equal to 1. That is, log_a(a) = 1. For example, log₃(3) = 1 and log₂(2) = 1.

This rule works since a logarithmic expression is equal in value to the power that its base must be raised to in order to obtain the value which is the input to the logarithm.

Since a¹ = a, then log_a(a) must equal 1.

The identity rule of logarithms is applied to natural logarithms in the sense that ln(e) = 1. This is because ln(e) means log_e(e).

Logarithm Law: Inverse Property of Exponents

The inverse property of exponents states that if a given number is raised to the power of a logarithm which has the same base as this given number, then the result is simply equal to the input of the logarithm. That is, a^log_a(k) = k. For example, 2^log₂(5) = 5.

The inverse property of exponents can be applied to natural logarithms in the following manner:

e^ln(k) = k

This is true since ln(k) means log_e(k).

For example, e^ln(2) = 2.

Logarithm Laws: Examples and Solutions

Here are some examples with solutions of using logarithm laws to simplify and expand expressions.

It is important to understand that the addition and subtraction logarithm laws can only be used when we have one logarithm added to or subtracted from another logarithm and there are no coefficients in front of either logarithm.

Therefore, it is important to always use the power logarithm law to move any coefficients from in front of the logarithms before adding or subtracting them.

For example, use logarithm laws to simplify .

Both logarithms have coefficients and so, we use the power log law so that and .

Therefore we know that and .

Therefore becomes .

Now that the coefficients have been moved and we simply have one logarithm plus another logarithm, we can add them using the addition (product) law of logarithms.

We simply multiply the inputs of 4 and 1000.

.

Here is another example of simplifying a logarithmic expression using logarithm laws.

Simplify .

We move the coefficients first so that they become the powers of the inputs to the logarithm.

In the first logarithm:

and in the second logarithm: .

Therefore becomes .

Since the logarithms have the same base, we can subtract them using the subtraction (quotient) law.

We simply divide 8 by 2 to obtain 4.

.

Here are some further examples of using logarithm laws:

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• Simplify .

All logarithms are the same base and so we multiply the numbers in the logarithms that are being added and then divide by the number inside the logarithm being subtracted.

Therefore:

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• Simplify .

Both 16 and 2 are powers of 2, which is the base of the logarithms.

We can write as which is equal to 4.

is just equal to 1.

Therefore, and so, the answer is 5.

…

Alternatively, we can use the addition (product) law immediately so that .

Then we can use the fact that 2⁵=32 to evaluate .

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• Evaluate .

We can use the subtraction (quotient) law so that .

Using the fact that log(100) means log₁₀(100) and also the fact that 10²=100, we can evaluate log(100) = 2.

Therefore .

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• Expand the logarithmic expression of .

Since the 25, , and z are multiplied together inside the logarithm, we can write.

We can see that log₅(25) = 2 since 5² = 25.

Therefore .

We can then use the power law to bring the coefficients down in front of the logarithms to obtain:

.

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• Expand the logarithmic expression .

All terms on the top of the fraction are multiplied together and so, can be written as the summation of individual logs. The term on the bottom of the fraction are subtracted as we are dividing by this.

We write .

We can write log₂(6) as log₂(2) + log₂(3).

We can therefore write log₂(6) as 1 + log₂(3).

Therefore .

Finally, we can bring down the power of 5 on the final logarithm using the power law.

.

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• Expand the logarithmic expression of .

We can write .

We can then write this as .

We bring down the power using the power law so that .

Finally, we use the fact that ln(e) = 1 so that:

.

Expanding Logarithms Using Logarithm Laws

Single logarithms can be expanded into multiple logarithms of the same base using logarithm laws.

For example, using the addition (product) law, we can write log(20) as log(20) = log(5) + log(4).

Then log(4) can also be written as log(2²), which can be written as 2log(2).

Therefore log(20) can be written as log(20) = log(5) + 2log(2).

Here is another example of expanding a logarithmic expression using logarithm laws.

Using the addition and subtraction logarithm laws, we can write .

All terms on top of the fraction inside the logarithm are positive and the log(y⁵) is subtracted since it has been divided inside the logarithm.

We can then use the power law of logarithms to bring down the powers as coefficients.

We can also evaluate log(10) = 1.

Therefore .

Change of Base Rule

The change of base formula for logarithms is log_a(b) = log_c(b) ÷ log_c(a). For example log₂(10) = log(10) ÷ log(2).

The change of base logarithm formula is:

The change of base logarithm formula

To divide logarithms that have the same base, the change of base formula can be used. That is, log_c(b) ÷ log_c(a) = log_a(b). For example, log₂(27) ÷ log₂(3) = log₃(27) and this can be evaluated since log₃(27) = 3.

Proof of the Logarithm Laws

The following is the algebraic proof of the product (addition) law of logarithms.

• Let and take logarithms of both sides to obtain . Then use the power law of logarithms to bring the power of m down as the coefficient of the logarithm. That is, .
• Take and follow the same process as above to obtain .
• Multiply and to obtain which is more simply written as .
• Take logarithms of both sides to obtain . Then use the power law of logarithms to bring the (m+n) down as the coefficient of the log so that .
• Then expand the brackets to obtain .
• Finally substitute and from the previous calculations so that becomes .

The following is the algebraic proof of the quotient (subtraction) law of logarithms:

• Let and take logarithms of both sides to obtain . Then use the power law of logarithms to bring the power of m down as the coefficient of the logarithm. That is, .
• Take and follow the same process as above to obtain .
• Divide 𝑥 by y so that and so, .
• Take logarithms of both sides so that .
• This can be written using the power law of logarithms as .
• Expanding the brackets, .
• Finally substitute and from the previous calculations so that becomes .

The following is algebraic proof of the exponent (power) law of logarithms:

• Consider the expoenential equation of and write this in logarithmic form as .
• Returning to and raise both sides to the power of k to obtain .
• This can be written more simply as .
• Now write in logarithmic form as .
• Now substitute as previously found into in order to obtain .
• This can be written in the more familiar format as .