School of Mathematics and Statistics
Junior
The University of Sydney
spcr

The Logarithmic Function Quiz

Last unanswered question  Question  Next unanswered question
 

Web resources available

 
 
This quiz tests the work covered in Lecture 3 and corresponds to Section 1.4 of the textbook Calculus: Single and Multivariable (Hughes-Hallett, Gleason, McCallum et al.).
There are further web quizzes at Wiley. Choose section 4 from this page.

Be aware that it doesn’t seem to accept the written answers so you will have to check whether your answers are correct when they print the correct answer.

There are two sections of economics quiz site that would be useful, Logarithmic and Square Root Graphs and Logarithmic Functions.

The Mathematics Learning Centre has a booklet on Introduction to Exponents and Logarithms and tutors who can help you with the concepts.

There is a further useful site at http://www.ping.be/ ping1339/exp.htm which considers both logarithmic and exponential functions, as does http://www.themathpage.com/aPreCalc/logarithmic-exponential-functions.htm. There is a useful animation at http://www.analyzemath.com/logfunction/logfunction.html which shows how logarithmic functions change with different parameters.


 

Question 1

 
 
Which of the following statements are correct? There may be more than one correct answer.
a)  2.35
e   = 10.49 ⇒ ln10.49 = 2.35 .
b)  2.35
e   = 10.49 ⇒ ln2.35 = 10.49 .
c)                  1.23
log1017 = 1.23 ⇒ 10   =  17 .
d)                  10
log1017 = 1.23 ⇒ 17  = 1.23 .

 

There is at least one mistake.
For example, choice (a) should be true.
There is at least one mistake.
For example, choice (b) should be false.
Note that  c
e = x ⇒  lnx = c.
There is at least one mistake.
For example, choice (c) should be true.
There is at least one mistake.
For example, choice (d) should be false.
Note that               c
log10x = c ⇒ 10 = x.
Your answers are correct
  1. True.
  2. False. Note that  c
e = x ⇒  lnx = c.
  3. True.
  4. False. Note that               c
log10x = c ⇒ 10 = x.
 

Question 2

 
 
Consider the equation  3e2x = 5e4x.
Which of the following solve this equation?
a) e2 = 0.6.    b) x = - 0.0766.
c) x = - 0.3065.    d) x = 1.0217.

 

Not correct. Choice (a) is false.
Try again, you have not used the index laws correctly.
Your answer is correct.
Rearrange the equation to become e4x   3
e2x = 5 = 0.6
then e4x-2x = e2x = 0.6,  so we take the natural log of both sides
   2x                   ln0.6
ln(e ) = 2x = ln0.6 ⇒ x =  2  = - 0.0766.
Not correct. Choice (c) is false.
Try again, you may have tried to solve e0.5x = 3 .
      5
Not correct. Choice (d) is false.
Try again, you may have tried to solve       5
e2x = 3 .
 

Question 3

 
 
Which of the following are written correctly as simpler logarithmic quantities?
There may be more than one correct answer.
a)   (x-+-1-)
ln  x+ 2  = ln(x+ 1)+ ln(x = 2).
b)   √------  1
ln  3x + 1 = 2 ln(3x +1).
c)   (   √-----)
    x2-x-+-1       2    √ -----   √3------
ln  √33x-+-4-  = ln x + ln  x+ 1- ln  3x+ 4.
d)   (x2 √x-+-1)          1          1
ln  √33x-+-4-  = 2lnx + 2 ln(x+ 1)+ 3 ln(3x+ 4).

 

There is at least one mistake.
For example, choice (a) should be false.
Recall   (a-)
ln  b = lna - ln b.
There is at least one mistake.
For example, choice (b) should be true.
√ ------         1       b
  3x +1 = (3x+ 1)2and ln a = blna .
There is at least one mistake.
For example, choice (c) should be true.
  (a-)                  b
ln  b  = ln a- ln b and lna = b ln a.
There is at least one mistake.
For example, choice (d) should be false.
Recall   (a )
ln b- = lna - lnb .
Your answers are correct
  1. False. Recall   (a-)
ln  b = lna - ln b.
  2. True. √ ------         1       b
  3x +1 = (3x+ 1)2and ln a = blna .
  3. True.   (a-)                  b
ln  b  = ln a- ln b and lna = b ln a.
  4. False. Recall   (a )
ln b- = lna - lnb .
 

Question 4

 
 
The population of a city increases at a rate which is proportional to the current population and was 2 million in 1980 and 2.5 million in 1990.
Which of the following gives the population, P  (in millions), t  years after 1980?
a)          - 0.022t
P(t) = 2.5e     .    b)          -0.022t
P (t) = 2e     .
c)          0.022t
P(t) = 2.5e    .    d)         0.022t
P (t) = 2e    .

 

Not correct. Choice (a) is false.
Try again, you seem to have confused the initial population and the population after 10 years.
Not correct. Choice (b) is false.
Try again, you seem to have confused the initial population and the population after 10 years in your working.
Not correct. Choice (c) is false.
Try again, you seem to have confused the initial population and the population after 10 years.
Your answer is correct.
Since P  increases at a rate which is proportional to the current population
       kt
P = P0e  where P0 = 2  million, the population in 1980.
We have that        10k
2.5 = 2e  since the population is 2.5 million after 10 years.
Solving this for k  we have  10k            10k
e   = 1.25 ⇒ ln(e  ) = 10k = ln1.25
So     ln 1.25
k = ------= 0.022
     10  and P (t) = 2e0.022t.