

For example, use this video by Khan Academy to introduce the multiplication, as well as the division property of logarithms.Īfterward, play this video by Khan Academy to illustrate the power rule of logarithms. If you have the technical possibilities, you can also complement your lesson with multimedia material, such as videos. So there you have it! We see that the multiplication property is true. If we simply replace these values above in the statement log 28 + log 232 = log 2256, we’ll get the following: To check if this is correct, we can evaluate the logarithms, that is: Present this property on the whiteboard in the following way: Present this property on the whiteboard in the following way:įinally, explain that the power rule of logarithms states that the logarithm of a number raised to a certain power is equal to the product of power and logarithm of the number. Point out that according to the division property of logarithms, the logarithm of the quotient of two numbers is equal to the difference of the individual logarithm of each number. Point out that you will look into three such properties in this class, including:Įxplain to students that the multiplication property of logarithms states that the logarithm of the product of two numbers is equal to the sum of individual logarithms of each number. For starters, highlight that we use the properties of logarithms for simplifying and evaluating logarithms.Īdd that with the help of these properties, we can rewrite logarithmic expressions, that is, we can expand or condense them. Now that you’ve briefly reviewed them, you can proceed with explaining the properties of logarithms. If you require detailed guidelines on teaching logarithms, as well as fun activities to practice logarithms, feel free to check out this article. Can students easily determine what this evaluates to, that is, log 381 = 4? Practice a bit more and address potential gaps.įor more advanced practice examples on evaluating logarithms, use this brief online activity by Khan Academy.

What about evaluating logarithms? Have students acquired proficiency in evaluating a given log? For instance, write log 381 = x on the whiteboard. Can most students easily say that the equivalent exponent is 2 x = 16?

For example, write a simple log on the whiteboard, such as log 216 = x, and ask students to transform it into an exponent. Then, check if there are any gaps in what students have learned so far on logarithms. The video introduces what logarithms represent, by using examples. You can also play this video in your class. So logarithms are the opposite of exponentials, as they basically “undo” exponentials. You can present this in the following manner: That is, log a x (“log base a of x”) is the exponent to which a must be raised to get x. Remind students that a logarithm is an exponent. Start your lesson on the properties of logarithms by briefly reviewing what logarithms are.

Strategies for Teaching Properties of Logarithms Review Logarithms We share a few such strategies in this article. This is because students can simplify and evaluate logarithms with the help of these properties.Įven though log lessons may be challenging, math teachers can help make them more engaging and accessible by using various teaching strategies. In the next examples, we will solve some problems involving pH.When pre-calculus students learn about logarithmic functions, one of the most important lessons they come across is the properties of logarithms. Taken together, the product rule, quotient rule, and power rule are often called “properties of logs.” Sometimes we apply more than one rule in order to expand an expression. Condense a logarithmic expression into one logarithm.Expand a logarithm using a combination of logarithm rules.
