Proving the Laws of Logarithms
Warm up
Take a look at these results
$$\log_3 2 + \log_3 5 = \log_3 10$$
$$\log_2 15 - \log_2 3 = \log_2 5$$
$$2\log_5 7 = \log_5 49$$
$$\frac{1}{3} \log_5 64 = \log_5 4$$
$$(\log_5 7) \times (\log_7 11)=\log_5 11$$
How can you change the input values so that the equations still hold?
What happens if you change the base of the logarithms?
Can you state generalised versions of these results? What conditions must the base and the inputs satisfy?
Main problem
These cards can be sorted to give a proof of the statement
Can you arrange the cards to give a convincing proof?
You may need to include some additional algebraic steps or explanations if you think they would help to make the argument clearer or more convincing.
You might want to print out the cards and rearrange them. Some blank cards have been included in the cards for printing in case you would like to use them to fill in some details.
Underground Mathematics is hosted by Cambridge Mathematics. The project was originally funded by a grant from the UK Department for Education to provide free web-based resources that support the teaching and learning of post-16 mathematics.
Visit the site at undergroundmathematics.org to find more resources, which also offer suggestions, solutions and teacher notes to help with their use in the classroom.
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