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Math Help Logs and Exps

So... I'm absolutely stuck on this problem.

http://oi60.tinypic.com/2mhdk5t.jpg

A similar one that I have the ''answer'' to is:

4log(base3)2 - log(base3)4+5

And the answer being log(base3)972 <--- Which I can't seem to understand why it's that. I must have copied it wrong.

Help, please?

June 10, 2014

2 Comments • Newest first

Symphs

[quote=klu180]For your example problem 4log(base3)2 - log(base3)4+5

4log(base3)2 = log(base3)2^4 = log(base3)16
5 = log(base3)3^5 =log(base3)243

Based on the law of logs

log(baseb)M - log(baseb)N = log(baseb)M/N so
log(base3)16 - log(base3)4 = log(base3)16/4 = log(base3)4

likewise log(baseb)M + log(baseb)N = log(baseb)MN so
log(base3)4 + log(base3)243 = log(base3)4*243 = log(base3)972

Based on that I think you could figure out your question[/quote]

Haha, I just came to that conclusion right now. Thanks for the extra support. c:

Reply June 10, 2014
klu180

For your example problem 4log(base3)2 - log(base3)4+5

4log(base3)2 = log(base3)2^4 = log(base3)16 (<-- Another law of logs, log(baseb)M^N = Nlog(baseb)M)
5 = log(base3)3^5 =log(base3)243 (When dealing with logs, turn the number into a log, I think you know about basic log expressions)

Based on the law of logs

log(baseb)M - log(baseb)N = log(baseb)M/N so
log(base3)16 - log(base3)4 = log(base3)16/4 = log(base3)4

likewise log(baseb)M + log(baseb)N = log(baseb)MN so
log(base3)4 + log(base3)243 = log(base3)4*243 = log(base3)972

Based on that I think you could figure out your question

Reply June 10, 2014 - edited