MHB How Many Digits in the Number $2^{100}$?

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To determine the number of digits in \(2^{100}\) without using logs or a calculator, participants discussed various methods, ultimately agreeing that both proposed answers were correct. The elegance of one solution by user greg1313 was particularly noted. The conversation included speculation about the validity of the answers, referencing external sources for confirmation. The thread highlighted the challenge of finding the number of digits in large powers. Overall, the discussion emphasized mathematical reasoning and problem-solving techniques.
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without using logs and calculator find the number of digits in $2^{100}$
 
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Re: number of digit

(EDITED)

$$2^{100} = \left ( 2^{10} \right )^{10} = 1024^{10} = \left ( 1000 + 24 \right )^{10} = 1000^{10} + \sum_{i = 0}^{9} c_i 1000^{i} 24^{10 - i}$$
Where the $c_i$ are the binomial coefficients for this binomial term:
$$c_i = \left ( 1, 10, 45, 120, 210, 252, 210, 120, 45, 10 \right )$$
Now observe that for $0 \leq i \leq 9$ we have that:
$$c 1000^i 24^{10 - i} < \frac{9}{10} 1000^{10} ~ ~ \iff ~ ~ c 24^{10 - i} < \frac{9}{10} 1000^{10 - i} ~ ~ \iff ~ ~ c < \frac{9}{10} 40^{10 - i} < \frac{9}{10} \left ( \frac{1000}{24} \right )^{10 - i}$$
It is easy to see that this inequality holds true for all the binomial coefficients:
$$c_0 = 1 < \frac{9}{10} 40^{10}$$
$$c_1 = 10 < \frac{9}{10} 40^9$$
$$\cdots$$
$$c_7 = 120 < \frac{9}{10} 40^3$$
$$c_8 = 45 < \frac{9}{10} 40^2$$
$$c_9 = 10 < \frac{9}{10} 40^1$$
So we can say that:
$$c_i 1000^i 24^{10 - i} < \frac{9}{10} 1000^{10} ~ ~ ~ \left ( 0 \leq i \leq 9 \right )$$
And so:
$$\sum_{i = 0}^{9} c_i 1000^i 24^{10 - i} < 10 \cdot \frac{9}{10} \cdot 1000^{10} = 9 \cdot 1000^{10}$$
We therefore conclude that:
$$1000^{10} = 10^{30} < 2^{100} < 1000^{10} + 9 \cdot 1000^{10} = 10 \cdot 1000^{10} = 10^{31}$$
And so $2^{100}$ has $31$ digits.
 
Last edited:
Re: number of digit

Bacterius said:
We therefore conclude that:
$$1000^{10} < 2^{100} < 1000^{10} + 9 \cdot 1000^{10} = 1000^{11}$$

it should be
$1000^{10} < 2^{100} < 1000^{10} + 9 \cdot 1000^{10} = 10 *1000^{10}$
 
Re: number of digit

$$2^{100}=1024^{10}=(1024^5)^2$$

$$1024^2$$ has 4 + 4 - 1 = 7 digits, $$1024^4$$ has 7 + 7 - 1 = 13 digits,

$$1024^5$$ has 13 + 4 - 1 = 16 digits, $$1024^{10}$$ has 16 + 16 - 1 = 31 digits.

Speculation at this point; $1024^{100}$ has 302 digits. :)
 
Re: number of digit

greg1313 said:
$$2^{100}=1024^{10}=(1024^5)^2$$

$$1024^2$$ has 4 + 4 - 1 = 7 digits, $$1024^4$$ has 7 + 7 - 1 = 13 digits,

$$1024^5$$ has 13 + 4 - 1 = 16 digits, $$1024^{10}$$ has 16 + 16 - 1 = 31 digits.

Speculation at this point; $1024^{100}$ has 302 digits. :)

not too convincing
2 digit * 2 digit can be 4 digit as 32 * 32 = 1024
 
Re: number of digit

kaliprasad said:
not too convincing
2 digit * 2 digit can be 4 digit as 32 * 32 = 1024
Leading 10...
 
Re: number of digit

greg1313 said:
Leading 10...

explanation was missing . now is is 100% correct
 
I should close it before the year end.
both the ans are correct and greg1313's ans is elegant.
here is my ans
$2^{10} = 1024 > 1000 = 10^3$
so $2^{100} > 10^{30}$

further
$2^{10} < 1025 < 10^3 * \frac{41}{40}= 10^3 *( 1+ \frac{1}{40}) $
so $2^{100} < 10^{30} * ( 1+ \frac{1}{40})^{10} < 10^{30} * ( 1+ \frac{1}{40})^{40}< 10^{30} * e < 10^{30} * 3$
so $10^{30} < 2^{100} < 3 * 10^{30}$
hence 31 digits
 
Re: number of digit

greg1313 said:
Speculation at this point; $1024^{100}$ has 302 digits. :)

your speculation is right as per http://mathhelpboards.com/challenge-questions-puzzles-28/how-many-digits-5251.html
 

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