How do I condense the expression 3/2ln5t^6-3/4lnt^4?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on condensing the logarithmic expression 3/2ln(5t^6) - 3/4ln(t^4). Participants clarify the correct application of logarithmic properties, specifically that ln(a) - ln(b) = ln(a/b) and how to handle coefficients in logarithmic expressions. The final condensed form of the expression is ln(5^(3/2) * t^6/t^3), which simplifies to ln(5^(3/2) * t^3).

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ohchelsea
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i have to condense this expression:

3/2ln5t^6-3/4lnt^4

i may have done this in the wrong order but so far I've gotten to this point:
(3/2ln5t^6)/(3/4lnt^4)am i doing this right? is that all i have to do?
 
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Remember the rule: logxa=alogx
 
so what do i do about those fractions and the exponents that are already there?
 
Well, start from the top again, [since you use the incorrect division of logs rule; the correct one is that loga-logb=log(a/b)].

Firstly, tidy up the expression and remove the exponents, so, what would \frac{3}{2}\ln 5t^6 simplify to, using the rule I gave in post 2? Similarly, what would the second term become?

Then use the division property I give above to combine the two into one logarithm.
 
ohchelsea said:
i have to condense this expression:

3/2ln5t^6-3/4lnt^4

i may have done this in the wrong order but so far I've gotten to this point:
(3/2ln5t^6)/(3/4lnt^4)


am i doing this right? is that all i have to do?

What exactly do you mean by "condensing" the expression? Writing it as a single expression. Your basic idea is right but you are misremembering a "law of logarithms".
ln a- ln b= ln (a/b), NOT "ln(a)/ln(b)". Also, as cristo pointed out, you need to handle those coefficients, (3/2) and (3/4).
\frac{3}{2}ln(5t^6)= ln((5t^6)^{3/2}
 
okay so i got this:

(ln5t^9)/(lnt^3)

i still don't feel like i did that right =/
 
Sorry, I read that as ln(5t)^6 and then used horrible notation in my post!

ohchelsea said:
okay so i got this:

(ln5t^9)/(lnt^3)

i still don't feel like i did that right =/

You're still using the law of subtraction of logs incorrectly! Also, looking at Halls' post, note that your first term should be \ln(5^{3/2}t^9). Then look again at the rule loga-logb=log(a/b)
 
okay i see how i was doing it wrong now...sorry had a dumb moment.

so then would i get
ln(5^3/2*t^9)/t^3) ?
 
Ok, can this be simplified?

[Hint: \frac{x^a}{x^b}=x^{a-b} ]
 
  • #10
ln(5^3/2)t^6 ?
 
  • #11
Yea, it's all in the argument of the log function though: \ln(5^{3/2}t^6)
 
  • #12
yay! thank you so much!
 

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