Stating logarithm in variables

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on expressing ##\log \sqrt{1000}## in terms of variables a and b, where a = ##\log 3## and b = ##\log 5##. Participants initially struggle to relate the logarithm to these variables without resorting to unconventional methods. It is clarified that the question should indeed focus on expressing the logarithm in terms of a and b, rather than other variables. The conversation reveals confusion about the problem's wording, with some suggesting it may contain errors, which the teacher later confirms. Ultimately, the correct expression is indicated to be ##\frac{3}{2} (a + b)##, although the question's validity remains in question.
songoku
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Homework Statement
Given that ##a=\log 3## and ##b=\log 5##, state ##\log \sqrt{1000}## in terms of u and/or v
Relevant Equations
Logarithm properties
Have tried to do that but getting no result.

I know ##\log \sqrt{1000} = \frac {3}{2}## . I just want to know whether it is possible to state ##\log \sqrt{1000}## in terms of u and/or v without using "weird stuff", like ##\log \sqrt{1000} = \frac{3}{2} + u - u ## (this is what I did...)

Thanks
 
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songoku said:
Homework Statement:: Given that ##a=\log 3## and ##b=\log 5##, state ##\log \sqrt{1000}## in terms of u and/or v
Relevant Equations:: Logarithm properties

Have tried to do that but getting no result.

I know ##\log \sqrt{1000} = \frac {3}{2}## . I just want to know whether it is possible to state ##\log \sqrt{1000}## in terms of u and/or v without using "weird stuff", like ##\log \sqrt{1000} = \frac{3}{2} + u - u ## (this is what I did...)

Thanks
Should this have been "state ##\log \sqrt{1000}## in terms of a and/or b"? If not, I have no idea what this problem is asking.
 
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Mark44 said:
Should this have been "state log⁡1000 in terms of a and/or b"? If not, I have no idea what this problem is asking.
Ah I am sorry, my bad. I got mixed up with another question I did.

Yes, the question should be: "state ##\log⁡ \sqrt{1000}## in terms of a and/or b"

What I did was trying something and ended up with: ##\frac{3}{2} +a - a##
 
songoku said:
Ah I am sorry, my bad. I got mixed up with another question I did.

Yes, the question should be: "state ##\log⁡ \sqrt{1000}## in terms of a and/or b"

What I did was trying something and ended up with: ##\frac{3}{2} +a - a##
I don't think that's what they were looking for.

10 = 2 * 5, so ##\log 10 = \log(2 * 5) = \log 2 + \log 5##
Can you work with that?
 
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Mark44 said:
I don't think that's what they were looking for.

10 = 2 * 5, so ##\log 10 = \log(2 * 5) = \log 2 + \log 5##
Can you work with that?
I can try

##\log \sqrt{1000} = \frac{3}{2} \log 10 = \frac{3}{2} (\log 5 + \log 2) = \frac{3}{2} = (b + \log 2)##

How to relate ##\log 2## to ##a## or ##b## ?

Thanks
 
songoku said:
I can try

##\log \sqrt{1000} = \frac{3}{2} \log 10 = \frac{3}{2} (\log 5 + \log 2) = \frac{3}{2} = (b + \log 2)##
That last part should be ##\frac{3}{2} (b + \log 2)##, not ##\frac{3}{2} = (b + \log 2)##
songoku said:
How to relate ##\log 2## to ##a## or ##b## ?
2 = 10/5, so ##\log 2 = \log 10 - \log 5##
 
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Mark44 said:
That last part should be ##\frac{3}{2} (b + \log 2)##, not ##\frac{3}{2} = (b + \log 2)##
Yes, sorry that's typo

2 = 10/5, so ##\log 2 = \log 10 - \log 5##
So:

##\log \sqrt{1000} = \frac{3}{2} \log 10 = \frac{3}{2} (\log 5 + \log 2) = \frac{3}{2} (b + \log 2)##

##=\frac{3}{2} (b + \log 10 - \log 5)##

##=\frac{3}{2} (b + 1 - b)##

##=\frac{3}{2} \rightarrow ## no ##a## or ##b## ?

Thanks
 
Just checking - are you sure log here is log base 10, and not natural log?

I also feel like they must have meant to say a=log(2).

The whole question as you've stated it is a bit weird.
 
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Office_Shredder said:
Just checking - are you sure log here is log base 10, and not natural log?

I also feel like they must have meant to say a=log(2).

The whole question as you've stated it is a bit weird.
Yes the base of the logarithm is 10

a is log (3) because it is also used in other part of the question

Maybe the question is wrong

Thank you very much for all the help Mark44 and Office_Shredder
 
  • #10
That would make a bit more sense, if there were eight questions all using the same a and b, and one of them happened to not need them to expressed as a fraction.
 
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  • #11
Office_Shredder said:
That would make a bit more sense, if there were eight questions all using the same a and b, and one of them happened to not need them to expressed as a fraction.
Unfortunately, 3/2 is stated as wrong answer by the system 😅
 
  • #12
Hmm. Have you tried 1.5?

I really don't know what they are looking for, sorry.
 
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  • #13
I'm not sure if this is the goal but ...
I removed the log by raising 10 to the powers ##a## and ##b##, then multiplied the result$$10^a10^b=15=15\frac{1000}{1000}\Leftrightarrow\frac{10^3}{15}10^{a+b}=1000\Leftrightarrow\sqrt{\frac{10^{a+b+3}}{15}}=\sqrt{1000}$$now we just use ##\log##, i guess.
 
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  • #14
songoku said:
Yes the base of the logarithm is 10

a is log (3) because it is also used in other part of the question
It sounds like there is more to the problem statement than the OP indicates. The other parts might clarify it.
 
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  • #15
songoku said:
So:
##\log \sqrt{1000} = \frac{3}{2} \log 10 = \frac{3}{2} (\log 5 + \log 2) = \frac{3}{2} (b + \log 2)##
##=\frac{3}{2} (b + \log 10 - \log 5)##
##=\frac{3}{2} (b + 1 - b)##
##=\frac{3}{2} \rightarrow ## no ##a## or ##b## ?
Perhaps ##\frac 32 = \frac {15}{10} = \frac{3\cdot 5}{10}## can help.
 
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  • #16
@songoku ,

Combine the idea by @archaic in Post #13: ##\quad a=\log_{10}(3) \Leftrightarrow 10^a=3## etc.

with the suggestion by @vela in Post #15.
 
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  • #17
The teacher admitted that the question is wrong.

Sorry everyone for all the trouble
 
  • #18
songoku said:
The teacher admitted that the question is wrong.

Sorry everyone for all the trouble
However, the answer you arrived at can be expressed in terms of a and b.

##\dfrac 3 2 = 10^{(a+b-1)} ##

Added in Edit:
The above was corrected per post #19.
 
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  • #19
SammyS said:
However, the answer you arrived at can be expressed in terms of a and b.

##\dfrac 2 3 = 10^{(a+b-1)} ##
Yes I tried that but the correct answer came out as: ##\frac{3}{2} (a+b)## , that's why the teacher canceled the question

And I think there is typo, ##\frac{2}{3}## should be ##\frac{3}{2}##

Thank you SammyS
 
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  • #20
I get lost in long threads like this, not even sure if you have solved, but sole factors of 1000 are powers of 5 and 2. You are essentially given 5 and 2 to play with, while the problem involves 3 and it looks like you have difficulty in discovering a relation between these numbers. :smile:
 
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