Why does the expression equal the reciprocal of its logarithm?

In summary, a logarithm is a mathematical function that represents the power to which a base number must be raised to equal a given number. A strange logarithmic property refers to unexpected results or relationships when using logarithms in equations. An example is that the logarithm base 10 of 0.1 is -1. These properties can reveal hidden patterns and are important in scientific fields like physics and chemistry. Understanding these properties can benefit scientific research by accurately interpreting data and improving mathematical models.
  • #1
terryds
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I encountered this in http://calcchat.com/book/Calculus-10e/8/4/7/

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How come the above expression equals the below?
What I know it should be 4 ln(x/(4+sqrt(16-x^2))) which means the -1 becomes the power of that thing inside ln.

Please help me. I really don't get it.
 
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  • #2
Provided ##x\in[-4,0)\cup (0,4]## we have
$$\left|\frac{4+\sqrt{16-x^2}}x\right|=\frac{4+\sqrt{16-x^2}}{|x|}$$
and
$$\left|\frac{4-\sqrt{16-x^2}}x\right|=\frac{4-\sqrt{16-x^2}}{|x|}$$
and that multiplying the two right-hand sides together gives 1. So they are reciprocals, hence their logs are additive inverses.
 
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1. What is a logarithm?

A logarithm is a mathematical function that represents the power to which a base number must be raised to equal a given number. For example, the logarithm base 10 of 100 is equal to 2, because 10 to the power of 2 is 100.

2. What is a strange logarithmic property?

A strange logarithmic property refers to an unexpected or counterintuitive result that occurs when using logarithms in mathematical equations. This can include unusual patterns or relationships between numbers.

3. Can you give an example of a strange logarithmic property?

One example of a strange logarithmic property is that the logarithm base 10 of 0.1 is equal to -1. This may seem counterintuitive since 0.1 is a small number, but it shows that logarithms can produce negative results for numbers between 0 and 1.

4. What is the significance of strange logarithmic properties?

Strange logarithmic properties can reveal hidden patterns and relationships between numbers that may not be apparent at first glance. They also play an important role in many scientific fields, such as physics and chemistry, where logarithms are used to represent exponential growth and decay.

5. How can understanding strange logarithmic properties benefit scientific research?

By understanding strange logarithmic properties, scientists can accurately interpret and analyze data that follows logarithmic patterns. This can lead to new discoveries and insights in various fields, as well as improve the accuracy and precision of mathematical models and calculations.

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