Quantitative Aptitude · Numbers & Simplification
Logarithms — Questions & Answers
Logarithm questions apply the product, quotient and power laws, plus change of base. Knowing that log102≈0.3010 and log103≈0.4771 lets you evaluate many expressions by hand.
- 5 solved questions
- Step-by-step AI walkthroughs
- Key formulas included
Key formulas
loga(xy)=logax+logay, logayx=logax−logay
loga(xn)=nlogax, logaa=1, loga1=0
Change of base: logab=logcalogcb=logba1
5 solved Logarithms questions
Evaluate log101000.
Solution — answer A
103=1000, so log101000=3.
4 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Understand Logarithms
A logarithm asks "What power do I need to raise the base to, to get a certain number?". For example, logba=c means that bc=a. The base is b, and a is the number.
Step 2: Apply the Definition
In our question, we need to evaluate log101000. Here, the base is 10 and the number is 1000. We are looking for the exponent, let's call it x, such that 10x=1000.
Step 3: Find the Exponent
Now, we need to determine what power of 10 gives us 1000. We know that 10×10=100, and 10×10×10=1000. Therefore, 103=1000.
Step 4: The answer
So the answer is (A) 3. Since 103=1000, it means that log101000=3 by the definition of a logarithm.
Evaluate log232.
Solution — answer C
25=32, so log232=5.
4 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Understand Logarithms
A logarithm asks "what power do I need to raise the base to, to get a certain number?". So, logba=x is the same as saying bx=a.
Step 2: Rephrase the Question
For log232, our base is 2 and the number is 32. We are looking for the power x such that 2x=32. We need to find what power of 2 gives 32.
Step 3: Calculate the Power
Let's list powers of 2: 21=2, 22=4, 23=8, 24=16, and 25=32. So, the power we are looking for is 5.
Step 4: The answer
So the answer is (C) 5. This is because 2 raised to the power of 5 equals 32, which is exactly what log232 asks.
What is the value of log102+log105?
Solution — answer A
log102+log105=log10(2×5)=log1010=1.
5 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Recall log rule
The expression involves the sum of two logarithms with the same base. Remember the product rule for logarithms: logbx+logby=logb(xy). This rule will help us combine the terms.
Step 2: Apply the rule
Using the product rule, we can combine log102+log105. Here, the base b=10, x=2, and y=5. So, we get log10(2×5). This simplifies the expression significantly.
Step 3: Simplify inside log
Now, let's perform the multiplication inside the logarithm. 2×5=10. So, our expression becomes log1010. We are getting closer to a final value.
Step 4: Evaluate the logarithm
Finally, we need to evaluate log1010. Remember that logbb=1 for any valid base b. Since our base is 10 and the argument is also 10, the value is simply 1.
Step 5: The answer
So the answer is (A) 1. The sum of the logarithms simplifies to log1010, which equals 1 based on the definition of a logarithm.
If log10x=3, find x.
Solution — answer B
log10x=3 means x=103=1000.
5 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Understand the equation
We are given the logarithmic equation log10x=3. Our task is to find the value of x. This equation uses a logarithm with base 10.
Step 2: Recall logarithm definition
The definition of a logarithm states that if logba=c, then this is equivalent to the exponential form bc=a. Here, b is the base, a is the argument, and c is the exponent.
Step 3: Convert to exponential form
Applying this definition to our equation log10x=3, we can identify the base b=10, the exponent c=3, and the argument a=x. Therefore, the exponential form is x=103.
Step 4: Calculate the value
Now, we simply need to calculate the value of 103. This means multiplying 10 by itself three times: 10×10×10=1000. So, x=1000.
Step 5: The answer
So the answer is (B) 1000, because converting the logarithm log10x=3 to its exponential form gives x=103, which equals 1000.
Given log102=0.3010, how many digits are there in 264?
Solution — answer C
log10(264)=64×0.3010=19.264. The number of digits is ⌊19.264⌋+1=20.
5 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Use logarithm properties
To find the number of digits in 264, we can use base-10 logarithms. Recall the property that log10(ab)=blog10a. We are given log102=0.3010.
Step 2: Calculate the logarithm
Now, let's apply the property. We need to calculate log10(264). This becomes 64×log102. Substitute the given value for log102 into this expression.
Step 3: Perform the multiplication
Substitute the value: 64×0.3010. Performing this multiplication gives us 19.264. So, log10(264)=19.264. This value is key to finding the number of digits.
Step 4: Find number of digits
The number of digits in an integer N is found by the formula ⌊log10N⌋+1. Here, N=264 and log10N=19.264. The floor function ⌊x⌋ gives the greatest integer less than or equal to x.
Step 5: The answer
So the number of digits is ⌊19.264⌋+1=19+1=20. So the answer is (C) 20. The number 264 has 20 digits.
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