ln x x \dfrac{\ln x}{x}

Algebra Level 3

If a = ln 2 2 a=\dfrac{\ln2}{2} , b = ln 3 3 b=\dfrac{\ln3}{3} , and c = ln 5 5 c=\dfrac{\ln5}{5} , compare the value of a a , b b , and c c without using the calculator.

a > c > b a>c>b a > b > c a>b>c c > a > b c>a>b c > b > a c>b>a b > a > c b>a>c b > c > a b>c>a

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2 solutions

Aareyan Manzoor
Jun 15, 2019

comparing a , b a,b is the same as comparing 6 a , 6 b 6a,6b , that is comparing 3 ln ( 2 ) , 2 ln ( 3 ) = ln ( 8 ) , ln ( 9 ) 3\ln(2),2\ln(3)= \ln(8),\ln(9) . the latter is obviously bigger meaning b > a b>a

comparing a , c a,c is the same as comparing 10 a , 10 b 10a,10b , that is comparing 5 ln ( 2 ) , 2 ln ( 5 ) = ln ( 32 ) , ln ( 25 ) 5\ln(2),2\ln(5) = \ln(32),\ln(25) . the former is obviously bigger meaning a > c a>c

compounding these we get b > a > c \boxed{b>a>c}

Far simpler than using calculus!

Richard Desper - 1 year, 11 months ago
Chew-Seong Cheong
Jun 16, 2019

Consider f ( x ) = ln x x f(x) = \dfrac {\ln x}x . Then f ( x ) = d d x f ( x ) = 1 ln x x 2 f'(x) = \dfrac d{dx} f(x) = \dfrac {1-\ln x}{x^2} , f ( e ) = 0 \implies f'(e) = 0 . And f ( x ) = 2 ln x 3 x 3 f''(x) = \dfrac {2\ln x - 3}{x^3} , then f ( e ) < 0 f''(e) < 0 . This implies that f ( x ) f(x) is maximum when x = e 3 x=e \approx 3 . This means that f ( x ) f(x) decreases continuously from the maximum f ( e ) f(e) to f ( 3 ) f(3) , f ( 4 ) f(4) , f ( 5 ) f ( ) f(5) \cdots f(\infty) . That is:

f ( 3 ) > f ( 4 ) > f ( 5 ) ln 3 3 > ln 4 4 > ln 5 5 ln 3 3 > ln 2 2 > ln 5 5 b > a > c \begin{aligned} f(3) > & f(4) > f(5) \\ \frac {\ln 3}3 > & {\color{#3D99F6}\frac {\ln 4}4} > \frac {\ln 5}5 \\ \frac {\ln 3}3 > & {\color{#3D99F6}\frac {\ln 2}2} > \frac {\ln 5}5 \\ \implies b > & \ \ a \ \ > c \end{aligned}

+1, very clever incorporation of the ln(2) term! I was going to use this method but since 2<e I abandoned it.

Aareyan Manzoor - 1 year, 12 months ago

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Indeed. I look at the derivative and see the function's max is at (e) and think "That tells us f(3) > f(5), but how does that help us place f(2)?" This is a neat trick.

Richard Desper - 1 year, 11 months ago

Same here!

G Silb - 1 year, 11 months ago

3^10 > 2^15 > 5^6

Ege ENGİNDENİZ - 1 year, 12 months ago

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