Log Mania!

Algebra Level 4

If 2 3 log 9 a + 3 5 log c 9 + 5 2 log a c = 3 \frac23 \log_9 a + \frac35 \log_c 9 + \frac52 \log_a c = 3 , what is the value of a ? a?


The answer is 27.

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2 solutions

Zico Quintina
May 2, 2018

To expand just a bit on what Aaghaz already stated:

For convenience, can rewrite the equation as

2 log a 3 log 9 + 3 log 9 5 log c + 5 log c 2 log a = 3 \dfrac{2\log{a}}{3\log9} + \dfrac{3\log9}{5\log{c}} + \dfrac{5\log{c}}{2\log{a}}=3

Then, since logs are strictly positive, we can apply AM-GM to the left side, giving

2 log a 3 log 9 + 3 log 9 5 log c + 5 log c 2 log a 3 2 log a 3 log 9 3 log 9 5 log c 5 log c 2 log a 3 = 1 2 log a 3 log 9 + 3 log 9 5 log c + 5 log c 2 log a 3 \begin{aligned} \dfrac{\dfrac{2\log{a}}{3\log9} + \dfrac{3\log9}{5\log{c}} + \dfrac{5\log{c}}{2\log{a}}}{3} &\ge \sqrt[3]{\dfrac{2\log{a}}{3\log9} \cdot \dfrac{3\log9}{5\log{c}} \cdot \dfrac{5\log{c}}{2\log{a}}} = 1 \\ \\ \dfrac{2\log{a}}{3\log9} + \dfrac{3\log9}{5\log{c}} + \dfrac{5\log{c}}{2\log{a}} &\ge 3 \end{aligned}

Also by AM-GM, equality in the above statements occurs if and only if the terms are themselves all equal, which then gives

2 log a 3 log 9 = 1 2 log a = 3 log 9 a 2 = 9 3 a = 3 3 = 27 \begin{aligned} \dfrac{2\log{a}}{3\log9} &= 1 \\ 2\log{a} &= 3\log9 \\ a^2 &= 9^3 \\ a &= 3^3 = \boxed{27} \\ \end{aligned}

(We can discard the negative solution to the above quadratic as both arguments and bases of logs must be positive.)

@zico quintina Thanks a lot!! The problem is, I don't know LATEX, so I try to write my solutions in a concise manner.....

Aaghaz Mahajan - 3 years, 1 month ago

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You can look for information at formatting guide

X X - 3 years, 1 month ago

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@X X Thanks man.....but again......I am totally blank in computer skills......I don't even know the basics of any programming language.....But still....let's see...

Aaghaz Mahajan - 3 years, 1 month ago

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@Aaghaz Mahajan Don't worry, I'm pretty clueless when it comes to programming, too; you really don't need it for LaTeX. I didn't know LaTeX at all last year, and my first few attempts took a LONG time to get right; but it got surprisingly easier very quickly. There are two guides here on Brilliant that really helped in the beginning: Beginner LaTeX Guide and LaTeX Guide . There's also a great list of the most commonly-used symbols here: LaTeX:Symbols . Good luck!

zico quintina - 3 years, 1 month ago
Aaghaz Mahajan
May 2, 2018

A simple application of AM-GM.....

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