Sine Logarithm

Geometry Level 4

The number of solutions of the Equation

log y x = sin x \log_y x = \sin x

Where y = 10 y=10


The answer is 3.

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3 solutions

Jaya Yarlagadda
Sep 7, 2015

Easy way is to draw the graphs of each y = log 10 x y=\log_{10}{x} and y = sin x y=\sin{x} Second one's maximum is 1 and First one is an increasing function. So we'll get 3 points of intersectio n

Moderator note:

The challenge would be knowing that is the shape of the graph, without an external calculation aid. What is the minimum amount of information that we need to reach this conclusion?

how would you come to know that at only these three points both curves will intersect without using MATLAB or spreadsheet or any other software

Swapnil Mishra - 5 years, 8 months ago

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It is better the visualize the graphs and find the last point where first graph can touch the second at x=10 (i.e around 3 Π 3\Pi =9.42 because after 3 Π \Pi s i n x sinx is still decreasing )so we can get 2 intersections there, the first one is the tricky one but if you understand the graph properly ( 0 , Π / 2 ) (0,\Pi /2 ) and again log 10 1 \log_{10}1 is 0 so only one point of intersection is possible in the first bump. (I got the answer without plotting graphs literally, but explained in brief so that it's easy to understand)

Jaya Yarlagadda - 5 years, 8 months ago
Kevin Tong
Jul 8, 2017

Solution 1: From the problem, we have 2 functions, f ( x ) = log 10 x f(x)=\log_{10}{x} and g ( x ) = sin ( x ) g(x)=\sin(x) . Notice, the function g ( x ) g(x) never reaches above 1, and we cannot take the logarithm of a negative number. So, the lower bound of the domain is 0, and the upper bound of the domain is the point where log 10 x = 1 \log_{10}{x}=1 . We can now solve for the upper bound: log 10 x = 1 x = 1 0 1 = 10 \log_{10}{x}=1 \\ x = 10^1= 10 Examining this domain, we notice that g ( x ) g(x) cycles through just over 3 2 \frac{3}{2} periods, since each period is of length 2 π 6.28 2\pi \approx 6.28 . Now, notice f ( x ) f(x) only reaches a positive value when x > 1 x>1 and continues to steadily increase. Also, notice that g ( x ) g(x) first reaches 1 at x coordinate π 2 \frac{\pi}{2} , and slowly goes back down towards 0. Therefore, during this interval, f ( x ) f(x) must equal g ( x ) g(x) at 1 point. When we get to x = 2 π x=2\pi , the function g ( x ) g(x) becomes positive again, reaches back to 1 and goes back down to zero at x = 3 π x=3\pi . Therefore, during this interval, f ( x ) f(x) must equal g ( x ) g(x) twice. Adding up our results, we get 1 + 2 = 3 1+2=\boxed{3} .

Solution 2: We can simplify the equation given to us: log 10 x = sin ( x ) x = 1 0 sin ( x ) , x > 0 \log_{10}{x}=\sin(x)\\ x=10^{\sin(x)}, x>0 From this new equation, we are able to obtain the functions f ( x ) = x f(x)=x and g ( x ) = 1 0 sin ( x ) g(x)=10^{\sin(x)} . Notice, g ( x ) g(x) never reaches above 10. Therefore, we only need to focus on the domain ( 0 , 10 ] (0,10] . Because the only place x appears in g ( x ) g(x) is in the sine function, the function is periodic. Notice, g ( 0 ) = 1 g(0)=1 and g ( 0 ) = ln ( 10 ) > 1 g'(0)=\ln(10)>1 , therefore, g ( x ) g(x) starts above f ( x ) f(x) in the given interval and increases faster than f ( x ) f(x) . Once g ( x ) g(x) gets to π 2 \frac{\pi}{2} , it reaches its peak at 10 and comes back downward to 1 10 \frac{1}{10} at x = 3 π 2 x=\frac{3\pi}{2} . Therefore, during that interval, f ( x ) f(x) intersects g ( x ) g(x) once. After x becomes greater than 2 π 2\pi , g ( x ) g(x) increases back up to 10 and comes back downward to 1 0 sin ( 10 ) 10^{\sin(10)} at x = 10 x=10 . Notice, sin ( 10 ) < 0 \sin(10)<0 , therefore, the value of g ( x ) g(x) becomes fractional by the end of the interval ( 0 , 10 ] (0,10] . Therefore, during the last interval [ 2 π , 10 ] [2\pi,10] , g ( x ) g(x) intersects f ( x ) f(x) twice. Adding up our results, we get 1 + 2 = 3 1+2=\boxed{3}

Saarthak Marathe
Sep 8, 2015

Plot the graphs of the two functions given. Then you will find that the two functions will have 3 intersections. These 3 intersections are the solutions of the given question.

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