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Properties of Logarithms
Problem 15cLial - 13th Edition
Textbook Question
Find each value. If applicable, give an approximation to four decimal places. See Example 1. . log 63

1
Step 1: Understand that the problem is asking for the logarithm of 63, which is written as . This is the common logarithm, meaning the base is 10.
Step 2: Recognize that is asking the question: 'To what power must 10 be raised to get 63?'
Step 3: Use a calculator to find . Most scientific calculators have a 'log' button that can be used to find this value directly.
Step 4: Enter 63 into the calculator and press the 'log' button to compute the logarithm.
Step 5: The calculator will provide a decimal value. If needed, round this value to four decimal places to get the final approximation.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Logarithms
A logarithm is the inverse operation to exponentiation, answering the question: to what exponent must a base be raised to produce a given number? For example, log base 10 of 100 is 2, since 10^2 = 100. Understanding logarithms is essential for solving problems involving exponential growth or decay.
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Base of a Logarithm
The base of a logarithm determines the number system used for the logarithmic calculation. Common bases include 10 (common logarithm) and e (natural logarithm). The choice of base affects the value of the logarithm, so it's important to identify the base when solving logarithmic equations.
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Logarithms Introduction
Approximation and Rounding
Approximation involves estimating a value to a certain degree of accuracy, often rounding to a specified number of decimal places. In this context, approximating log 63 to four decimal places means finding a value close to the actual logarithm and expressing it with four digits after the decimal point, which is crucial for precision in calculations.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
In Exercises 1–40, use properties of logarithms to expand each logarithmic expression as much as possible. Where possible, evaluate logarithmic expressions without using a calculator.
log5 (7 × 3)
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