Exercise 3E

log10 120 3 a log 2 x= 8 + 9 log x 2

1 a log 7 120 =
log10 7 Use the change of base rule.
= 2.460 (3 d.p.)  1 
 log a b = 
 log b a 
log10 45
b log 3 45 = 9
log10 3 log 2 x= 8 +
log 2 x
= 3.465 (3 d.p.)
Let log 2 x = y
log10 19 9
c log 2 19 = y= 8 +
log10 2 y
2
= 4.248 (3 d.p.) y= 8 y + 9
y2 − 8 y − 9 =0
log10 3
d log11 3 = ( y + 1)( y − 9 ) =
0
log10 11
= 0.458 (3 d.p.) y= −1 or y =
9
When y = −1
2 a 8 x = 14 log 2 x = −1
Take the logarithm of both sides and x = 2−1
simplify.
1
x log 8 = log14 =
2
log14
x= When y = 9
log 8 log 2 x = 9
= 1.27 (3 s.f.)
x = 29
b 9 x = 99 = 512
Take the logarithm of both sides and
simplify.
x log 9 = log 99
log 99
x=
log 9
= 2.09 (3 s.f.)

c 12 x = 6
Take the logarithm of both sides and
simplify.
x log12 = log 6
log 6
x=
log12
= 0.721 (3 s.f.)

© Pearson Education Ltd 2019. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free. 1
3 b log 4 x + 2 log x 4 + 3 =0 3 c log 2 x + log 4 x = 2
Use the change of base rule. Use the change of base rule
 1   log b x 
 log a b =   log a x = 
 log b a   log b a 
2 log 2 x
log 4 x + +3=0 log 4 x =
log 4 x log 2 4
Let log 4 x = y log 2 x
So log 2 x + = 2
2 log 2 4
y+ +3= 0
y and since log 2 4 = 2
y2 + 3y + 2 = 0 1
log 2 x + log 2 x = 2
( y + 1)( y + 2 ) =
0 2
3
y= −1 or y − 2 log 2 x = 2
When y = −1 2
log 4 x = −1 4
log 2 x =
3
x = 4−1 4
1 x=2 3
= = 2.52 (3 s.f.)
4
When y = −2
log 4 x = −2
x = 4−2
1
=
16

© Pearson Education Ltd 2019. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free.
2