Math Help Forum - View Single Post

earboth · #4 January 2nd, 2008, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemon301

So $\log_{3}(3^3)$ would just simplify out to log 3, correct?

Hello,

logarithm is only another word for exponent BUT you have to add the base to which this exponent belongs:
Example: If you say the exponent is 3 then you can get $1000 = 10^3$ or $\frac18 = \left(\frac12\right)^3$ . In both cases the exponent is 3.

$\log_3(27)$ aks for an exponent which belongs to the base 3 so that the result of the power is 27.

Comparing my previous post you'll see that you have to use the exponent 3 with the base 3 to get 27. Therefore

$\log_3(27)=3$