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Write as a single logarithm: $\log_8(5) - 2\log_8(6)$

To my understanding; because they are the same base you can just evaluate $\log_8\left(\frac{\log(5)}{\log(6)}\right)$ which is shown on the multiple choice I have as $\log_8\left(\frac{5}{12}\right)$.

However this is apparently not the correct answer. Where did I go wrong?

Thanks!

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    Don't write things like $\log_8 A - \log_8 B = \log_8\left(\frac{\log A}{\log B}\right)$; that's wrong. The identity should say $\log_8 A - \log_8 B = \log_8\left(\frac{A}{B}\right)$.2011-08-20

2 Answers 2

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Remember that $a \log x = \log x^a$.

Thus, we have $\log_8(5)-2\log_8(6) = \log_8(5)-\log_8(6^2) = \log_8(5)-\log_8(36)$

Now as you mentioned, since they have the same base you can apply the rule for differences between logarithms: $\log(x) -\log(y) = \log(\frac{x}{y})$

Thus we have $\log_8(5)-\log_8(36)= \log_8(\frac{5}{36})$.

Now to get back where you went wrong, you brought the 2 in front of $\log_8(6)$ inside by just multiplying, which is just wrong. The proper rule is: $a \log x = \log x^a$, which I mentioned in the beginning of the answer.

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Remember that $2\;\log_8(6)=\log_8(6^2)$.

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    Yes, $\log_8\left(\frac{5}{36}\right) = \log_8\left(\frac{5}{9}\right)-\frac{2}{3}$.2011-08-20