Find the value of the following logarithms without using a calculator.

​(a) log Subscript 2 Baseline one sixteenth
​(b) log Subscript 2 Baseline 1
​(c) ln e squared
​(d) log 0.001
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Part 1
​(a) log Subscript 2 Baseline one sixteenth
equals
  
enter your response here
Part 2
​(b) log Subscript 2 Baseline 1equals
  
enter your response here
Part 3
​(c) ln e squaredequals
  
enter your response here
Part 4
​(d) log 0.001equals
  
enter your response here

1 answer

Let's solve each part step-by-step.

Part 1: \( \log_2 \frac{1}{16} \)

We can express \( \frac{1}{16} \) as \( 16^{-1} \) and since \( 16 = 2^4 \), we have:

\[ \frac{1}{16} = 16^{-1} = (2^4)^{-1} = 2^{-4} \]

Using the property of logarithms that states \( \log_b(a^n) = n \cdot \log_b(a) \):

\[ \log_2 \frac{1}{16} = \log_2(2^{-4}) = -4 \cdot \log_2(2) = -4 \cdot 1 = -4 \]

So,

\[ \log_2 \frac{1}{16} = -4 \]

Part 2: \( \log_2 1 \)

Any logarithm of 1, regardless of the base, is 0 because \( b^0 = 1 \) for any base \( b \):

\[ \log_2 1 = 0 \]

Part 3: \( \ln e^2 \)

Using the property of logarithms that states \( \ln(a^n) = n \cdot \ln(a) \):

\[ \ln e^2 = 2 \cdot \ln e \]

Since \( \ln e = 1 \):

\[ \ln e^2 = 2 \cdot 1 = 2 \]

Part 4: \( \log 0.001 \)

We can express \( 0.001 \) in exponential form. \( 0.001 = \frac{1}{1000} = 10^{-3} \):

\[ \log 0.001 = \log(10^{-3}) = -3 \cdot \log(10) \]

Since \( \log(10) = 1 \):

\[ \log 0.001 = -3 \cdot 1 = -3 \]

Final Answers

To summarize:

(a) \( \log_2 1/16 = -4 \)

(b) \( \log_2 1 = 0 \)

(c) \( \ln e^2 = 2 \)

(d) \( \log 0.001 = -3 \)