Use the change-of-base formula to evaluate each logarithm correct to six decimal places.

a. log base 3 of 18
b. log base 18 of 9

1 answer

a. To evaluate log base 3 of 18 using the change-of-base formula, we will use log base 10 and log base 3.

First, we can write the change-of-base formula as:

log base a of x = log base b of x / log base b of a

In this case, a=3 and x=18, so we can rewrite the logarithm as:

log base 3 of 18 = log base 10 of 18 / log base 10 of 3

Now, we can evaluate the logarithms using a scientific calculator:

log base 10 of 18 ≈ 1.255273
log base 10 of 3 ≈ 0.477121

Plugging these values back into the formula:

log base 3 of 18 ≈ 1.255273 / 0.477121 ≈ 2.630929

Therefore, log base 3 of 18 is approximately 2.630929, correct to six decimal places.

b. To evaluate log base 18 of 9 using the change-of-base formula, we will use log base 10 and log base 18.

Using the same change-of-base formula as before:

log base a of x = log base b of x / log base b of a

In this case, a=18 and x=9, so we can rewrite the logarithm as:

log base 18 of 9 = log base 10 of 9 / log base 10 of 18

Using a scientific calculator again:

log base 10 of 9 ≈ 0.954243
log base 10 of 18 ≈ 1.255273

Plugging these values back into the formula:

log base 18 of 9 ≈ 0.954243 / 1.255273 ≈ 0.759836

Therefore, log base 18 of 9 is approximately 0.759836, correct to six decimal places.