2008 AMC 12B Problem 14

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 14 of the 2008 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2008 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:logarithmcircumference

Difficulty rating: 1630

14.

A circle has a radius of log10(a2)\log_{10}(a^2) and a circumference of log10(b4).\log_{10}(b^4). What is logab?\log_a b?

14π\dfrac{1}{4\pi}

1π\dfrac{1}{\pi}

π\pi

2π2\pi

102π10^{2\pi}

Solution:

The circumference is 2π2\pi times the radius, so log10(b4)=2πlog10(a2). \log_{10}(b^4) = 2\pi \log_{10}(a^2).

Rewriting, 4log10b=4πlog10a,4\log_{10} b = 4\pi \log_{10} a, hence log10b=πlog10a.\log_{10} b = \pi \log_{10} a.

Therefore logab=log10blog10a=π.\log_a b = \dfrac{\log_{10} b}{\log_{10} a} = \pi.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

Problem 14 in Other Years