document.write( "Question 268905: write as the sum or difference of two or more logarithms:
\n" ); document.write( "1.log(4x)
\n" ); document.write( "2.ln 15
\n" ); document.write( "3.log 3/xy
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #197388 by jsmallt9(3758)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
There are many possible answers to these problems. The purpose of these problems, I think, is to get you to show that you know how to use the properties of logarithms. So I will solve the problems this way.

\n" ); document.write( "The two properties of logarithms that we will need are:
  • \"log%28a%2C+%28p%2Aq%29%29+=+log%28a%2C+%28p%29%29+%2B+log%28a%2C+%28q%29%29\"
    \n" ); document.write( "If the argument of a logarithm is or can written as a product (multiplication), then this property let's you rewrite it as the sum of the logarithms of the factors.
  • \"log%28a%2C+%28p%2Fq%29%29+=+log%28a%2C+%28p%29%29+-+log%28a%2C+%28q%29%29\"
    \n" ); document.write( "If the argument of a logarithm is or can written as a quotient (fraction or division), then this property let's you rewrite it as the difference of the logarithms of the numerator and denominator (divident and divisor).

\n" ); document.write( "They allow us to take a single logarithm and rewrite it as the sum or difference of logarithms. Let's see how they work on your problems.

\n" ); document.write( "1. log(4x)
\n" ); document.write( "There are many ways to express 4x as a product/multiplication. So there are many ways to rewrite log(4x). Here are a few:
\n" ); document.write( "log(4x) = log(4*x) = log(4) + log(x)
\n" ); document.write( "log(4x) = log(2*2x) = log(2) + log(2x)
\n" ); document.write( "log(4x) = log(16x*(1/4) = log(16x) + log(1/4)
\n" ); document.write( "We could also write 4x as a quotient and use the second property. For example:
\n" ); document.write( "log(4x) = log(20x/5) = log(20x) - log(5)

\n" ); document.write( "2. ln(15)
\n" ); document.write( "A product we could use for 15 could be 3*5 so
\n" ); document.write( "ln(15) = ln(3*5) = ln(3) + ln(5)
\n" ); document.write( "A quotient we could use for 15 could be 45/3 do
\n" ); document.write( "ln(15) = ln(45/3) = ln(45) - ln(3)

\n" ); document.write( "3. log(3/xy)
\n" ); document.write( "Again, there are many many ways we could do this. Probably the most obvious is to start with the second property:
\n" ); document.write( "log(3/xy) = log(3) - log(xy)
\n" ); document.write( "You might be able to stop here. But, since the argument of the second logarithm is a product, we can use the first property on it. (Note the use of parentheses. They are especially important when replacing one logarithm with an expression of two logarithms!)
\n" ); document.write( "log(3/xy) = log(3) - (log(x) + log(y))}}}
\n" ); document.write( "And because of the \"-\" in front of the parentheses, we should subtract both of the terms inside:
\n" ); document.write( "log(3/xy) = log(3) - log(x) - log(y)}}}
\n" ); document.write( "(Without the use of parentheses, it would be very easy to end up with a \"+\" in front of log(y)!)
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