SOLUTION: An earthquake that is 10 times as intense as earthquak measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale has measure of what? Thanks

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Question 430814: An earthquake that is 10 times as intense as earthquak measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale has measure of what?
Thanks
Answer by jsmallt9(3758) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The numbers on the Richter scale represent the base 10 logarithm of the measured intensity of an earthquake.

Since the new earthquake is 10 times as large as the 5.2 earthquake, then its intensity has 1 more factor of 10 than the 5.2 earthquake. So its logarithm will be 1 more, i.e. 6.2:
10%2A10%5E5.2+=+10%5E1%2A10%5E5.2+=+10%5E%281%2B5.2%29+=+10%5E6.2

If this doesn't make sense to you then do the following:
  1. Use your calculator to find log-1(5.2). This will give you the raw number for the intensity of the 5.2 earthquake.
  2. Multiply the result from step 1 by 10. This will give you the raw number for the new earthquake.
  3. Find the base 10 log (i.e. "log") of the answer from step 2. This should be 6.2