SOLUTION: evaluate the expression: log with a base of 2 with the argument (0.5) The answers in the back of my book is - 1. please explain the solution.

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Question 80394This question is from textbook Algebra for college students
: evaluate the expression: log with a base of 2 with the argument (0.5) The answers in the back of my book is - 1. please explain the solution. This question is from textbook Algebra for college students

Answer by tutor_paul(519) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Think about logarithms as another way to express numbers raised to exponents. In this case, you are given the base (2), and you know the answer (0.5). You just need to find the exponent. You can write it like this:
2%5Ex=0.5
So ask yourself "what number would I raise 2 to to get 0.5?" The answer is -1.
Remember that raising a number to a negative exponent means that you put 1 over the number to a positve exponent, like this:
2%5E%28-1%29=1%2F%282%5E1%29=1%2F2=0.5
Good Luck,
tutor_paul@yahoo.com