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STEP Support Programme

Logarithms

If log36=a and log 125=b, express log(1/12) in terms of a and b.

Are you asking for help with this or suggesting it as a nice problem for others to think about?

Asking for help

If I've got this right...

Hint 1

36 and 125, are special numbers (but in slightly different ways). Do you recognise them?

Hint 2

I had to make the question more user friendly by connecting the logs I knew with what I had been asked about. After that there was algebra to be done, but it was only a few lines.

Hope that is a) correct(!) and b) not too mysterious.

???

Try using the fact that 36 is a square number and 125 is a cube number. Then try using some of the log rules to rearrange it into a form more similar to that of the answer.

After breaking down 36 and 125 you will have two simplified log expressions. Don't simplify log 36 completely, it's not helpful, just use the square fact.

It is also helpful to write $\frac 1 {12}$ as another equivalent fraction. It is also helpful to note that
log (10)=1.

Useful Links

Underground Mathematics: Selected worked STEP questions

STEP Question database

University of Cambridge Mathematics Faculty: What do we look for?

University of Cambridge Mathematics Faculty: Information about STEP

University of Cambridge Admissions Office: Undergraduate course information for Mathematics

Stephen Siklos' "Advanced Problems in Mathematics" book (external link)

MEI: Worked solutions to STEP questions (external link)

OCR: Exam board information about STEP (external link)

AMSP (Advanced Maths Support programme): Support for University Admission Tests (external link)