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Dec/08

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O level A-Math: Fatal Mistake In Logarithm Equation You Must Aviod

This is a common mistake I notice in my O level A-Math essential concepts revision workshop.

Solve the following equation:

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First, you must identify the type of question since different types of question require different strategies.
It’s a different log-log question.
Strategy required: Change base.

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Change base formula used.
Reason for changing to base 2: Between changing to base 2 or x, we choose base 2 as x is an unknown, we choose not to work with THE unknown most of the time, don’t we?

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Since we observe that there is a common term (log2 x),
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image Did you observe the fatal mistake (It’s #7 Common mistake in Logarithm?

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The correct way to do the substitution would be:
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Solve the quadratic equation for y. Substitute the value back to find x.

Remember to check for validity of answers.

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2 Comments for O level A-Math: Fatal Mistake In Logarithm Equation You Must Aviod

singaporeolevelmaths | Day 1 of ‘O’ level A-Math Essential Concepts Revision Workshop [Photos] | December 19, 2008 at 11:11 am

[...] Comments singaporeolevelmaths | O level A-Math: Fatal Mistake In Logarithm Equation You Must Aviod on O level A-Math Essential Concepts Workshop Student’s Feedback [Including Parent's [...]

singaporeolevelmaths | Day 1 of ‘O’ level A-Math Essential Concepts Revision Workshop [Photos] | February 24, 2009 at 11:46 am

[...] I’ll be sharing in the next few posts some of the fatal mistakes (Quadratic Equations, Logarithms) you must NEVER make! Let’s get the house rules right on day 1 before we begin learning. [...]

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About Ai Ling

Hi, my name is Ai Ling Ong and I'm a professional Math Trainer specializing in GCE 'O' level Mathematics (Additional & Elementary). More than 10 years of teaching experience, I have coached hundreds of students more than 80 schools in Singapore. Read more about me here
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