• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
singaporeolevelmaths

singaporeolevelmaths

Simple Tips for Better Maths Results!

Show Search
Hide Search
  • About
  • Books
    • O-Level Maths Ten Years Series Books
    • O-Level Pocket Summary
    • Secondary 3 and 4 Elementary Maths Mentor Series
  • Videos
  • What Students Say
  • Contact

How To Solve "Clones" Type Of Logarithm Equations


In the previous post, I shared with you on the main Types of Logarithm Equations and How To Identify Them Easily.

Today, I'm going to share with you the step by step approach to solve Clone! type of Logarithm Equations.

Photo by Chris Gin

Clone Dolly

The strategy involving

  • identifying the clone which is relatively easy since clones are items which look EXACTLY the same.
  • Let the clone by y (Substitution method)

[pmath](log_5 x)^2 = 2log_5 x [/pmath]

[pmath] Let log_5 x be y [/pmath]

Substitution:

[pmath]y^2 = 2y [/pmath]

Common Mistake! (Canceling y from each side of the equation; So What? : you will miss out 1 answer)

[pmath]y = 2 [/pmath]

Correct Approach (Shift everything to left hand side so that right hand side is 0; So What? :Ready for factorization since it is a quadratic equation)

[pmath]y^2 - 2y = 0 [/pmath]

[pmath]y(y - 2) = 0 [/pmath]

[pmath]y = 0  or y - 2 = 0 [/pmath]

Remember we are interested in the unknown in the question (x) NOT y!

[pmath]log_5 x = 0  or log_5 x = 2 [/pmath]

[pmath]x = 1  or x = 25 [/pmath]

Check validity of answers by substituting values of x into the original given equation. Both values are acceptable.

Ai Ling Ong

Hi, I'm Ai Ling Ong. I enjoy coaching students who have challenges with understanding and scoring in 'O' Level A-Maths and E-Maths. I develop Math strategies, sometimes ridiculous ideas to help students in understanding abstract concepts the fast and memorable way. I write this blog to share with you the stuff I teach in my class, the common mistakes my students made, the 'way' to think, analyze... If you have found this blog post useful, please share it with your friends. I will really appreciate it! :)

Filed Under: A-Maths Tuition, Weekly Question Tagged With: logarithm equations

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. singaporeolevelmaths | GCE O Level A-Math E-Math Chemistry Coaching, Tuition, Tutor, Class, Revision, Notes, Tips, Concepts, Questions says:
    February 23, 2009 at 1:18 pm

    [...] the next post, I will be showing step by step way to solve Clones! type of Logarithm Equations. Ensure you subscribe to our feed to be posted of [...]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Copyright © 2021 · singaporeolevelmaths.com · Talk to us at 88290998