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AMC 12 Mock Exam 4 Problem 18

Problem 18 of 25

What is the product of all positive real numbers xx that satisfy log⁡x2+log⁡2x2+log⁡4x2=0 ?\log_x2+\log_{2x}2+\log_{4x}2=0\,?

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Solution

Let t=log⁡2xt=\log_2x; the bases x,2x,4xx,2x,4x must differ from 11, so t∉{0,−1,−2}t\notin\{0,-1,-2\}. Since log⁡2kx2=1k+t\log_{2^k x}2=\frac{1}{k+t}, the equation is 1t+1t+1+1t+2=0  ⟺  (t+1)(t+2)+t(t+2)+t(t+1)=0  ⟺  3t2+6t+2=0.\frac1t+\frac1{t+1}+\frac1{t+2}=0\iff (t+1)(t+2)+t(t+2)+t(t+1)=0\iff 3t^2+6t+2=0. Its discriminant is 36−24=12>036-24=12>0, and its roots t=−1±13t=-1\pm\frac{1}{\sqrt3} avoid 0,−1,−20,-1,-2, so both give solutions. The product of the two values of xx is 2t1+t2=2−2=142^{t_1+t_2}=2^{-2}=\boxed{\tfrac14}.

Tagged: logarithmic equation, change of base