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2018 AMC 12B Problem 7

Problem 7 of 25EasierAlgebra

What is the value of log⁡37⋅log⁡59⋅log⁡711⋅log⁡913⋯log⁡2125⋅log⁡2327? \begin{gathered} \log_3 7\cdot\log_5 9\cdot\log_7 11 \\ {}\cdot\log_9 13\cdots\log_{21} 25\cdot\log_{23} 27? \end{gathered}

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Solution

The factors split into two telescoping chains. The odd-position factors form log⁡37⋅log⁡711⋅log⁡1115⋯log⁡2327=log⁡327=3, \begin{gathered} \log_3 7\cdot\log_7 11 \\ {}\cdot\log_{11} 15\cdots\log_{23} 27 \\ =\log_3 27=3, \end{gathered} and the even-position factors form log⁡59⋅log⁡913⋯log⁡2125=log⁡525=2. \begin{gathered} \log_5 9\cdot\log_9 13\cdots\log_{21} 25 \\ =\log_5 25=2. \end{gathered} The product is 3⋅2=6.3\cdot2=6. Thus, the correct answer is C.
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Tagged: logarithm · telescoping

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