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2023 AMC 12B Problem 7

Problem 7 of 25EasierAlgebra

For how many integers nn does the expression log⁡(n2)−(log⁡n)2log⁡n−3 \sqrt{\frac{\log(n^2)-(\log n)^2}{\log n-3}} represent a real number, where log⁡\log denotes the base 1010 logarithm?

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Solution

Write L=log⁡n.L=\log n. Then log⁡(n2)−(log⁡n)2\log(n^2)-(\log n)^2 =2L−L2=2L-L^2 =L(2−L),=L(2-L), and the fraction is L(2−L)L−3.\dfrac{L(2-L)}{L-3}. A sign chart shows this is ≥0\ge 0 exactly when L≤0L\le 0 or 2≤L<3.2\le L\lt 3. Since nn is a positive integer, L≤0L\le 0 forces n=1,n=1, while 2≤L<32\le L\lt 3 gives 100≤n≤999,100\le n\le 999, which is 900900 values. In total 1+900=901.1+900=901. Thus, the correct answer is E.
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Tagged: logarithm · inequality

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