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Date May 2016 Marks available 4 Reference code 16M.1.hl.TZ1.6
Level HL only Paper 1 Time zone TZ1
Command term Find Question number 6 Adapted from N/A

Question

Find integer values of m and n for which

mnlog32=10log96

Markscheme

METHOD 1

mnlog32=10log96

mnlog32=5log36    M1

m=log3(652n)    (M1)

3m2n=65=35×25    (M1)

m=5, n=5    A1

 

Note:     First M1 is for any correct change of base, second M1 for writing as a single logarithm, third M1 is for writing 6 as 2×3.

 

METHOD 2

mnlog32=10log96

mnlog32=5log36    M1

mnlog32=5log33+5log32    (M1)

mnlog32=5+5log32    (M1)

m=5, n=5    A1

 

Note:     First M1 is for any correct change of base, second M1 for writing 6 as 2×3 and third M1 is for forming an expression without log33.

 

[4 marks]

Examiners report

The first stage on this question was to change base, so each logarithm was written in the same base. Some candidates chose to move to base 10 or base e, rather than the more obvious base 3, but a few still successfully reached the correct answer having done this. A large majority though did not seem to know how to change the base of a logarithm.

Simplifying the expression further was a struggle for many candidates.

Syllabus sections

Topic 1 - Core: Algebra » 1.2 » Exponents and logarithms.

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