(a) Without using mathematical tables or calculator, simplify: \(\frac{log_28 + \log_216 - 4 \log_22}{\log_416}\) (b) If 1342\(_{five}\) - 241\(_{five}\) = ...

Answer Details

a. To simplify the expression, we can use the properties of logarithms:

• log_a + log_b = log_ab
• log_a - log_b = log_(a/b)
• log_aⁿ = n log_a

Using these properties, we can simplify the expression as follows:

\(\frac{{\log_2 8 + \log_2 16 - 4 \log_2 2}}{{\log_4 16}}\)

= \(\frac{{3 + 4 - 4(1)}}{2}\) since log base 2 of 8 is equal to 3, log base 2 of 16 is equal to 4, and log base 2 of 2 is equal to 1.

= \(\frac{3}{2}\)

Therefore, \(\frac{{\log_2 8 + \log_2 16 - 4 \log_2 2}}{{\log_4 16}}\) simplifies to \(\frac{3}{2}\).

b. 1342_five means 1*(5^3) + 3*(5^2) + 4*(5^1) + 2*(5^0) in base 10, which equals 125 + 75 + 20 + 2 = 222.

241_five means 2*(5^2) + 4*(5^1) + 1*(5^0) in base 10, which equals 50 + 20 + 1 = 71.

Therefore, 1342_five - 241_five in base 10 equals 222 - 71 = 151.

Since the question asks us to find the value of x_ten, which is the base 10 representation of the result, we have x_ten = 151.