1958 AMC 12 Problem 12

Attempt Problem 12 of the 1958 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1958 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

12.

If P=s(1+k)n,P=\dfrac{s}{(1+k)^n}, then nn equals:
log⁡(sP)log⁡(1+k)\dfrac{\log(\frac{s}{P})}{\log(1+k)}
log⁡sP(1+k)\log\dfrac{s}{P(1+k)}
log⁡s−P1+k\log\dfrac{s-P}{1+k}
log⁡sP+log⁡(1+k)\log\dfrac{s}{P}+\log(1+k)
log⁡slog⁡(P(1+k))\dfrac{\log s}{\log(P(1+k))}
Answer: A
Concepts:logarithmexponentalgebraic manipulation
Small hint:
Take logarithms of both sides of the equation
Big hint:
Use log⁡P=log⁡s−nlog⁡(1+k)\log P=\log s-n\log(1+k) and isolate nn
Solution:
Taking logarithms, log⁡P=log⁡s−nlog⁡(1+k). \log P=\log s-n\log(1+k). Therefore n=log⁡s−log⁡Plog⁡(1+k)=log⁡(sP)log⁡(1+k). n=\frac{\log s-\log P}{\log(1+k)} =\frac{\log(\frac{s}{P})}{\log(1+k)}.
Thus, the correct answer is A.
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