1965 AMC 12 Problem 21

Attempt Problem 21 of the 1965 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 1965 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

21.

It is possible to choose x>23x\gt\dfrac23 in such a way that the value of
log⁡10(x2+3)−2log⁡10x \log_{10}(x^2+3)-2\log_{10}x
is:
negative
zero
one
smaller than any positive number that might be specified
greater than any positive number that might be specified
Answer: D
Concepts:logarithmbounding to limit cases
Small hint:
Combine the logarithms into log⁡10(1+3x2)\log_{10}(1+\frac{3}{x^2})
Big hint:
Let xx grow without bound
Solution:
The expression is log⁡10(x2+3x2)=log⁡10(1+3x2). \begin{gathered} \log_{10}\left(\frac{x^2+3}{x^2}\right)\\ =\log_{10}\left(1+\frac3{x^2}\right). \end{gathered} It is always positive, but tends to 00 as xx grows. Therefore it can be made smaller than any specified positive number.
Thus, the correct answer is D.
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