1966 AMC 12 Problem 24

Attempt Problem 24 of the 1966 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 1966 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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24.

If log⁡MN=log⁡NM,\log_MN=\log_NM, M≠N,M\ne N, MN>0,MN\gt0, and M≠1,M\ne1, N≠1,N\ne1, then MNMN equals:
12\dfrac12
11
22
1010
a number greater than 22 and less than 1010
Answer: B
Concepts:algebraic manipulationlogarithm
Small hint:
Write both logarithms using natural logs
Big hint:
The equality gives (ln⁡M)2=(ln⁡N)2(\ln M)^2=(\ln N)^2; use M≠NM\ne N
Solution:
Change of base gives ln⁡Nln⁡M=ln⁡Mln⁡N, \frac{\ln N}{\ln M}=\frac{\ln M}{\ln N}, so (ln⁡M)2=(ln⁡N)2.(\ln M)^2=(\ln N)^2. Equality of the logs themselves would give M=N,M=N, which is excluded. Hence ln⁡M=−ln⁡N,\ln M=-\ln N, and ln⁡(MN)=0.\ln(MN)=0. Thus MN=1.MN=1.
Therefore, the correct answer is B.
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