# 1983 AIME Problems/Problem 1

## Problem

Let $x$, $y$ and $z$ all exceed $1$ and let $w$ be a positive number such that $\log_x w = 24$, $\log_y w = 40$ and $\log_{xyz} w = 12$. Find $\log_z w$.

## Solution

### Solution 1

The logarithmic notation doesn't tell us much, so we'll first convert everything to the equivalent exponential forms.

$x^{24}=w$, $y^{40}=w$, and $(xyz)^{12}=w$. If we now convert everything to a power of $120$, it will be easy to isolate $z$ and $w$.

$x^{120}=w^5$, $y^{120}=w^3$, and $(xyz)^{120}=w^{10}$.

With some substitution, we get $w^5w^3z^{120}=w^{10}$ and $\log_zw=\boxed{060}$.

### Solution 2

First we'll convert everything to exponential form. $x^{24}=w$, $y^{40}=w$, and $(xyz)^{12}=w$. The only expression containing $z$ is $(xyz)^{12}=w$. It now becomes clear that one way to find $\log_z w$ is to find what $x^{12}$ and $y^{12}$ are in terms of $w$.

Taking the square root of the equation $x^{24}=w$ results in $x^{12}=w^{\frac{1}{2}}$. Raising both sides of $y^{40}=w$ to the $\frac{12}{40}$th power gives $y^{12}=w^{\frac{3}{10}}$.

Going back to $(xyz)^{12}=w$, we can substitute the $x^{12}$ and $y^{12}$ with $w^{1/2}$ and $w^{3/10}$, respectively. We now have $w^{1/2}w^{3/10}z^{12}=w$. Simplifying, we get $z^{60}=w$. So our answer is $\boxed{060}$.

### Solution 3

Applying the change of base formula, \begin{align*} \log_x w = 24 &\implies \frac{\log w}{\log x} = 24 \implies \frac{\log x}{\log w} = \frac 1 {24} \\ \log_y w = 40 &\implies \frac{\log w}{\log y} = 40 \implies \frac{\log y}{\log w} = \frac 1 {40} \\ \log_{xyz} w = 12 &\implies \frac{\log {w}}{\log {xyz}} = 12 \implies \frac{\log x +\log y + \log z}{\log w} = \frac 1 {12} \end{align*} Therefore, $\frac {\log z}{\log w} = \frac 1 {12} - \frac 1 {24} - \frac 1{40} = \frac 1 {60}$.

Hence, $\log_z w = \boxed{060}$.

### Solution 4

Since $\log_a b = \frac{1}{\log_b a}$, the given conditions can be rewritten as $\log_w x = \frac{1}{24}$, $\log_w y = \frac{1}{40}$, and $\log_w xyz = \frac{1}{12}$. Since $\log_a \frac{b}{c} = \log_a b - \log_a c$, $\log_w z = \log_w xyz - \log_w x - \log_w y = \frac{1}{12}-\frac{1}{24}-\frac{1}{40}=\frac{1}{60}$. Therefore, $\log_z w = \boxed{060}$.

### Solution 5

If we convert all of the equations into exponential form, we receive $x^{24}=w$, $y^{40}=w$, and $(xyz)^{12}=w$. The last equation can also be written as $x^{12}y^{12}z^{12}=w$. Also note that by multiplying the first two equations, we get, $x^{24}y^{40}= w^{2}$. Taking the square root of this, we find that $x^{12}y^{20}=w$. Recall, $x^{12}y^{12}z^{12}=w$. Thus, $z^{12}= y^{8}$. Also recall, $y^{40}=w$. Therefore, $z^{60}$ = $y^{40}$ = $w$. So, $\log_z w$ = $\boxed{060}$.

-Dhillonr25, Bobbob

### Solution 6

Converting all of the logarithms to exponentials gives $x^{24} = w, y^{40} =w,$ and $x^{12}y^{12}z^{12}=w.$ Thus, we have $y^{40} = x^{24} \Rightarrow z^3=y^2.$ We are looking for $\log_z 3,$ which by substitution, is $\log_y^{\frac{2}{3}} y^{40} = 40 \div \frac{2}{3} = 40 \cdot \frac{3}{2} = \boxed{60}.$