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Which number is larger? $4^{25}$ or $9^{15}$. Why? I know that it used powers of 2 and 3 but how?

bigli
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    We can do this in our heads. Simplify to a power of 2 vs. a power of 3, then take out (taking a root) the greatest common divisor of the exponents. When you have done that, you'll have only a couple of two digit numbers to compare. – hardmath Jul 17 '14 at 19:43

4 Answers4

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$4^{25} = 2^{50} = 32^{10} > 27^{10} = 3^{30} = 9^{15}$ So first one larger.

suncup224
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We want to compare $4^{25}$ and $9^{15}$. Rewrite as $2^{50}$ and $3^{30}$. Now, we have that $$ \frac{2^{50}}{3^{30}}>1\iff \frac{2^5}{3^3}>1 \iff \frac{32}{27}>1 $$ and since the latter is true, we have $2^{50}>3^{30}$.
Note that the first equivalency holds because $\sqrt[10]{\cdot}$ is a monotone function.

Ragnar
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It's not hard to see that $$4^5=1024>9^3=729$$ and now raise to the power $5$.

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    Actually $4^5 = 1024$ and $9^3 = 729$ (though of course this doesn't affect the conclusion). – David Z Jul 18 '14 at 03:10
  • LoL it's an incomprehensible error I do not know how I did it. Thanks. –  Jul 18 '14 at 05:40
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$log(4^{25})=50log2=50(.3)=15 \\$(approximately) $$ \\ $$ $log(9^{15})=30log3=14.31 $(approximately)

So, 1st one is bigger.

$$ \\ $$

Alternatively, $(4^{25})=(4^5)^5$ and $(9^{15})=(9^3)^5$ $$ \\ $$ $4^5>9^3$

Juanito
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