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#1 2013-02-25 08:33:05

genericname
Member
Registered: 2012-05-16
Posts: 52

Log question

(2*(n/2)*lg(n/2)) + n

= (n*lg(n/2))+n

= n*(lg n - 1) + n

How does (n*lg(n/2))+n simplify to n*(lg n - 1) + n? What happened to the n/2 that was inside? It has been a while since I last worked with log.

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#2 2013-02-25 08:50:27

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Log question

Hi;

Is this the problem?

Last edited by bobbym (2013-02-25 08:51:47)


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#3 2013-02-25 08:58:06

genericname
Member
Registered: 2012-05-16
Posts: 52

Re: Log question

Yeah.

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#4 2013-02-25 10:10:06

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Log question

I am getting:

Last edited by bobbym (2013-02-25 10:10:52)


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#5 2013-02-25 13:40:36

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Log question

Hi genericname

lg(a/b)=lg(a)-lg(b) for any a and b for which the expression is defined.

So, lg(n/2)=lg(n)-lg(2)=lg(n)-1, assuming the logarithm is with base 2.


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

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#6 2013-02-25 14:27:50

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Log question

Why would the log be to the base two?


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#7 2013-02-25 14:41:10

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Log question

Because then the step makes sense. We will have have to wait for the OP's answer.

And besides, the use of n and lg reminds me of comp. analysis.

Last edited by anonimnystefy (2013-02-25 14:42:40)


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

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#8 2013-02-25 16:31:10

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Log question

A very good answer!


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#9 2013-02-26 03:44:16

genericname
Member
Registered: 2012-05-16
Posts: 52

Re: Log question

Ah, thank you. It was base 2, sorry for the confusion.

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#10 2013-02-26 06:19:58

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Log question

No problem and you're welcome!


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

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