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Powers, Radicals, Logarithms practice questions — SAT Math

17 free multiple-choice problems on powers, radicals, logarithms, ordered to match SAT Math difficulty, each with a full worked solution. No account needed — and there's a fresh problem set every day.

Problems & worked solutions

Problem #0455 International

Problem 1Powers, Radicals, Logarithms

The solution of 3x+1=273^{x+1} = 27 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 11
  2. B. 22✓ correct
  3. C. 33
  4. D. 99

27=3327 = 3^3, so 3x+1=33x+1=3x=23^{x+1} = 3^3 \Rightarrow x + 1 = 3 \Rightarrow x = 2.

Problem #0800 UK A-Level

Problem 2Powers, Radicals, Logarithms

Evaluate 2log510log542\log_5 10 - \log_5 4, giving your answer as an integer.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 11
  2. B. 22✓ correct
  3. C. 33
  4. D. 44

Apply the power law to the first term. 2log510=log5102=log51002\log_5 10 = \log_5 10^2 = \log_5 100

Now use the subtraction (quotient) law. log5100log54=log51004=log525\log_5 100 - \log_5 4 = \log_5 \frac{100}{4} = \log_5 25

Finally write 2525 as a power of 55. log525=log552=2\log_5 25 = \log_5 5^2 = 2

Problem #0456 International

Problem 3Powers, Radicals, Logarithms

The value of log26+log283\log_2 6 + \log_2 \dfrac{8}{3} is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. log283\log_2 \dfrac{8}{3}
  2. B. log214\log_2 14
  3. C. 44✓ correct
  4. D. 66

log26+log283=log2 ⁣(683)=log216=4\log_2 6 + \log_2 \dfrac{8}{3} = \log_2\!\left(6 \cdot \dfrac{8}{3}\right) = \log_2 16 = 4.

Problem #0454 International

Problem 4Powers, Radicals, Logarithms

After rationalizing the denominator, 131\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{3} - 1} equals:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 31\sqrt{3} - 1
  2. B. 312\dfrac{\sqrt{3} - 1}{2}
  3. C. 3+12\dfrac{\sqrt{3} + 1}{2}✓ correct
  4. D. 12\dfrac{1}{2}

1313+13+1=3+131=3+12\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{3} - 1} \cdot \dfrac{\sqrt{3} + 1}{\sqrt{3} + 1} = \dfrac{\sqrt{3} + 1}{3 - 1} = \dfrac{\sqrt{3} + 1}{2}.

Problem #0907 US Honors

Problem 5Powers, Radicals, Logarithms

Evaluate the expression log280log25\log_2 80 - \log_2 5.

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 44✓ correct
  2. B. 1616
  3. C. 4-4
  4. D. 33

Apply the quotient rule to merge the difference into a single logarithm: log280log25=log2805\log_2 80 - \log_2 5 = \log_2 \frac{80}{5} Simplify the argument and evaluate, since 24=162^4 = 16: log216=4\log_2 16 = 4

Problem #0458 International

Problem 6Powers, Radicals, Logarithms

The solution set of 2x<82^{x} < 8 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. (,3](-\infty, 3]
  2. B. (3,+)(3, +\infty)
  3. C. (,3)(-\infty, 3)✓ correct
  4. D. [3,+)[3, +\infty)

2x<23x<32^x < 2^3 \Leftrightarrow x < 3, i.e. x(,3)x \in (-\infty, 3).

Problem #0457 International

Problem 7Powers, Radicals, Logarithms

The value of log48\log_4 8 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 12\dfrac{1}{2}
  2. B. 11
  3. C. 32\dfrac{3}{2}✓ correct
  4. D. 22

log48=log28log24=32\log_4 8 = \dfrac{\log_2 8}{\log_2 4} = \dfrac{3}{2}.

Problem #0925 US SAT

Problem 8Powers, Radicals, Logarithms

If log3x=4\log_3 x = 4, what is the value of log3(9x)\log_3(9x)?

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 66✓ correct
  2. B. 88
  3. C. 1313
  4. D. 3636

Use the product rule for logarithms: log3(9x)=log39+log3x\log_3(9x)=\log_3 9+\log_3 x Since 9=329=3^2, we have log39=2\log_3 9 = 2, and we are given log3x=4\log_3 x = 4: log3(9x)=2+4=6\log_3(9x)=2+4=6

Problem #0452 International

Problem 9Powers, Radicals, Logarithms

The value of 123\sqrt{12} \cdot \sqrt{3} is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 44
  2. B. 15\sqrt{15}
  3. C. 66✓ correct
  4. D. 3636

123=36=6\sqrt{12 \cdot 3} = \sqrt{36} = 6.

Problem #0453 International

Problem 10Powers, Radicals, Logarithms

The value of log232\log_2 32 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 33
  2. B. 44
  3. C. 55✓ correct
  4. D. 1616

25=322^5 = 32, so log232=5\log_2 32 = 5.

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