Source: Extra Practice

If log32log43log54logn(n1)=110\log_3 2 \cdot \log_4 3 \cdot \log_5 4 \dots \log_{n} (n-1) = \frac{1}{10}, find the value of nn.

Options

Option A is correct

10241024

Option B

512512

Option C

20482048

Option D

10001000

Explanation

Using the change-of-base formula, we write logab=logbloga\log_a b = \frac{\log b}{\log a}: log2log3log3log4log4log5log(n1)logn=110\frac{\log 2}{\log 3} \cdot \frac{\log 3}{\log 4} \cdot \frac{\log 4}{\log 5} \dots \frac{\log (n-1)}{\log n} = \frac{1}{10}.

Notice that the terms cancel out telescopically:

  • The denominator log3\log 3 cancels with the next numerator log3\log 3.
  • The denominator log4\log 4 cancels with the next numerator log4\log 4, and so on.

After all cancellations, only the first numerator and the last denominator remain: log2logn=110    logn2=110\frac{\log 2}{\log n} = \frac{1}{10} \implies \log_n 2 = \frac{1}{10}.

In exponential form, this is: n1/10=2    n=210=1024n^{1/10} = 2 \implies n = 2^{10} = 1024.