All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

There are n zeros appearing immediately after the decimal point in the value of (0.2) 25 . It is given that the value of log 10 2 = 0.30103. The value of n is

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2018 Elementary Mathematics Previous Year Paper (04-Feb-2018)
The correct answer is

17

Understanding the Number of Zeros After Decimal Point

The question asks for the number of zeros that appear immediately after the decimal point in the value of \((0.2)^{25}\). This type of problem is typically solved using logarithms, specifically the characteristic of the common logarithm (base 10) of the number.

The number of zeros immediately after the decimal point in a number \(N < 1\) is related to the characteristic of its common logarithm, \(\log_{10}(N)\). If the characteristic of \(\log_{10}(N)\) is \(-c\), where \(c\) is a positive integer, then the number of zeros immediately after the decimal point is \(c-1\).

Calculating the Logarithm of \( (0.2)^{25} \)

Let's calculate the logarithm of the given number, \((0.2)^{25}\). We are given that \(\log_{10} 2 = 0.30103\).

We need to find \(\log_{10} ((0.2)^{25})\). Using the property of logarithms, \(\log a^b = b \log a\):

\[ \log_{10} ((0.2)^{25}) = 25 \times \log_{10} (0.2) \]Using another property of logarithms, \(\log (a/b) = \log a - \log b\):

\[ \log_{10} (0.2) = \log_{10} \left( \frac{2}{10} \right) = \log_{10} 2 - \log_{10} 10 \]We know that \(\log_{10} 10 = 1\) and we are given \(\log_{10} 2 = 0.30103\). Substituting these values:

\[ \log_{10} (0.2) = 0.30103 - 1 = -0.69897 \]Now substitute this back into the expression for \(\log_{10} ((0.2)^{25})\):

\[ \log_{10} ((0.2)^{25}) = 25 \times (-0.69897) \]

Let's perform the multiplication:

\[ 25 \times 0.69897 = 17.47425 \]

So, \(\log_{10} ((0.2)^{25}) = -17.47425\).

Determining the Characteristic and Number of Zeros

The value of \(\log_{10} ((0.2)^{25})\) is \(-17.47425\). We need to express this in the form Characteristic + Mantissa, where the mantissa is non-negative.

\[ -17.47425 = -18 + 0.52575 \]

In this expression, the characteristic is \(-18\) and the mantissa is \(0.52575\).

The characteristic of the logarithm is \(-18\). As discussed earlier, if the characteristic is \(-c\), the number of zeros immediately after the decimal point is \(c-1\).

Here, the characteristic is \(-18\), so \(c=18\). The number of zeros \(n\) is:

\[ n = c - 1 = 18 - 1 = 17 \]

Therefore, there are 17 zeros appearing immediately after the decimal point in the value of \((0.2)^{25}\).

Step-by-Step Calculation Summary

  • Find \(\log_{10} (0.2)\).
  • Calculate \(\log_{10} ((0.2)^{25})\) by multiplying by 25.
  • Determine the characteristic of the resulting logarithm.
  • Use the characteristic to find the number of zeros immediately after the decimal point.
Step Calculation Result Notes
1 \(\log_{10} (0.2) = \log_{10} 2 - \log_{10} 10\) \(0.30103 - 1\) Using \(\log(a/b)\) property
2 \(-0.69897\) Value of \(\log_{10} (0.2)\)
3 \(\log_{10} ((0.2)^{25}) = 25 \times \log_{10} (0.2)\) \(25 \times (-0.69897)\) Using \(\log a^b\) property
4 \(-17.47425\) Value of \(\log_{10} ((0.2)^{25})\)
5 Characteristic of \(-17.47425\) \(-18\) Integer part when mantissa is non-negative
6 Number of zeros \(n = |\text{Characteristic}| - 1\) \(18 - 1\) Applying the rule for zeros after decimal
7 \(17\) Final number of zeros

The value of \(n\), the number of zeros appearing immediately after the decimal point, is 17.

Revision Table: Logarithm Characteristics and Zeros

Number \(N\) \(\log_{10} N\) Characteristic Number of Zeros After Decimal
0.5 \(\approx -0.30103 = -1 + 0.69897\) -1 \(1 - 1 = 0\) (e.g., 0.5)
0.05 \(\approx -1.30103 = -2 + 0.69897\) -2 \(2 - 1 = 1\) (e.g., 0.05)
0.005 \(\approx -2.30103 = -3 + 0.69897\) -3 \(3 - 1 = 2\) (e.g., 0.005)
\(N < 1\) with characteristic \(-c\) \(-c + \text{mantissa}\) (mantissa \(\ge 0\)) \(-c\) \(c - 1\)

Additional Information: Logarithm Properties

Logarithms are powerful tools for simplifying calculations involving multiplication, division, and exponents. The common logarithm (base 10) is particularly useful for determining the number of digits in a large number or the number of zeros after the decimal point in a small number.

  • Definition: \(\log_b a = c\) means \(b^c = a\). For common logs, \(\log_{10} a = c\) means \(10^c = a\).
  • Product Rule: \(\log_b (xy) = \log_b x + \log_b y\)
  • Quotient Rule: \(\log_b (x/y) = \log_b x - \log_b y\)
  • Power Rule: \(\log_b x^p = p \log_b x\)
  • Change of Base: \(\log_b a = \frac{\log_c a}{\log_c b}\)

The characteristic of \(\log_{10} N\) tells us about the magnitude of the number \(N\).

  • If \(N \ge 1\), the characteristic is a non-negative integer equal to (number of digits before the decimal point - 1).
  • If \(0 < N < 1\), the characteristic is a negative integer. If the characteristic is \(-c\), then the first non-zero digit appears in the \(c^{\text{th}}\) decimal place, and there are \((c-1)\) zeros immediately after the decimal point.

In our case, \(\log_{10} ((0.2)^{25}) = -17.47425\). The characteristic is \(-18\). This means the first non-zero digit in \((0.2)^{25}\) appears in the 18th decimal place, and there are \(18-1 = 17\) zeros immediately after the decimal point.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. If the roots of the equation x 2 - 4x - log 10 N = 0 are real, then what is the minimum value of N ?

  2. If log 10 x+ log 10 x2 = 2 log 10 x + 1, then what is the value of x?

  3. If 5 x -1= (2.5) log 10 5, then what is the value of x ?

  4. If 6 3 - 4x 4 x + 5  = 8 (Given log 10 2 = 0.301 and log 10 3 = 0.477), then which one of the following is correct?

  5. If log x = 1.25 and y = x log x , then what is log y equal to?

  6. What is the value of log 10 (cos θ) + log 10 (sin θ) + log 10 (tan θ) + log 10 (cot θ) + log 10 (sec θ) + log 10 (cosesc θ)?

  7. If log 10 1995 = 3.3000, then what is the value of (0.001995) 1/8 ?

  8. Let XYZ be an equilateral triangle in which XY = 7 cm. If A denotes the area of the triangle, then what is the value of log 10 A4 ? (Given that log 10 1050 = 3.0212 and log 10 35 = 1.5441)

  9. What is the number of digits in 7 25 , 8 23 and 9 20 respectively? [Given log 10 2 = 0.301, log 10 3 = 0.477, log 10­­ 7 = 0.845]

  10. If log 10 2 = 0.3010 and log 10­ 3 = 0.4771, then the value of log 100 (0.72) is equal to


Important Questions from Special Functions

  1. The function $f(x) = [2x]$ where $[x]$ is the greatest integer function, is continuous at
  2. The number of real solutions of equation x 2 - 3 |x| + 2 = 0 is:

  3. If ϕ is the Euler’s Totient function, then ϕ(92) is:

  4. Consider the linear congruence 6 x ≡ 3 (mod 9). Then the incongruent solutions modulo 9 of this congruence are:

  5. If log10(x2 - 6x + 45) = 2, then the value of x are:

Need Expert Advice?
Test Series
CDS img
Defence
UPSC CDS 2026 Mock Test Series
536 Tests 4 Tests Free
1645 Attempts
4.3(174)
English, Hindi
More Questions from CDS

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App