How can I use the graph of f(x) = log₁₀(x) to approximate the value of y in the equation 10y = 5?

To approximate the value of y in the equation 10y = 5 using the graph of f(x) = log₁₀(x), follow these steps:

  1. Solve for y: First, start by simplifying the equation. We can rewrite it as:
    • y = log₁₀(5). This transformation is derived from the property of logarithms that states if a = b, then log₁₀(a) = log₁₀(b).
  2. Identify the logarithmic value: Now, you want to find log₁₀(5). To do this using the graph of f(x) = log₁₀(x), look for the value of x = 5 on the horizontal axis.

On the graph:

  • Locate the point where x = 5. Follow the vertical line up to meet the curve of f(x).
  • Read the corresponding y value from the vertical axis. This is your approximation for log₁₀(5).

To provide a numerical value for y, we know through calculators that:

  • log₁₀(5) ≈ 0.699.

Therefore, substituting this back gives:

  • y ≈ 0.699.

In conclusion, using the graph of f(x) = log₁₀(x), you can approximate y in the equation 10y = 5 as approximately 0.699.

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