Example

Example 10.27: Comparing Earthquake Intensities

To compare the intensities of two earthquakes, you can convert their magnitudes to intensities using the formula R=logIR = \log I, which converts to the exponential form I=10RI = 10^R. For instance, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake had a magnitude of 7.87.8, so its intensity was I=107.8I = 10^{7.8}. The 2014 Los Angeles earthquake had a magnitude of 5.15.1, giving an intensity of I=105.1I = 10^{5.1}. Forming a ratio to compare them gives 107.8105.1\frac{10^{7.8}}{10^{5.1}}. Dividing by subtracting the exponents yields 102.710^{2.7}, which evaluates to approximately 501501. Therefore, the intensity of the 1906 earthquake was about 501501 times the intensity of the 2014 earthquake.

0

1

Updated 2026-05-26

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.10 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Related