Short Answer

Signal Attenuation in Optical Fibers

An optical network technician is measuring signal attenuation in a newly installed fiber-optic cable. The test equipment indicates that each kilometer of cable reduces the signal intensity by a factor of 12\frac{1}{2}. To determine the distance in kilometers, xx, at which the signal strength drops to 18\frac{1}{8} of its original intensity, the technician sets up the logarithmic equation:

log1218=x\log_{\frac{1}{2}} \frac{1}{8} = x

Recall the definition of a logarithm to convert this equation into its equivalent exponential form, and solve for xx to find the distance.

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Updated 2026-06-02

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