Logarithms
Logarithms
Richter Scale
Example
In 1997, a California Earthquake measured 3.2 on the Richter scale. How much energy was released?
![RichterEx1-5 RichterEx1-5](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/960/mod_book/chapter/400/Exponential_and_Logarithmic_Functions/Images/RichterEx1-5.png)
![RichterEx1-6 RichterEx1-6](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/960/mod_book/chapter/400/Exponential_and_Logarithmic_Functions/Images/RichterEx1-6.png)
Step 1. Substitute 3.2 into the formula for M.
![RichterEx1-1 RichterEx1-1](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/960/mod_book/chapter/400/Exponential_and_Logarithmic_Functions/Images/RichterEx1-1.png)
![RichterEx1-2 RichterEx1-2](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/960/mod_book/chapter/400/Exponential_and_Logarithmic_Functions/Images/RichterEx1-2.png)
Step 2. Solve the formula for E.
![RichterEx1-3 RichterEx1-3](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/960/mod_book/chapter/400/Exponential_and_Logarithmic_Functions/Images/RichterEx1-3.png)
![RichterEx1-4 RichterEx1-4](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/960/mod_book/chapter/400/Exponential_and_Logarithmic_Functions/Images/RichterEx1-4.png)
![RichterEx1-5 RichterEx1-5](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/960/mod_book/chapter/400/Exponential_and_Logarithmic_Functions/Images/RichterEx1-5.png)
![RichterEx1-6 RichterEx1-6](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/960/mod_book/chapter/400/Exponential_and_Logarithmic_Functions/Images/RichterEx1-6.png)
![RichterEx1-7 RichterEx1-7](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/960/mod_book/chapter/400/Exponential_and_Logarithmic_Functions/Images/RichterEx1-7.png)
The energy released by an earthquake with the magnitude of 3.2 is
ergs.
![RichterEx1-8 RichterEx1-8](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/960/mod_book/chapter/400/Exponential_and_Logarithmic_Functions/Images/RichterEx1-8.png)