Understanding the Inequality: Why log₂(24) ≈ 4.58 is Less Than 0.2×24 = 4.8

When dealing with mathematical inequalities, precision and clarity help reveal important truths. Consider the expression involving log base 2:

log₂(24) ≈ 4.58, while 0.2 × 24 = 4.8, leading to the clean comparison:

Understanding the Context

> 4.58 < 4.8

This seemingly simple comparison highlights a key insight: even though one value is derived logarithmically and the other is a simple decimal multiplication, the inequality log₂(24) < 0.2×24 holds true.

Why Is log₂(24) Approximately 4.58?

The value log₂(24) represents the exponent needed to raise base 2 to equal 24. Since:

Key Insights

  • 2⁴ = 16
  • 2⁵ = 32, and
  • 24 lies between 16 and 32,

the logarithm must be between 4 and 5. Precise calculation gives:

log₂(24) ≈ 4.58496, rounding to 4.58 for simplicity.

This means log₂(24) reflects how many base-2 doublings are needed to reach 24.

Why Is 0.2×24 Exactly 4.8?

Final Thoughts

Multiplication by 0.2 is equivalent to multiplying by 1/5. So:

0.2 × 24 = 24 ÷ 5 = 4.8

This straightforward computation avoids approximation and provides clarity on the right-hand side of the inequality.

Comparative Insight: 4.58 < 4.8

Because:

  • log₂(24) ≈ 4.58
  • 0.2×24 = 4.8,

we see definitively that:

log₂(24) < 0.2×24

This difference shows how logarithmic growth rates differ from linear scaling—logarithmic functions grow more slowly than linear functions for values above 1.

Practical Implication: “B Faster” Interpretation