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abhisheksharma85
If x= 2^b - (8^8 + 8^6), for which of the following b values is x closest to 0?

(A) 20
(B) 24
(C) 25
(D) 30
(E) 42

\(8^8 + 8^6=8^2*8^6 + 8^6=64*8^6+8^6=65*8^6=65*2^{18}\approx{2^{6}*2^{18}}=2^{24}\).

\(2^b - (8^8 + 8^6)=0\) --> \(2^b - 2^{24}=0\) --> \(b=24\)

Answer: B.

OR: 8^8 + 8^6 is very close to 8^8=2^24, thus b=24.

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8^8 = 2^24
8^6 = 2^18

2^24 + 2^18 is nearly to 2^24, so b=24 = Answer = B
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abhisheksharma85
If x= 2^b - (8^8 + 8^6), for which of the following b values is x closest to 0?

(A) 20
(B) 24
(C) 25
(D) 30
(E) 42
\(x= 2^b - (8^8 + 8^6)\)

\(8^8 + 8^6 = 8^6(8^2+1)\)

We can approximate the value. \(1\) is very small value compared to \(8^2\) hence we can ignore \(1\). Therefore we get;

\(8^8 + 8^6 = 8^6(8^2) = 8^{(6+2)} = 8^8 = (2^3)^{8} = 2^ {(3*8)} = 2^{24}\)

\(x= 2^b - 2^{24}\)

For "\(x\)" to be closest to \(0\), value of "\(b\)" should be \(= 24\)

Answer (B)...
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2^24 + 2^18 is nearly to 2^24, so b=24
Why are we ignoring 2^18 here? Can someone explain this to me?
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