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Which is the "fastest" paper-pencil method to compare (find which one is greater) $\sqrt[17]{6}$ and $\sqrt[16]{4}$?

My analysis bought this whole thing down to comparing which is greater between $6^{16}$ and $2^{34}$.Then by using the technique mention here doesn't gives the precise answer as $\log_2 6$ lies between $2 \text { and }3$, how else I could do this?

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  • $\begingroup$ This is another related discussion. $\endgroup$ – Quixotic Dec 6 '11 at 10:37
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You want to know whether $2^{1/17} 3^{1/17} \geq 2^{1/8}$. Raising both sides to appropriate powers and cancelling, this is equivalent to $3^8 \geq 2^9$. But $3^6=729>512=2^9$.

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    $\begingroup$ What are the appropriate powers you raised and cancel? $\endgroup$ – Quixotic Dec 6 '11 at 11:19
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    $\begingroup$ raise both sides to the power $8 \cdot 17$, then cancel $2^8$ from both sides $\endgroup$ – Matthew Towers Dec 6 '11 at 11:24
  • $\begingroup$ I don't know why can't I see that before... thanks anyways. $\endgroup$ – Quixotic Dec 6 '11 at 11:27
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$6^{16}=2^{16} \cdot 3^{16}$ and so you only need to compare $3^{16}$ and $2^{18}$. Now $3^{12}>2^{12}$ and so you need to compare $3^{4}=81$ and $2^{6}=64$. For this last step, the question is: when is $3^k > 2^{k+2}$? The smallest solution is $k=4$.

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    $\begingroup$ Note that you were rather lucky here, since sour simplification (using $3^{12} > 2^{12}$) wouldn't always yield a result. Consider for example $3^{13}$ and $2^{14}$ : $ 3^1 < 2^2 $, and yet $3^{13} > 2^{14}$. Thus writing "Now $3^{12}>2^{12}$ and so you need to compare (...)" is not really rigorous (it implies it is necessary, while it is just sufficient); instead I think you should write something like "Now $3^{12}>2^{12}$ and so proving $3^{4}=81 > 2^{6}=64$ would be sufficient". $\endgroup$ – Clément Aug 25 '12 at 9:37

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