Question:medium

Consider two distinct positive real numbers \(m, n\), with \(m > n\).

Let \(x = n^{\log_{10}(m)}\) and \(y = m^{\log_{10}(n)}\). The relation between \(x\) and \(y\) is _______.

Show Hint

Take \(\log_{10}\) of both \(x\) and \(y\) and use the rule \(\log_{10}(a^k) = k \log_{10}(a)\).
Updated On: Jul 22, 2026
  • \(x > y\)
  • \(x < y\)
  • \(x = y\)
  • \(x = \log_{10}(y)\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Test the relation with actual numbers first.
Pick two distinct positive numbers with $m > n$, say $m = 100$ and $n = 10$. Then:
\[ x = n^{\log_{10} m} = 10^{\log_{10}(100)} = 10^{2} = 100 \]
\[ y = m^{\log_{10} n} = 100^{\log_{10}(10)} = 100^{1} = 100 \]
Here $x = y = 100$, so for this pair the two quantities are equal.

Step 2: Try a second pair to make sure it is not a coincidence.
Take $m = 1000$, $n = 100$:
\[ x = 100^{\log_{10}(1000)} = 100^{3} = 1{,}000{,}000 \]
\[ y = 1000^{\log_{10}(100)} = 1000^{2} = 1{,}000{,}000 \]
Again $x = y$. Two different examples both giving equality is a strong hint that $x = y$ holds in general, not just by chance.

Step 3: Prove it holds for every m, n using logs.
Take $\log_{10}$ of both quantities. Using $\log_{10}(a^k) = k\log_{10}(a)$:
\[ \log_{10} x = \log_{10}(m) \cdot \log_{10}(n), \qquad \log_{10} y = \log_{10}(n) \cdot \log_{10}(m) \]
These are the same product written in the two possible orders, so $\log_{10} x = \log_{10} y$, which forces $x = y$ since $\log_{10}$ never gives the same output for two different positive inputs.

Step 4: Note that the condition m > n never entered the proof.
Nowhere in Step 3 did the size comparison between $m$ and $n$ get used, only that both are positive. This tells us the equality $x = y$ would hold even if we swapped which of $m, n$ is larger, which is a good sign that options (A) and (B), the strict-inequality choices, are traps built around the given condition $m > n$ rather than being genuine consequences of it.
\[ \boxed{x = y} \]
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