Math word problem

Question

the decibel scale measures the intensity of sound. The loudness of a sound L decibels dB, can be determined by using the function L=10log(I) where I is the intensity of the sound. the loudness of a city traffic is 80 dB and the loudness of a darn horn is 110 dB. How many times as intense as the sound of city traffic is the sound of a darn horn

Answer 1

For the traffic equation:

 

L(1)=80dB=10log(I(1)) 

 

or

 

8dB=log(I(1))

 

10⁸=I(1) = Intensity of the traffic.

 

For the equation of the darn horn

 

L(2)=110db=10log(I(2))

 

or

 

11dB=log(I(2))

 

10¹¹=I(2) = Intensity of the darn horn

 

To find the magnitude of the difference

 

10¹¹ ÷ 10⁸ = 10³

 

 

The darn horn is 10,000 times as intense.