To solve the equation \( y = \log_{4} 256 \), we need to find the value of \( y \) such that \( 4^y = 256 \). We can use the change of base formula for logarithms to convert the base 4 logarithm to a base 10 or base \( e \) logarithm, which can be computed using Python's math library.
Solution Approach
Use the change of base formula: \( \log_{4} 256 = \frac{\log_{10} 256}{\log_{10} 4} \).
Compute the logarithms using Python's math library.
Step 1: Understanding the Logarithm
We start with the equation \( y = \log_{4} 256 \). This means we are looking for the exponent \( y \) such that \( 4^y = 256 \).
Step 2: Expressing 256 in Terms of Base 4
Next, we can express \( 256 \) as a power of \( 4 \). We know that \( 256 = 4^4 \) because \( 4^4 = 256 \).
Step 3: Solving for \( y \)
From the equation \( 4^y = 256 \), we can substitute \( 256 \) with \( 4^4 \):
\[
4^y = 4^4
\]
Since the bases are the same, we can equate the exponents:
\[
y = 4
\]