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When I simplify some logarithmic expressions in Mathematica, it just returns the expression

FullSimplify[Log[Sqrt[2] + 1, 5 Sqrt[2] + 7]]

FullSimplify[Log[Sqrt[2] + 1, 17 - 12 Sqrt[2]]]

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Obviously, simplification isn't completely, using Maple could get enter image description here enter image description here

Is there any way I can tell Mathematica to be smarter?

Additional

RootApproximant only worked on numeric quantity

FullSimplify[Log[(5 Sqrt[2] + 7)^c, (2 Sqrt[2] + 3)^a (17 - 12 Sqrt[2])^b], {a,b,c}∈Reals]
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2 Answers 2

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You can use Reduce to solve the same problem in equation form:

Reduce[(Sqrt[2] + 1)^n == 5 Sqrt[2] + 7, n, Integers]

n == 3

Reduce[(Sqrt[2] + 1)^n == 17 - 12 Sqrt[2], n, Integers]

n == -4

Reduce[
  (5 Sqrt[2] + 7)^(c*n) == (3 + 2 Sqrt[2])^a (17 - 12 Sqrt[2])^b
  \[And] a != 0 \[And] b != 0 \[And] c != 0,
  n, Reals
]

a != 0 && b != 0 && c != 0 && n == -((-2 a + 4 b)/(3 c))

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Use RootApproximant

y1 = Log[Sqrt[2] + 1, 5 Sqrt[2] + 7];

y1 // RootApproximant

(* 3 *)

Verifying,

y1 == 3 // FullSimplify

(* True *)

y2 = Log[2 Sqrt[2] + 3, 17 - 12 Sqrt[2]];

y2 // RootApproximant

(* -2 *)

Verifying,

y2 == -2 // FullSimplify

(* True *)
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