# 2. CONDITION

Which of the numbers is greater: $2^{1997}$ or $5^{850}$?
Solution. From the inequality $2^{7}=128>125=5^{3}$, it follows that

$$
2^{1997}=\left(2^{7}\right)^{285} \cdot 2^{2}>\left(5^{3}\right)^{285}=5^{855}>5^{850}
$$

Answer: $2^{1997}>5^{850}$.