Confusing Error in Should-Be-Simple Integration Problem

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on solving the definite integral of the function y = 4e^(x/5) from x = 1 to x = k, aiming for an area of 100 square units. The initial solution involved the integral calculation leading to the equation 20e^(k/5) - 20e^(1/5) = 100. The user initially derived k = 5*ln(5) + 1 but later corrected this to k = 5*ln(5 + e^(1/5)) after realizing a mistake in applying logarithmic properties. The final value of k accurately reflects the area requirement.

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Homework Statement



Find k such that the area between the function and the x-axis, bounded by x = 1 and x = k, is equal to 100 square units.

Homework Equations



y = 4e^(x/5)

The Attempt at a Solution



1. Wrote the problem as the definite integral from 1 to k of 4e^(x/5)dx = 100.

2. Antidifferentiated to obtain 20e^(x/5).

3. Made substitutions into F(b) - F(a) = 100 to obtain 20e^(k/5) - 20e^(1/5) = 100.

4. Solved for k and got k = 5*ln(5) + 1.

5. At that point I thought I had it all figured out, but when I did 20e^((5*ln(5) + 1)/5) - 20e^(1/5) to check I get 97.7122207 as the result. What am I doing wrong here? Any help would be appreciated.
 
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Check your math going from step 3 to step 4. You should be getting a slightly different result for k.
 
Righto, found out what I was doing wrong: I somehow forgot that logs don't distribute over multiplication. How silly of me.

k = 5*ln(5 + e^(1/5))

Edit: Thanks for the help.
 

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