Difficult exponential equation

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around solving an exponential equation involving terms with different exponential factors. The original poster seeks assistance in isolating the variable t from the equation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the possibility of manipulating the equation by factoring out terms, while others express uncertainty about the feasibility of isolating t due to the nature of the exponential terms.

Discussion Status

Some participants have suggested approximation methods as a potential approach to finding t, while others are questioning the assumptions regarding the manipulation of the equation. There is no clear consensus on a specific method to solve the equation.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexity of the equation due to the properties of exponentials and the original poster's mention of a specific value for t that may guide the approximation process.

zandria
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1. I need to solve the following exponential equation for t.

\frac{1}{20} =0.5 e^{-0.877t} - 0.05 e ^{-9.123t}
 
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i think you can take the t out and calculate the 0.5e things with eachohter inside parathensis and put the t outside. check my thread Hardest Math Problem EVAR! i had the same problem.
 
Unfortunately, due to the properties of exponentials, I don't think I can take the t out. If the exponents of the exponential were sums instead of products, the problem would be much easier and would allow me to factor out an e^t. But I'm not sure how to isolate the t in this specific equation.
 
Nothing obvious comes to my mind, so you might need to calculate t by an approximation method. For example, using Excel, the exponential expression on the right side of your equation equals .055819 when t is 2.5. The value you want is slightly larger than 2.5, I believe.

Note to EternityMech: There is no such word in English as "evar."
 
w00t?
 

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