E^ln(x)=x Is it true always?

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The discussion centers on the equation e^ln(x) = x, which holds true only for positive real numbers. Participants clarify that the natural logarithm, ln, is defined solely for x > 0 within the real number set R. While some suggest that extending logarithms to negative numbers could validate the equation for all x, this remains unverified in standard real analysis. The consensus is that e^ln(x) = x is not universally true across all real numbers.

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vkash
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consider this f(x)=eln(sin(x)) f:R-->R.
Can we write this function defination like this f(x)=x f:R-->R
I think no because if we put x as any negative number in first function(function in first line) then there will no solution exist for this but if we put x as any negative number in second function then their will be a solution.
So does it mean that eln(x)=x Is not true[/color] always.
ln represent natural log wih base e. R represent set of all real numbers.
 
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It's only true for x greater than zero, so the positive real numbers onto the real numbers. In my limited experience I believe it is true for any log base.
 
If you extend the logarithms to negative numbers (to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_logarithm" ), you do have
e^{\ln x}=x
 
Last edited by a moderator:
S_Happens said:
It's only true for x greater than zero, so the positive real numbers onto the real numbers. In my limited experience I believe it is true for any log base.
thanks for confirming my thought.

dalcde said:
If you extend the logarithms to negative numbers (to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_logarithm" ), you do have
e^{\ln x}=x

I have not read any such thing.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Then I presume you haven't dealt with functions of a complex variable.

For real numbers,
e^{ln(x)}= x
for any x such that ln(x) is defined- i.e. for positive real numbers.
 
To avoid getting into complex numbers, can't you just use x = -e^{\ln(-x)} for x<0?

Or for any nonzero (real) x, x = \frac{x}{|x|}e^{ln|x|}?
 
Last edited:
vkash said:
I have not read any such thing.
I apologize if I have gone too far, but my point is that if you somehow extend the logarithms to allow negative numbers, e^{\ln x}=x is true for all x.
 

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