Exponential Equations: Solving 2(5^{x+1})=1+\frac{3}{5^{x}}

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around solving the exponential equation 2(5^{x+1})=1+\frac{3}{5^{x}}. Participants are exploring methods to manipulate the equation and apply logarithmic properties to express the solution in a specific form.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants attempt to isolate terms and apply logarithmic identities, questioning the application of specific formulas. There is discussion on how to eliminate denominators and the implications of different approaches to solving for x.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active with various participants offering hints and suggestions. Some participants are exploring different interpretations of the problem, while others are working through algebraic manipulations. There is no explicit consensus on a single method, but several productive directions have been proposed.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the requirement to express the final answer in a specific logarithmic form, which influences their approach to the problem. There are also mentions of constraints related to the properties of logarithms and the nature of the solutions being sought.

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Homework Statement


Solve 2(5^{x+1})=1+\frac{3}{5^{x}} giving the answer in the form of a+\log_{5}b where a, b, are a set of integers.

Homework Equations



#1:(a^{x})(a^{y})=a^{x+y}

#2:a^{x} / a^{y}=a^{x-y}

#3:(a^{x})^{y}=a^{xy}

#4:a^{0}=1

#5:a^{1}=a

#6:\log_{a}xy=\log_{a}x+\log_{a}y

#7:\log_{a}(\frac{x}{y})=\log_{a}x-\log_{a}y

#8:\log_{a}x^{y}=y\log_{a}x

#9:\log_{a}1=0

#10:\log_{a}a=1

#11:a^{x}=b can be put as: x=\log_{a}b

The Attempt at a Solution


Here it goes:
2(5^{x+1})=1+\frac{3}{5^{x}}
So
5^{x+1}=1/2+\frac{3}{(5^{x})(2)}

Following #6(backwards), you get
x+1=\log_{5}(\frac{1}{2})(\frac{3}{(5^{x})(2)}

x+1=\log_{5}(\frac{3}{(5^{x})(4)}

so x= -1 + \log_{5}(\frac{3}{(5^{x})(4)}

so wait, let's use #7
\log_{5}3 - \log_{5}5^{x}(4)

\log_{5}3 - \log_{5}5^{x} + \log_{5}4

so \log_{5}3 - x\log_{5}5 + \log_{5}4 = \log_{5}3 - x + \log_{5}4 so it equals: 2x=-1 + \log_{5}12

How can I divide the 2?

How about this..
x=-1/2+\frac{\log_{5}12}{\log_{5}25}
does that make x=\frac{1}{2}+\frac{12}{25}? (wait disregard this, it doesn't matter since.. well, it doesn't ask for x)

**Genneth I am trying your way but I sort of don't get it

**Couple things: I put all the formulas I was given just in case, I may have skipped a few but I don't think any other is relevant. Also, I will do more than one problem in this thread, as I am.. quite stuck.. I'll do my best to minimize the number of problems, if I can solve them hhe.
 
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Your application of #6 is backwards...

Hint: 5^(x+1) == 5*5^x. Try finding 5^x first.
 
genneth said:
Your application of #6 is backwards...

Hint: 5^(x+1) == 5*5^x. Try finding 5^x first.

I have no idea how that helps...:S?
 
how would you get rid of the denominator on the right side?
 
rocophysics said:
how would you get rid of the denominator on the right side?

Well, it equals log_{5}25 is the same as 2 (I made it log base 5 of 25 on purpose), but the only way I can get the equation to be in the right format is if it equals '2x', and I don't think I can do that. Wait, would it be -1/2 + 1/2log base 5 of 12?
 
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matadorqk said:
I have no idea how that helps...:S?

follow genneth's suggestion... then replace 5^x with a another variable say y... solve for y.
 
multiply both sides by 5^x and notice that you have a product which has "the same base"
 
learningphysics said:
follow genneth's suggestion... then replace 5^x with a another variable say y... solve for y.
Hmm, I had gotten to that step, so then I am supposed to factor
10y^{2} - y - 3 = 0?

(I was never really good at factoring, so some help would be appreciated, ill try solving it anyways)

I think I factoreed correctly:
(5y-3)(2y+1)

y= 3/5
y=-1/2

Now I solve for x (y=5^x) and I use the #11 formula

So, 5^x=3/5 and 5^x=1/2
Right?

My answer is x=-1+\log_{5}3
That's for 3/5th's... for 1/2 I got x=-log_{5}2 ~ Its not right format than the one they ask, so I only give the first answer?, or both answers?
 
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since one of your solution equals -1/2, what can you do with that solution?
 
  • #10
hmm

rocophysics said:
since one of your solution equals -1/2, what can you do with that solution?

I know I can call it extraneous as logs can't be negatives, so we 'delete' or 'exclude' or 'eliminate' that one?
 
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  • #11
matadorqk said:
I know I can't call it extraneous, as it is not, but logs can't be negatives, so we 'delete' or 'exclude' or 'eliminate' that one?
yesss

since your calculator is log base 10, you will need to use the log-base-change formula.
 
  • #12
rocophysics said:
yesss

since your calculator is log base 10, you will need to use the log-base-change formula.

Psst, read the problem, I think I am done since it says
Give the answer in a log base 5 b
 
  • #13
matadorqk said:
Psst, read the problem, I think I am done since it says
Give the answer in a log base 5 b
sorry :D but come on! aren't you curious to know if your answer is correct? i already know whether it is or not ;)

i'll show you the Proof right now if you want to know.
 
  • #14
Yup, I am right.

rocophysics said:
sorry :D but come on! aren't you curious to know if your answer is correct? i already know whether it is or not ;)

i'll show you the Proof right now if you want to know.

Haha I guess that's part of the fun in this hehe,

So I solved for x its -.317393805 (lol)
So, (2)(5^1-.317393805)=1+3/5^-.317393805
Eventually you get 6=6 :) (Or 6.0000000005=5.999999996, I am wrong! hahaha)

**im posting another problem in a couple minutes, I am stuck, but ill try and figure it out myself first :P
 
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  • #15
:-] i would've been stuck on that problem if genneth never posted, any more problems? I'm bored
 
  • #16
rocophysics said:
:-] i would've been stuck on that problem if genneth never posted, any more problems? I'm bored

This one:
Find the exact value of x satisfying the equation
(3^{x})(4^{2x+1})=6^{x+2}

Give your answer in the form \frac{\ln a}{\ln b} where a, b are a set of integers.

Formulas I am using:
Same ones as shown above in first problem.

My solution:
Ok hows this:

(3^{x})(4^{2x+1})=6^{x+2}
So
(3^{x})(4^{2x})(4)=(36)(6^{x})
So
(3^{x})(4^{2x})=(9)(6^{x})

Now, if I multiply everything my ln would my new step look like this:
\ln(3^{x}) + \ln (4^{2x})=\ln(9) + ln (6^{x})

This is where I think I went wrong, is it right?

**Ok I am pretty sure I am right, so I continue solving, hmm..Now is right about when I may take hints perhaps?
 
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  • #17
you're right so far

now use the power rule and factor out a common term
 
  • #18
the power rule states that \log_{a}b^{x} can be re-written as x\log_{a}b

so now just factor out x and solve
 
  • #19
rocophysics said:
the power rule states that \log_{a}b^{x} can be re-written as x\log_{a}b

so now just factor out x and solve

umm so:
x\ln(3) + 2x\ln(4)=2ln(3)+xln(6)...
lemme just stare at that to see what I get

How am I supposed to factor x out in the right if I don't have an x in 2ln3..
I get:
x(\ln3 + 2\ln4 - \ln6)=2\ln3
So you solve inside the parenthesis
you eventually get \ln8^{x}=\ln9
Im getting somewhere.. let me think some more hehe
 
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  • #20
on a side note, for future problems if you're solving for x

just bring the x term down, don't bother bringing the other term

x\ln{3}+x\ln{16}=\ln{9}+x\ln{6}
 
  • #21
rocophysics said:
on a side note, for future problems if you're solving for x

just bring the x term down, don't bother bringing the other term

x\ln{3}+x\ln{16}=\ln{9}+x\ln{6}

Oh, right, yeah I guess its a bit simpler :p

umm.. 8^{x}=9
so x=log_{8}9
change base to e
x=\frac{\ln9}{\ln8}

YEA!
 
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  • #22
matadorqk said:
you eventually get \ln8^{x}=\ln9
Im getting somewhere.. let me think some more hehe
you're correct, but you're solving for x so you don't need to put it back in standard form

when you solve for x such as a problem like 5x=4 you just divide, right?

it's the same for logs.
 
  • #23
rocophysics said:
you're correct, but you're solving for x so you don't need to put it back in standard form

when you solve for x such as a problem like 5x=4 you just divide, right?

it's the same for logs.

:) I guess so, but now I can just go ln9/ln8, which equals 1.057
 
  • #24
matadorqk said:
:) I guess so, but now I can just go ln9/ln8, which equals 1.057
when verifying your answer, you want don't want to round off

this is how i check my answer on my TI with big numbers (sure i could type it all out again but screw that)

(answer) press STO-> then ALPHA then choose a letter, then just press ALPHA (letter) whenever u plug in

idk if u already do that, but just a tip, it becomes really useful in Chemistry
 
  • #25
rocophysics said:
when verifying your answer, you want don't want to round off

this is how i check my answer on my TI with big numbers (sure i could type it all out again but screw that)

(answer) press STO-> then ALPHA then choose a letter, then just press ALPHA (letter) whenever u plug in

idk if u already do that, but just a tip, it becomes really useful in Chemistry

..I just started using graphic calcs.. i usually stick to my faithful casio fx-350ms
but my graphic one is fx-9750G plus.. where the hell is the STO button? lol
 
  • #26
i googled for an image of ur casio, lol

i found one, it's probably the arrow under the tan key
 
  • #27
rocophysics said:
i googled for an image of ur casio, lol

i found one, it's probably the arrow under the tan key

Wow! Now that's awesome. I guess you learn something every day. :D

Ok let's check what problems I am missing.

I don't understand this problem:

The function f is defined for x > 2 by f(x)=\lnx+\ln(x-2)-\ln(x^{2}-4)..
(a) Express f(x) in the form of \ln(\frac{x}{x+a})
I did this, getting \ln\frac{x}{x+2} (Ill explain if you want)
(b)Find an expression for f^{-1}(x).
What the heck do they mean by that?
 
  • #28
so we know the log rule \log_{a}(\frac{x}{y})=\log_{a}x-\log_{a}y

so your problem is f(x)=\lnx+\ln(x-2)-\ln(x^{2}-4), now re-write it as \log_{a}(\frac{x}{y})

then you'll notice that the denominator is simply a difference of squares and you'll be able to simplify
 
  • #29
rocophysics said:
so we know the log rule \log_{a}(\frac{x}{y})=\log_{a}x-\log_{a}y

so your problem is f(x)=\lnx+\ln(x-2)-\ln(x^{2}-4), now re-write it as \log_{a}(\frac{x}{y})

then you'll notice that the denominator is simply a difference of squares and you'll be able to simplify

Yeah I solved that.. I am asking what f^-1 of x is lol..
 
  • #30
matadorqk said:
Yeah I solved that.. I am asking what f^-1 of x is lol..
you had x/(x+2), it should be 1/(x+2) :p

lol, to be honest with you ... idk how to answer that, i guess just replace the x's with y's
 

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