Find X in Y=X+e^X: Log It & Solve

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the equation Y = X + e^X and the challenge of finding X in terms of Y. Participants explore various methods, including logarithmic manipulation, implicit differentiation, and the use of the Lambert W function, while addressing the complexities of inverting the function.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant initially suggests taking the logarithm of both sides, leading to Log Y = Log X + X, but another corrects this to Log Y = Log(X + e^X).
  • There is acknowledgment that explicitly inverting the function may not always be possible.
  • Another participant proposes that implicit differentiation could yield a relationship between X and Y, leading to a differential equation for X(Y).
  • One participant mentions the potential for approximating X(Y) near Y = 1 using series expansion.
  • A later post introduces the Lambert W function as a method to express X in terms of Y, suggesting a transformation involving z = e^X.
  • Some participants express confusion about the meaning of the problem and the appropriateness of the methods discussed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method to find X in terms of Y. Multiple competing approaches are presented, and some participants express uncertainty about the validity of their methods.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made in the transformations and the conditions under which the methods apply. The discussion also reflects varying levels of understanding and interpretation of the problem.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in mathematical problem-solving, particularly those exploring implicit functions, differentiation, and special functions like the Lambert W function.

Gelsamel Epsilon
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How do I find X with respect to Y if;

Y = X + e^X?

If I log it then I get Log Y = Log X + X, if this is the correct step how do I isolise X from here?
 
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Taking the log of the right-hand side is not log x + x, but instead log(x + e^x).
 
****, stupid mistake of mine :-).

I still can't see that helping me at all though :-(.
 
It's not always possible to explicitely invert a function.
 
Last edited:
So I can implicitly get one?

y' = 1+e^x
y'' = e^x

y - y'' = x?
 
The equation that implicitly defines X as a function of Y is the original equation. Y = X + e^X. The fact that Y(X) is in bijection with its image assures you that X(Y) exists.

It's not the case with say Y(X)=X² because X(Y) would be 2-valued: ±[itex]\sqrt{Y}[/itex].

But your idea with differentiating bth sides was good. However, I think it's more interesting to acknowledge X(Y) exists, and then differentiate the equation wrt Y! I get

[tex]1=\frac{dX}{dY}+\frac{dX}{dY}e^{X(Y)}[/tex]

[tex]\frac{dX}{dY}=\frac{1}{1+e^{X(Y)}}[/tex]

This way you have a differential equation for X(Y), or inversely, an integral equation.

[tex]X(Y)=\int\frac{1}{1+e^{X(Y)}}dY[/tex]

I don't know if something can be done with those, but there's probably a way to at least extract some information or approximation. For instance, we know from Y(X) that when Y is around 1, Y is small, so you can keep only the first few terms in the series of exp(X(Y)) and integrate to get an approximation of the form of X(Y) in the nbhd of 1.
 
Gelsamel Epsilon said:
How do I find X with respect to Y if

what on Earth does that even mean?
 
I hope this doesn't get into semantics.
 
May we know where this problem of yours comes from?P.S.This is nonsense, don't pay attention:

quasar987 said:
For instance, we know from Y(X) that when Y is around 1, Y is small, so you can keep only the first few terms in the series of exp(X(Y)) and integrate to get an approximation of the form of X(Y) in the nbhd of 1.
 
  • #10
Got to choose from 5 different questions to do animation type exercises in Maple. Chose number 5 but we had problems restricting the domain in the 2nd function to the time in the first function. The first function was in the form of y = t +e^t. We decided it was too hard and started on a different, easier, question. But it still bugged me that we couldn't get a function for t(y). Obviously we weren't supposed to do it like that, good idea we chose an easier one then eh? :-).
 
  • #11
y=x + e^x
dy/dx=1+e^x
dx/dy = 1/(1+e^x)
 
  • #12
1. Subt z=e^x to get : y = z + ln(z)

2. Exponential each side to get : e^y = z e^z

3. From the definition of the LambertW function : z = LambertW( e^y)

4. So x = ln( LambertW( e^y ) )
 
Last edited:

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