Is There an Algebraic Solution for 36=X^X?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Freespader
  • Start date Start date
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
3 replies · 4K views
Freespader
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
I came up with an idea for an equation, which follows: 36=X^X. I tried solving it, but I couldn't. I found the graphically (3.15, if I recall correctly), but I want to know if there's a way to solve it algebraically.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Actually, you can, but you need to use the Lambert-W Function.
 
Let f(x):=x[itex]^{x}[/itex] - 36, (f(x) is continuous, f(3.1) < 0, f(3.2) > 0) we can apply

the 'half intervall' function I implemented in my ARIBAS_W workbench, to find the zero of f(x)

in the intervall (3.1,3.2) as: 3.13564239388907368