- #1
nae99
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Homework Statement
log4 x - log4 (x-3) = 5
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
log4 x/x-3 = 5
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dextercioby said:I think you're missing something very simple. You've got an equation in which you must what numerical value hides under 'x'.
So [itex] x= 1024\cdot (x-3) = 1024\cdot x - 1024\cdot 3 = 1024\cdot x - 3072 [/itex]
Now subtract x from both terms of [itex] x= 1024\cdot x - 3072 [/itex].
What do you get ?
nae99 said:ok, so if i am going to subtract x from both terms, i would end up with:
x = 1024 - 3072
Mentallic said:What?
Don't you know basic algebra? Solve for x in 3x=x+2, now apply the same idea to solve for x in x=1024x-3072
Well then you need to go back and cover basic algebra again. You can't afford to lose that many marks on logarithms just because you don't know your algebra.nae99 said:as u can see i am not good at this, ok here goes
nae99 said:1024x-x=3072
1023x = 3072
Mentallic said:Well then you need to go back and cover basic algebra again. You can't afford to lose that many marks on logarithms just because you don't know your algebra.
Yes and now? If I asked you to solve for x why haven't you given us x=... ?
nae99 said:x = 3072-1023
x = 2049
Mentallic said:No, it's not 1023+x=3072, it's 1023x=3072. You really need to go back and catch up on what you've missed out on.
Mentallic said:Yes, now just go back and check to see if your solutions are valid in the original question. That is, everything that you take the logarithm of needs to be greater than zero, so x>0 and x-3>0, therefore x>3. Since both of these need to be satisfied, we just consider x>3. Is your solution valid?
Mentallic said:You need to be less vague. What don't you understand?
Mentallic said:Just check to see if x>3
Mentallic said:You just found that x=3072/1023, is this more than 3?
mentallic said:not quite, 3*1023=3069
Mentallic said:Not quite, 3*1023=3069
HallsofIvy said:Yes, that is correct- only one step left.
You have 1023x= 3072 and you want x= something. How do you get rid of the "1023" that is multiplying the x?
BloodyFrozen said:Now solve for x.
The equation is trying to solve for the value of x that satisfies the given logarithmic expression.
To solve this equation algebraically, you can use the properties of logarithms to combine the two logarithmic terms into a single logarithm. Then, you can use the inverse property of logarithms to rewrite the equation in exponential form and solve for x.
The domain of the solution for this equation is all real numbers greater than 3, since the logarithmic expression is undefined for x ≤ 3.
Yes, you can use a calculator to solve this equation. Most scientific calculators have a logarithm function that can help you find the solution.
The solution to this equation represents the value of x that makes the given logarithmic expression equal to 5. In a scientific context, this solution could represent a specific measurement or quantity that has a logarithmic relationship to another quantity.