Solve Logarithms: Find X When 8logx-3logx^2=log2

Once you answer that question, you should be well on your way to a solution for x.In summary, to solve the equation 8logx-3logx^2 = log8x - log4x, we can use properties of logarithms to simplify the equation and eventually get to an equation of the form log <something> = log 2. From there, we can use the fact that if log a = log b, then a = b to solve for x.
  • #1
donniemateno
45
0
logarithms STUCK!

8logx-3logx^2 = log8x - log4x

im struggling to find x. my working out so far is:

rhs log8x-log4x

= log2

= 8logx - 3logx^2 = log 2

= 8logx - 3logx^2 - log 2 = 0

= -b+ or - the square root of b^2-4ac divided by 2a

a = -3 b = 8 c = - 2

= -8 + or - sqaure root of 8^2 (-4x-3x^2-2) divided by 2x - 3^2

x= -8 + or - square root of 64 - 24 divided by -6

= square of 40 divided by -6

= -8 + or - 6.3245 divided by -6

= - 8 + or - , -1.05408

x= -9.0540
x= 6.94592

can anyone help me. am stuck and can't see where I've gone wrong
 
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  • #2


donniemateno said:
8logx-3logx^2 = log8x - log4x

im struggling to find x. my working out so far is:

rhs log8x-log4x

= log2

= 8logx - 3logx^2 = log 2

= 8logx - 3logx^2 - log 2 = 0
Surely this is supposed to be log(x^2), not (log x)^2 so this is NOT a quadratic equation.

log(x^2)= 2log(x) so you have 8log(x)- 6 log(x)= 2log(x)= log 2.

2lo(x)= log(x^2)= log(2) so x^2= 2.

= -b+ or - the square root of b^2-4ac divided by 2a

a = -3 b = 8 c = - 2

= -8 + or - sqaure root of 8^2 (-4x-3x^2-2) divided by 2x - 3^2

x= -8 + or - square root of 64 - 24 divided by -6

= square of 40 divided by -6

= -8 + or - 6.3245 divided by -6

= - 8 + or - , -1.05408

x= -9.0540
x= 6.94592

can anyone help me. am stuck and can't see where I've gone wrong
 
  • #3


donniemateno said:
8logx-3logx^2 = log8x - log4x

im struggling to find x. my working out so far is:

rhs log8x-log4x

= log2

= 8logx - 3logx^2 = log 2
You're treating the equation below as a quadratic equation. It's not, so you can't use the Quadratic Formula.
donniemateno said:
= 8logx - 3logx^2 - log 2 = 0

= -b+ or - the square root of b^2-4ac divided by 2a

a = -3 b = 8 c = - 2

= -8 + or - sqaure root of 8^2 (-4x-3x^2-2) divided by 2x - 3^2

x= -8 + or - square root of 64 - 24 divided by -6

= square of 40 divided by -6

= -8 + or - 6.3245 divided by -6

= - 8 + or - , -1.05408

x= -9.0540
x= 6.94592

can anyone help me. am stuck and can't see where I've gone wrong
Incidentally, don't connect equations with =. Instead, use "implies" - ==> or "is equivalent to" - <==>.
8logx-3logx2 = log8x - log4x
==> 8logx-3logx2 = log2

In the next step replace 8logx and 3logx2 by different expressions using one of the properties of logarithms. In each case you should get log <something>, with no coefficient in front of log.

In the step after that combine log <A> - log<B> into a single log expression. A and B are the "somethings" you get in the previous step.

If all goes well, you should end up with an equation that looks like this:
log<something else> = log 2.

If log a = log b, what can you say about a and b?
 

1. How do you solve logarithms?

To solve logarithms, we must first understand that logarithms are the inverse function of exponentials. This means that if we have an equation in the form of logb(x) = y, we can rewrite it as by = x. Therefore, to solve a logarithm, we need to rewrite it as an exponential equation and then solve for the variable.

2. What is the rule for combining logarithms?

The rule for combining logarithms is: logb(x) + logb(y) = logb(x * y). This means that when we add two logarithms with the same base, we can multiply the arguments together and write them as one logarithm with the same base.

3. How do you use the power rule for logarithms?

The power rule for logarithms states that logb(xn) = n * logb(x). This means that when we have a logarithm with an exponent inside, we can bring the exponent out in front and multiply it by the logarithm of the argument.

4. How do you solve logarithmic equations with multiple logarithms?

To solve logarithmic equations with multiple logarithms, we must use the rules for combining and simplifying logarithms. This involves rewriting the equation as a single logarithm, using the power rule and other logarithm rules to simplify, and then solving for the variable using inverse operations.

5. How do you solve logarithmic equations with variables on both sides?

When solving logarithmic equations with variables on both sides, we must first isolate the logarithms on one side of the equation. Then, we can use the rules for combining and simplifying logarithms to rewrite the equation as a single logarithm. Finally, we solve for the variable using inverse operations, just like we would with any other algebraic equation.

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