Need help getting exp equation to lambert form

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around transforming an equation involving an exponential function into a form suitable for applying the Lambert W function. The original poster presents an equation and expresses confusion about how MATLAB utilizes the Lambert W function to derive a solution.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to rewrite their equation to fit the Lambert W form but struggles with the transformation process. Other participants suggest specific substitutions and manipulations to facilitate this transformation, including letting variables represent parts of the equation.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, offering various algebraic manipulations and substitutions. There is acknowledgment of the challenges in finding real roots for the original equation, and some participants express gratitude for the insights shared, indicating a productive exchange of ideas.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of the original equation not having real roots, which raises questions about the assumptions made in the problem setup. The original poster also notes that their equation is a simplified version of a more complex question they are working on.

nalo
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I have an equation that I have numerically solved in MATLAB - but can't figure out how MatLab has done it! It has used a Lambert W equation to get an answer for my formula which is in the style:

z[1-e(-1/z)]=1

which MuPad simplifies down to:

z = 1/(Wk(-1/e1) + 1)

But I've been trying to figure out how to even get z into the correct form for Lambert W [XeX = Y -> X = W(Y)] and can't figure it out.

Hopefully someone can open my eyes as I can't help but think it should be a simple enough solution.

Thanks for any help!

Nalo
 
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nalo said:
I have an equation that I have numerically solved in MATLAB - but can't figure out how MatLab has done it! It has used a Lambert W equation to get an answer for my formula which is in the style:

z[1-e(-1/z)]=1

which MuPad simplifies down to:

z = 1/(Wk(-1/e1) + 1)

But I've been trying to figure out how to even get z into the correct form for Lambert W [XeX = Y -> X = W(Y)] and can't figure it out.

Hopefully someone can open my eyes as I can't help but think it should be a simple enough solution.

Thanks for any help!

Nalo

Rewrite your equation as:

[tex]e^{-\frac 1 z} = 1 - \frac 1 z[/tex]

Let u = 1 - 1/z giving eu-1 = u. This gives:

1 = ue1-u) = ue1e-u. Now let v = -u, giving vev= -1/e. So v = W(-1/e). Now you can just back substitute for z.
 
Back substitute for z if you dare. (-1)e^(-1)=(-1/e) so W(-1/e)=(-1). Your original equation doesn't have any real roots.
 
Thank you very much LCKurtz! My maths brain is mucho rusty.

Dick said:
Back substitute for z if you dare. (-1)e^(-1)=(-1/e) so W(-1/e)=(-1). Your original equation doesn't have any real roots.

Ah I noticed that just after I posted. It's just a style example of a more long winded question I've got.

Just worked through my actual question there and got the same result as MATLAB (give or take a very little) so thank you all for your help!
 

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