Property of exponential functions

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the validity of the equation e^(-pi*s) - e^(-2pi*s) = e^(-pi*s - (-2pi*s)). Participants clarify that this statement is false, emphasizing that the property in question only applies to multiplication of exponents, not subtraction. One user suggests that transforming the second term can simplify the equation, but others argue that this advice is not helpful without a solid understanding of exponential properties. The consensus is that the left side does not equal the right side, reinforcing the need for clarity on exponential function properties. Understanding these properties is crucial for solving related problems in Laplace transforms.
Tricky557
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Homework Statement



Working on some Laplace transforms, and my lack of knowledge of some properties of exponential functions is coming back to bite me(again). I'm stuck trying to figure out if:

e^(-pi*s) - e^(-2pi*s) = e^(-pi*s - (-2pi*s))

Is a true statement or not. I've searched around the internet trying to find properties of adding/subtracting exponential functions, but I couldn't find anything.
 
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You can turn the second term into e^{-\pi s}/e^{-2\pi s}
from there multiply both sides by this denominator. This will reduce both the left and right side to one term. Do they equal?
 
Tricky557 said:

Homework Statement


I'm stuck trying to figure out if:

e^(-pi*s) - e^(-2pi*s) = e^(-pi*s - (-2pi*s))

Is a true statement or not.
This statement is not true. This only applies to multiplication of exponents.

axay=ax+y

Refer to this for exponential properties: http://www.efunda.com/math/exp_log/exp_relation.cfm

@Sandy: You are wrong as well. Your equation does not equal to the original problem
 
Last edited:
Tricky557 said:

Homework Statement



Working on some Laplace transforms, and my lack of knowledge of some properties of exponential functions is coming back to bite me(again). I'm stuck trying to figure out if:

e^(-pi*s) - e^(-2pi*s) = e^(-pi*s - (-2pi*s))

Is a true statement or not. I've searched around the internet trying to find properties of adding/subtracting exponential functions, but I couldn't find anything.
To answer your question, no, the left side is not equal to the right side.
 
Ivan92 said:
@Sandy: You are wrong as well. Your equation does not equal to the original problem

He's not wrong, you just missed the part about him saying "the second term". But I find that advice to be quite useless if it still takes knowledge about exponential properties to determine the correct answer.
 
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