Solving Simultaneous Equations and Understanding Exponential Properties

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3nder
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Just doing a bit of math homework and I am stuck on 2 questions

the first one is a similtanoius equation and goes like this

y = x - 1
y = x2 -3

ive been trying for about half an hour and all i end up with is

y = (square root of) y - 2

im not sure if it's right, it does not look it.

the 2nd question i don't know the name of and looks like

72x = 49

i don't even know where to begin on that, i just have to factorise it.

thankyou in advanced
 
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3nder said:
y = x - 1
y = x2 -3

ive been trying for about half an hour and all i end up with is

y = (square root of) y - 2

Instead of substituting for x, substitute for y instead.


3nder said:
the 2nd question i don't know the name of and looks like

72x = 49

Can you write 49 in any way that relates to 7?
 
for the 2nd question i know that x = 1 but i don't know how to write the proof, like in another question how would i do

43-x = 8x

1st question solved thankyou rock.freak667
 
Last edited:
3nder said:
for the 2nd question i know that x = 1 but i don't know how to write the proof, like in another question how would i do

43-x = 8x

It all revolves around how you can write the base numbers. If you have am=an then m=n.

So if you have 36=62x, then you can write this as 62=62x which means that 2=2x and hence x=1.
 
3nder said:
for the 2nd question i know that x = 1 but i don't know how to write the proof, like in another question how would i do

43-x = 8x

1st question solved thankyou rock.freak667
Also remember how a power to a power behaves:
[tex](a^b)^c = a^{bc}[/tex]

so:
[tex](8)^x=(2^3)^x=2^{3x}[/tex]

and

[tex](4)^{3-x}=(2^2)^{3-x}=2^{6-2x}[/tex]

edit: I misread and thought you said this problem's solution was x = 1. My bad!
 
xcvxcvvc said:
Also remember how a power to a power behaves:
[tex](a^b)^c = a^{bc}[/tex]

so:
[tex](8)^x=(2^3)^x=2^{3x}[/tex]

and

[tex](4)^{3-x}=(2^2)^{3-x}=2^{6-2x}[/tex]

edit: I misread and thought you said this problem's solution was x = 1. My bad!

Right so now you have

[tex]2^{6-2x}=2^{3x}[/tex]

so what is x?