Step-by-Step Solution for Solving Exponential Equations with Fractional Bases

[Corkery]

Homework Statement

Solve the equation:
(1/9)^m = 81^m + 4

Homework Equations

I know how to do a similar equation:
9^2p = 27^p-1

3^4p = 3^3p-1

cancel out the 3's because the base is the same.

4p = 3p-1
-3p -3p

1p = -1

The Attempt at a Solution

I know how to do ones like that but when it comes to this I start to struggle with fractions. :'(.

I'm totally lost and can't even make an attempt to this equation. I'm not asking for the answer but just a maybe the first step or something to get me on the right path.

 

[Vagrant]

How about converting some terms to powers of 9?

 

[Rhythmer]

Homework Statement

Solve the equation:
(1/9)^m = 81^m + 4

Homework Equations

I know how to do a similar equation:
9^2p = 27^p-1

3^4p = 3^3p-1

cancel out the 3's because the base is the same.

4p = 3p-1
-3p -3p

1p = -1

The Attempt at a Solution

I know how to do ones like that but when it comes to this I start to struggle with fractions. :'(.

I'm totally lost and can't even make an attempt to this equation. I'm not asking for the answer but just a maybe the first step or something to get me on the right path.

(\frac{1}{9})^m = 81^{m+4}

(9^{-1})^m = (9^2)^{m+4}

(9)^{-m} = (9)^{2m+8}

-m = 2m+8

-8 = 3m

m = - \frac{8}{3}

 

[symbolipoint]

Corkey,

The way you manage your notation is very important: you wrote

(1/9)^m = 81^m + 4


2. Homework Equations
I know how to do a similar equation:
9^2p = 27^p-1

3^4p = 3^3p-1

cancel out the 3's because the base is the same.

4p = 3p-1
-3p -3p

1p = -1

which showed your original equation of difficulty to be very different from what you meant. In simple text-based expressiveness, you needed proper grouping saying (1/9)^m = 81^(m+4); The way you first wrote it, the "4" was not included as part of the exponent.