Struggling with Logarithms? Here's Some Help!

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on solving logarithmic equations, specifically addressing three problems involving logarithms and exponentials. The first equation, 2^x + 4^x = 8^x, can be simplified by rewriting it as 2^x + (2^x)^2 = (2^x)^3. The second problem, log_x {2} = log_2x {8}, can be approached using the change of base formula, log_a b = log_c b / log_c a. The third equation, y = (e^2x - e^-2x) / 2, can be solved by manipulating it into a form that allows for the extraction of x in terms of y.

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preet
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Here are some log questions that I don't really have any idea how to do. I'd appreciate any hints/help... (solve for x in all questions)

1. 2^x + 4^x = 8^x
All I could think of doing was converting them to the same base. I don't see how to simplify the left side of the equation so I can equate the exponents (if that's what I have to do). If I take the log of both sides I just end up getting x log {2} + x log {4} = log {8}, and I don't know where to go from there.

2. log_x {2} = log_2x {8}
I really have no idea how to approach this.

3. solve for x in terms of y
y = (e^2x - e^-2x) / 2
Again, no idea. (specifically, I don't know how to take the natural logarithm of both sides of this equation which is what i think i need to do)

I need some help with this log/ln stuff... if nothing else, are there any good links I can read up on? I forgot pretty much everything I've learned about this stuff.

Thanks
Preet
 
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For 1, note that you can rewrite it as

2^x + (2^x)^2 = (2^x)^3.

See if that helps!

I'm going to assume that 2 is actually to solve

\log_x2 = \log_{2x}8.

Try using \log_a b = \frac{\log_c b}{\log_c a} on the RHS to convert all the logs to the same base.

I'm also going to assume 3 is actually to solve

y = \frac{e^{2x}-e^{-2x}}{2}

for x in terms of y.

Can you solve

y = \frac{u + \frac{1}{u}}{2}

for u in terms of y? If so, you should be able to do your question too!
 
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