Solve E xpon en tial

Equa tio ns

MATH PRO JEC T

SOLVING EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS

If two powers with the same base are equal,

then their exponents must be equal.

For b > 0 and b ≠ 1, if b x = b y, then x = y.

 Solving by Equating Exponents

SOLUTION 4 3x4=3x8=x +81x + 1.

Solve Write original equation.

( 22)3x = ( 23) x + 1 Rewrite each power with base 2 .

CHECK Check the solution by substituting it into the
original equation.
22 (3x) = 23(x + 1) Power of a power property
6x 4 3•1
3x + 3= 8 1+1
Solve for x.
2 =2
64 = 64 Solution checks.
6x = 3x + 3 Equate exponents.

x=1 Solve for x.

The solution is 1.
Solving by Equating Exponents

When it is not convenient to write each side of an

exponential equation using the same base, you can
solve the equation by taking a logarithm of each side.
 Taking a Logarithm of Each Side

2x – 3
S
Solve 10
OLUTION + 4 = 21.

10 2 x – 3 + 4 = 21 Write original equation.

10 2 x – 3 = 17 Subtract 4 from each side.

log 10 2 x – 3 = log 17 Take common log of each side.

2 x – 3 = log 17 log 10 x = x

 

2 x = 3 + log 17 Add 3 to each side.

1
x = 1 (3 + log 17 ) Multiply each side by      . 
2 2

x ≈ 2.115 Use a calculator.
 Taking a Logarithm of Each Side

Solve 10 2 x – 3 + 4 = 21.

CHECK Check the solution algebraically by substituting into the

original equation. Or, check it graphically by graphing
both sides of the equation and observing that the two
graphs intersect at x ≈ 2.115.

y= y = 10 2 x – 3 + 4
21

1.0 2.0 x
SOLVING LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS

To solve a logarithmic equation, use this

property for logarithms with the same base:

For positive numbers b, x, and y where b ≠ 1,

log b x = log b y if and only if x = y.
 Solving a Logarithmic Equation

Solve log 3 (5 x – 1) = log 3 (x + 7) .

SOLUTION
CHECK Check the solution by substituting it into the original equation.
log 3 (5 x – 1) = log 3 (x + 7) Write original equation.

log 3 (5 x – 1) = log 3 (x + 7) Write original equation.

5x – 1 = x + 7 Use property for logarithms 
with the same base.
?
log 3 (5 · 2 – 1) = log 3 (2 + 7) Substitute 2 for x.
5x = x + 8 Add 1 to each side.

log 3 9 = log 3 9 Solution checks.

x=2 Solve for x.

The solution is 2.
 Solving a Logarithmic Equation

Solve log 5 (3x + 1) = 2 .

SOLUTION
CHECK Check the solution by substituting it into the original equation.
log 5 (3x + 1) = 2 Write original equation.
log 5 (3x + 1) = 2 Write original equation.

5 5
log (3x + 1)
= 5?2 Exponentiate each side using base 5.
log 5 (3 · 8 + 1) = 2 Substitute 8 for x.
?
3x + 1 = 25
log 5 25 = 2 b          = x
Simplify.
log
  b x

x =28= 2 Solution checks.
Solve for x.

The solution is 8.
Checking for Extraneous Solutions

Because the domain of a logarithmic function

generally does not include all real numbers, you
should be sure to check for extraneous solutions of
logarithmic equations. You can do this algebraically
or graphically.
 Checking for Extraneous Solutions

SOLUTION log 5 xlog

Solve + log
5 x (x
+ log . Check for extraneous
– 1)(x= –2 1) = 2Write original equation.
solutions.
log [ 5 x (x – 1)] = 2 Product property of logarithms.

log (5 x 2 – 5 x)
10 = 10 2 Exponentiate each side using 
base 10.

5 x 2 – 5 x = 100 10 log x = x

   

x 2 – x – 20 = 0 Write in standard form.

(x – 5 )(x + 4) = 0 Factor.

x = 5 or x = – 4 Zero product property
 Checking for Extraneous Solutions

SOLUTION log 5 x + log (x – 1) = 2 Check for extraneous solutions.

x = 5 or x = – 4 Zero product property

The solutions appear to be 5 and – 4. However, when you

check these in the original equation or use a graphic check
as shown below, you can see that x = 5 is the only solution.

y
y=2

x
y = log 5 x + log (x –
1)
 Using a Logarithmic Model

SEISMOLOGY On May 22, 1960, a powerful earthquake took

place in Chile. It had a moment magnitude of 9.5.

How much energy did this earthquake release?

The moment magnitude M of an earthquake that

releases energy E (in ergs) can be modeled by this
equation:

M = 0.291 ln E + 1.17
 Using a Logarithmic Model

SOLUTION

M = 0.291 ln E + 1.17 Write model for moment magnitude.

9.5 = 0.291 ln E + 1.17 Substitute 9.5 for M. 

8.33 = 0.291 ln E Subtract 1.17 from each side. 

28.625 ≈ ln E Divide each side by 0.291.

e 28.625 ≈ e ln E Exponentiate each side using base e.

2.702 x 1012 ≈ E e ln x = e log e x = x

 

The earthquake released about 2.7 trillion ergs of energy.

SOLVING LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS

EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC PROPERTIES

1 x y
For b > 0 and b ≠ 1, if b  = b   , then x = y.
 

2 For positive numbers  b, x, and y  where b ≠  1,

 

log b x = log b y  if and only if  x = y.

   

x y
3 For b > 0 and b ≠  1, if x = y, then b  = b   .