Solving Exponential

Equations
Definition
Exponential equations are equations in which variables occur as exponents. For example, exponential
equations are in the form ax = by .To solve exponential equations with same base, use the property of
equality of exponential functions.
An exponential function is a mathematical function found in the form f(x) = ax. Where ‘x’ is a variable
and ‘a’ is a constant called the base of the function. Eg. (ex) Euler function, where ‘e’ is the constant and
‘x’ is the variable.

If b is a positive number other than 1, then bx = by if and only if x = y. In other words, if the
bases are the same, then the exponents must be equal.

➢ Example
Solve the equation 42x-1=64.
Note that the bases are not the same. But we can rewrite 64 as a base of 4.
We know that, 43= 64
Rewrite 64 as 43 so each side has the same base.
42x-1 = 43
So 2x-1 = 3
Add 1 to each side.
2x – 1 + 1 = 3 + 1
2x = 4
Divide each side by 2.
So 2x/4 = 4/2
x=2

NOTE: If the bases are not the same, then use logarithms to solve the exponential equations.
To solve an exponential equation:
1. Isolate the exponential expression.
2. Take the logarithms of both sides.
3. Solve for the variable.
 ➢ Example 1
1. Solve for x: 2x = 12
log 2x = log 12
x log 2 = log 12
x =log 12/ log 2 ≈3.585

2. Solve for x : e5x = 30

ln e5x = ln 30
5x ln e = ln 30
5x = ln 30
X = ln 30/5 ≈ 0.680

EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH ONE UNKNOWN

An exponential equation is an equation that contains an unknown in an index (exponent).

For example:
If 2x = 64
Then 2x = 2
Since the bases are equal,
Then x = 6,
by equating the indices.
Hence, we shall use the equality law for indices to solve an exponential equation.

1. Solve each of the following exponential equations.

(a) 9x =243
(b) 4x = 8
(c) 3x-1 = 27
(d) 25x+3 = 625
(e) 2(8x+2 ) = 16 x+1
(f) 8x + 8x+1 = 576
(g) 22x+1 = 5(2x) +12
(h) 5(625x+2) = 125x-1
(i) 7 2x-5 = 343
(j) 10 3x-2 =1000
(k) 7(49x+3) = 343x-5
(l) 2(16x-3) = 4x+1
(m) 3(27x+1) = 9x-2

2. (a) 2x + 2x+1 = 24
(b) 22x - 6(2x) + 8 = 0
(c) 3x + 3x+2 = 90
(d) 22x - 10(2x) + 16 = 0
(e) 4x + 4x+1 = 80
(f) 32x - 6(3x) – 27 = 0
(g) 5x + 5x-1 = 6
(h) 52x - 30(5x) + 125 = 0