The equation is 1296 = 6^x + 1. Subtract 1: 1295 = 6^x, Take the log of both sides: log 1295 = x log 6, solve the logs: 3.11226976842 = 0.77815125038x, divide both sides by 0.77815125038: 3.99956919, which either rounds to 4 or stays, depending on what class you're in.