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Solve the following equation for x. 2e^2x - 2e^x - 24 = 0

1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

x = ln(4) ≈ 1.3862944

Explanation:

You apparently want the solution to the equation 2e^(2x) -2e^x -24 = 0.

Solution

This is effectively a quadratic in e^x. Dividing by 2, we get ...

(e^x)^2 -(e^x) -12 = 0

Factoring gives ...

((e^x) -4)((e^x) +3) = 0

Solutions will be the values of x that make the factors zero.

e^x -4 = 0 ⇒ e^x = 4 ⇒ x = ln(4)

e^x +3 = 0 ⇒ e^x = -3 ⇒ x = ln(-3) . . . . not defined for real numbers

The only real solution is x = ln(4) ≈ 1.3862944.

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Additional comment

In the complex numbers, the other solution is x = ln(-3) = ln(3) +πi.

User Carlos Chaguendo
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