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Solve for
5^(3x-2) = 7^(x+2)

1 Answer

1 vote

Answer:

x ≈ 2.467

Explanation:

You want the solution to 5^(3x -2) = 7^(x +2).

Logs

Logarithms turn an exponential problem into a linear problem. Taking logs, we have ...

(3x -2)·log(5) = (x +2)·log(7)

x(3·log(5) -log(7)) = 2(log(7) +log(5)) . . . . . separate variables and constants

x = log(35²)/log(5³/7) = log(1225)/log(125/7) . . . . divide by x-coefficient

x ≈ 2.46693

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Additional comment

A graphing calculator can solve this nicely as the x-intercept of the function f(x) = 5^(3x-2) -7^(x+2). Newton's method iteration is easily performed to refine the solution to calculator precision.

Solve for5^(3x-2) = 7^(x+2)-example-1
Solve for5^(3x-2) = 7^(x+2)-example-2
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