Final answer:
The value of x when the Richter scale rating is 7.5 is approximately 0.88.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Richter scale is used to quantify the energy produced by an earthquake. The numbers on the Richter scale represent the magnitude of the earthquake. Each whole number increase on the Richter scale corresponds to a tenfold increase in the energy released, so a rating of 7.5 indicates that the earthquake is 10 times more powerful than one with a rating of 6.5. To find the value of x when the Richter scale rating is 7.5, we can use the equation: 10^x = 7.5. Taking the logarithm of both sides gives x = log(7.5) ≈ 0.88. Therefore, the value of x when the Richter scale rating is 7.5 is approximately 0.88.