# Thread: Logarithm - Solve for X

1. ## Logarithm - Solve for X

How would you go by solving these problems to find the value of $\displaystyle x$?

1. $\displaystyle (log_3 x)(log_4 3) = 2$

2. $\displaystyle log x^3 - log y^2 =8$
$\displaystyle log x^4 + log y^6 = 2$

2. Originally Posted by chrozer
How would you go by solving these problems to find the value of $\displaystyle x$?

1. $\displaystyle (log_3 x)(log_4 3) = 2$

2. $\displaystyle log x^3 - log y^2 =8$
$\displaystyle log x^4 + log y^6 = 2$
for one rewrite it as $\displaystyle log_3(x)+\frac{1}{log_3(4)}$...for the second one rewrite it as $\displaystyle log(x^4y^6)=2$

3. 1. Know this identity: $\displaystyle \log_{a} b = \frac{\log_{c} b}{\log_{c} a}$ for any workable $\displaystyle c$

So:
$\displaystyle \log_{3}x \cdot \log_{4}{3} = 2$
$\displaystyle \frac{\log x}{\log 3} \cdot \frac{\log 3}{\log 4} = 2$

You should be able to simplify it form here.

2. Not sure where to go with MathStud's idea but I would just directly solve the system of equations:

$\displaystyle \begin{array}{ccccc} \log x^{3} & - & \log y^{2} & = & 8 \\ \log x^{4} & + & \log y^{6} & = & 2 \end{array}$ $\displaystyle . \quad \Rightarrow \quad .$$\displaystyle \begin{array}{ccccc} 3\log x & - & 2 \log y & = & 8 \\ 4\log x & + & 6\log y & = & 2 \end{array} \displaystyle \Rightarrow \begin{array}{cccccc} {\color{blue}9}\log x & - & {\color{blue}6}\log y & = & {\color{blue}24} & \mbox{(Multiplied by 3)} \\ 4\log x & + & 6\log y & = & 2 & \mbox{ } \end{array} Add them and solve for x. 4. ## here is where I was going Originally Posted by o_O 1. Know this identity: \displaystyle \log_{a} b = \frac{\log_{c} b}{\log_{c} a} for any workable \displaystyle c So: \displaystyle \log_{3}x \cdot \log_{4}{3} = 2 \displaystyle \frac{\log x}{\log 3} \cdot \frac{\log 3}{\log 4} = 2 You should be able to simplify it form here. 2. Not sure where to go with MathStud's idea but I would just directly solve the system of equations: \displaystyle \begin{array}{ccccc} \log x^{3} & - & \log y^{2} & = & 8 \\ \log x^{4} & + & \log y^{6} & = & 2 \end{array} \displaystyle . \quad \Rightarrow \quad .$$\displaystyle \begin{array}{ccccc} 3\log x & - & 2 \log y & = & 8 \\ 4\log x & + & 6\log y & = & 2 \end{array}$

$\displaystyle \Rightarrow \begin{array}{cccccc} {\color{blue}9}\log x & - & {\color{blue}6}\log y & = & {\color{blue}24} & \mbox{(Multiplied by 3)} \\ 4\log x & + & 6\log y & = & 2 & \mbox{ } \end{array}$

Add them and solve for x.
$\displaystyle \ln(x^4y^6)=2\Rightarrow{x^4y^6=e^2}$ and $\displaystyle \frac{y^2}{x^3}=e^8$ then solve...is that flawed logic?

5. Ah I see now, going with a direct comparison.

And are we dealing with base 10 log or natural log?

6. ## Haha

Originally Posted by o_O
Ah I see now, going with a direct comparison.

And are we dealing with base 10 log or natural log?
I never know anymore in math...I always taught that $\displaystyle log(x)\equiv{log_{10}(x)}$ but in most mathematical text $\displaystyle log(x)\equiv{ln(x)}$ so I just assume that I was taught wrong and use the latter...if he means $\displaystyle log_{10}(x)$ then just replace the e with 10

7. Originally Posted by o_O
1. Know this identity: $\displaystyle \log_{a} b = \frac{\log_{c} b}{\log_{c} a}$ for any workable $\displaystyle c$

So:
$\displaystyle \log_{3}x \cdot \log_{4}{3} = 2$
$\displaystyle \frac{\log x}{\log 3} \cdot \frac{\log 3}{\log 4} = 2$

You should be able to simplify it form here.

2. Not sure where to go with MathStud's idea but I would just directly solve the system of equations:

$\displaystyle \begin{array}{ccccc} \log x^{3} & - & \log y^{2} & = & 8 \\ \log x^{4} & + & \log y^{6} & = & 2 \end{array}$ $\displaystyle . \quad \Rightarrow \quad .$$\displaystyle \begin{array}{ccccc} 3\log x & - & 2 \log y & = & 8 \\ 4\log x & + & 6\log y & = & 2 \end{array} \displaystyle \Rightarrow \begin{array}{cccccc} {\color{blue}9}\log x & - & {\color{blue}6}\log y & = & {\color{blue}24} & \mbox{(Multiplied by 3)} \\ 4\log x & + & 6\log y & = & 2 & \mbox{ } \end{array} Add them and solve for x. I solved for "x" and got 100, but when I plugged it back into the equation it does not equal the answer. EDIT - NVM....I'm an idiot. Plugged the "x" value for the "y" value also. But how would you solve for "y"? I can't get the same "y" value for both equation. MathStud - Thanx for the help...but I never learned that \displaystyle log(x) = ln(x) 8. ## Ok Originally Posted by chrozer I solved for "x" and got 100, but when I plugged it back into the equation it does not equal the answer. MathStud - Thanx for the help...but I never learned that \displaystyle log(x) = ln(x) well listing the adaptation I said we have \displaystyle \frac{x^3}{y^2}=10^8\Rightarrow{x^3=10^8y^2}...therefore using substitution we get \displaystyle x=100,y=\frac{1}{10} 9. Originally Posted by Mathstud28 well listing the adaptation I said we have \displaystyle \frac{x^3}{y^2}=10^8\Rightarrow{x^3=10^8y^2}...therefore using substitution we get \displaystyle x=100,y=\frac{1}{10} I got that while trying to solve for both "x" and "y" but when I plug it back into the equation on my calculator...it does not equal to the answer of the equation. 10. \displaystyle \log (x^{3}) - \log (y^{2}) = \log\left(100^{3}\right) - \log \left(.1^{3}\right) = 6 - (-2) = 8 \displaystyle \log (x^{4}) - \log (y^{6}) = \log\left(100^{4}\right) + \log \left(.1^{6}\right) = 8 + (-6) = 2 11. ## You sure about that Originally Posted by chrozer I got that while trying to solve for both "x" and "y" but when I plug it back into the equation on my calculator...it does not equal to the answer of the equation. we have \displaystyle log_{10}((10^2)^4)+log_{10}(10^{-6})=2\Rightarrow{8log_{10}(10)-6log_{10}(10)=2}$$\displaystyle \Rightarrow{2log_{10}(10)=2}\Rightarrow{2=2}$ and $\displaystyle log_{10}((10^2)^3)-log_{10}(10^{-2})=8\Rightarrow{6log_{10}(10)+2log_{10}(10)=8}$$\displaystyle \Rightarrow{8log_{10}(10)=8}\Rightarrow{8=8}$

12. Originally Posted by o_O
$\displaystyle \log (x^{3}) - \log (y^{2}) = \log\left(100^{3}\right) - \log \left(.1^{3}\right) = 6 - (-2) = 8$

$\displaystyle \log (x^{4}) - \log (y^{6}) = \log\left(100^{4}\right) + \log \left(.1^{6}\right) = 8 + (-6) = 2$
Ok thnx alot. I see what I did wrong. I put the exponent outside the parentheses. Thnx all for your help.