# solving an exponential equation

• July 31st 2008, 09:07 AM
tami-chan87
solving an exponential equation
A=P(index0)10^r
If A=80, P(index0)=90, find r

Here's what I did:
A=P(index0)10^r
80=90^r
ln80=ln90^r
r=ln80/ln90
so I get r= 0.973 but actually the solution is supposed to be r=log(8/9) or -0.051153.

What did I do wrong?
• July 31st 2008, 09:30 AM
Chris L T521
Quote:

Originally Posted by tami-chan87
A=P(index0)10^r
If A=80, P(index0)=90, find r

Here's what I did:
A=P(index0)10^r
80=90(10^r)
ln80=ln90^r
r=ln80/ln90
so I get r= 0.973 but actually the solution is supposed to be r=log(8/9) or -0.051153.

What did I do wrong?

You forgot that r was the exponent of 10, not 90.

Thus, $\tfrac{80}{90}=10^r$

Since $\log (x) = \log_{10} (x)$, we can take the logs of both sides:

$\log\left(\tfrac{8}{9}\right)=\log\left(10^r\right )\implies \color{red}\boxed{r=\log\left(\tfrac{8}{9}\right)}$

Does this make sense?

--Chris
• July 31st 2008, 09:53 AM
tami-chan87
Yeah, thanks for your help :)