# Exponential and logarithmic Functions help

• May 6th 2009, 02:40 PM
olen12
Exponential and logarithmic Functions help
I have the equation y = 15^x which determines the population and x is how many days.

Determine to the nearest day when the population will reach 600.

How do I figure out the above without just guess and check?
• May 6th 2009, 02:43 PM
vemrygh
You can set $y=600$ and take logarithms on both side to solve for $x$.
• May 6th 2009, 02:46 PM
pickslides
Quote:

Originally Posted by olen12
I have the equation y = 15^x which determines the population and x is how many days.

Determine to the nearest day when the population will reach 600.

How do I figure out the above without just guess and check?

guess and check will work fine unless your calculator can calculate base 15, then...

$x= log_{15}(600)$
• May 6th 2009, 04:16 PM
HallsofIvy
Quote:

Originally Posted by pickslides
guess and check will work fine unless your calculator can calculate base 15, then...

$x= log_{15}(600)$

Even if your calculator does NOT have a logarithm, base 15, You can do $600= 15^x$ using log base 10 (common log) [tex]log_{10} 600= log_{10}(15^x)= x log_{10}(15)[tex] so $x= \frac{log_{10}(600)}{log_{10}(15)}$.

Or with the natural logarithm key, "ln", $ln(600)= ln(15^x)= xln(15)$ so $x= \frac{ln(600)}{ln(15)}$.