Thread: Does this logarithmic equation have a solution?

I must solve the following logarithmic equation:



I found the answer as:



Which gives me two approximate answers:

0.232 and -17.232

The negative answer clearly cannot be considered a solution. But what about the positive answer? When I sub it back into the original equation, it appears to cause a problem at since it would give this log a negative argument. However, since it can be converted to does that mean that 0.232 does work as a solution?

Thank you!

Originally Posted by JennyFlowers

I must solve the following logarithmic equation:



I found the answer as:



Which gives me two approximate answers:

0.232 and -17.232

The negative answer clearly cannot be considered a solution. But what about the positive answer? When I sub it back into the original equation, it appears to cause a problem at since it would give this log a negative argument. However, since it can be converted to does that mean that 0.232 does work as a solution?

Thank you!

The only solution is

Originally Posted by JennyFlowers

I must solve the following logarithmic equation:



I found the answer as:



Which gives me two approximate answers:

0.232 and -17.232

The negative answer clearly cannot be considered a solution. But what about the positive answer? When I sub it back into the original equation, it appears to cause a problem at since it would give this log a negative argument. However, since it can be converted to does that mean that 0.232 does work as a solution?


No. The argument of the real logarithm to any base must be positive, no matter if you raise to the second or to the 14th power, and this means your equation has no solution

Tonio


Thank you!

.

Originally Posted by harish21

The only solution is

But that gives an answer of -17.232, which isn't a solution.

Originally Posted by JennyFlowers

But that gives an answer of -17.232, which isn't a solution.

oops... sorry.. I completely ignored the negative value. The system wont have a solution.