Thread: Finding the roots of this equation

I factored it to:

Never equals zero (right?)

How would I solve for ?

Edit: I know the answer is by looking at it, but how would I solve a similar equation?

Originally Posted by IanCarney

I factored it to:

The correct factorization is .

Originally Posted by Plato

The correct factorization is .

Ah, yes. I wrote down the factored form of its derivative by accident >.<

Here's what I'm trying to solve:



Would I take the log of both sides? Because I get a different answer.

Factor in the usual way.

You'll have trouble with the fist piece, for reasons similar to that 3x you already threw out.

You'll need a logarithm or an emperical rule for the last piece. Very informally, ?

Originally Posted by IanCarney

Would I take the log of both sides? Because I get a different answer.

Natural Log:

Originally Posted by IanCarney

I factored it to:

Never equals zero (right?)

How would I solve for ?

Edit: I know the answer is by looking at it, but how would I solve a similar equation?

y = e^(-3x) - e^(2x) = e^(-3x) (1 - e^(5x)) = 0
1 - e^(5x) = 0
1 = e^(5x)
ln 1 = ln e^(5x) = 5x
ln 1 = 0
∴ x = 0/5 = 0



Moderator edit: Quote of OP has been added. This post answers the original question posted. However, it should be noted that in post #3 the original poster gave a new question.