5.

4 Exponential and Logarithmic

Equations

Essential Questions:
How do we solve
exponential and
logarithmic equations?
Solving Simple Equations

Original Rewritten Solution

Equation Equation

a. 2 x  32 2 x  25 x5
b. ln xx ln3  0 ln x  ln3 x3
1
c.    9 3 x  32 x  2
3
d. e x  7 ln e x  ln 7 x  ln 7
e. ln x  3 eln x  e3 x  e 3
1
f. log10 x  1 10log10 x  101 x  101 
10
Strategies for Solving Exponential and
Logarithmic Equations

1. Rewrite the given equation in a form that allows the use of the
One-to-One Properties of exponential or logarithmic functions.
2. Rewrite an exponential equation in logarithmic form and apply
the Inverse Property of logarithmic functions.
3. Rewrite a logarithmic equation in exponential form and apply
the Inverse Property of exponential functions.
Solving Exponential Equations

 Solve each equation and approximate the result to three

decimal places.
a. e  72 b. 3(2 )  42
x x

Solution:
a. e  72
x b. 3(2 x )  42
ln e x  ln 72 Take natural log of 2 x  14
each side.
x  ln 72 log 2 2 x  log 2 14
x  4.277 Use a calculator. x  log 2 14
x  3.807
Solving an Exponential Equation

Solve e  5  60 and approximate the result to three decimal

x

places.

Solution:

e  5  60
x
Original equation.

e  55
x
Subtract 5 from each side.

ln e x  ln 55 Take natural log of each side.

x  ln 55 Inverse Property.

x  4.007 Use a calculator.

Solve 2(3 2 n5
)  4  11 and approximate the result to three
decimal places.

15
2(3 2 n5
)  4  11 2n  5  log 3
2
2(3 2 n5
)  15 2n  5  log3 7.5
15
3 2 n 5
 5 1
2 n   log3 7.5
15 2 2
log 3 32 n5
 log 3
2 n  3.417
Solving a Logarithmic Equation

a. Solve ln x = 2 b. Solve log3 (5x  1)  log3 ( x  7)

Solution:
a. ln x  2
eln x  e 2 Exponentiate each side.
x  e2
b. log3 (5x  1)  log3 ( x  7)
5x  1  x  7
4x  8 x2 Check this in the
original equation.
Solving a Logarithmic Equation

 Solve 5  2ln x  4 and approximate the result to three

decimal places.
Solution:

5  2ln x  4 e ln x
e 1 2 Exponentiate each
side.
2ln x  1 x  e1 2
1
ln x   x  0.607
2
Solving a Logarithmic Equation

 Solve 2log5 3x  4.
Solution:

2log5 3x  4

log5 3x  2

5 log5 3 x
5 2 Exponentiate each side (base 5).

25
3x  25 x
3
Checking for Extraneous Solutions

 Solve log10 5 x  log10 ( x  1)  2

Solution:

log10 5 x  log10 ( x  1)  2 ( x  4)( x  5)  0

log10 [5 x( x  1)]  2 x  4 x  5
log10 (5 x2 5 x )
10  10 2
The solutions appear to be 5
and -4. However, when you
5 x  5 x  100
2 check these in the original
equation, only x = 5 works.

5( x  x  20)  0
2