Exponential Equations (1 Viewer)

qwerty44

Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Messages
557
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
How do you solve algebraically besides trial and error?
 
Joined
May 18, 2012
Messages
193
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
That is the only way. Either trial and error, or by graphical methods (graph y=2^x and y=1+2x-x^2 accurately on graph paper and approximate the intersections).

In general there is no way to get an exact solution.

Of course in this case x=1. However, most of the time the solution will not be an integer.
 
Last edited:

qwerty44

Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Messages
557
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
That is the only way. Either trial and error, or by graphical methods (graph y=2^x and y=1+2x-x^2 accurately on graph paper and approximate the intersections).

There is no way to get an exact solution.

Of course, in this case x=1. However, most of the time the solution will not be an integer.
Thought so. When I came across these that is what I though then I saw a Cambridge question asking to show that they intersect at x=1 and 0. So I should just sub the x values they give to 'show'?
 
Joined
May 18, 2012
Messages
193
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Thought so. When I came across these that is what I though then I saw a Cambridge question asking to show that they intersect at x=1 and 0. So I should just sub the x values they give to 'show'?
Whenever they say "show" you can just sub in the values to see that it is satisfied.

Same is true for simultaneous equations.

Say they gave you the lines 2x+3y=1 and y=3-4x and asked you to show that the intersection is (4/5 , -1/5)

You could just sub the values into both equations and show that they are both satisfied, which is much quicker than physically solving the equations, and it is a sufficent answer if the question says "show". .
 

qwerty44

Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Messages
557
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
Whenever they say "show" you can just sub in the values to see that it is satisfied.

Same is true for simultaneous equations.

Say they gave you the lines 2x+3y=1 and y=3-4x and asked you to show that the intersection is (4/5 , -1/5)

You could just sub the values into both equations and show that they are both satisfied, which is much quicker than physically solving the equations, and it is a sufficent answer if the question says "show". .
yes that makes sense because every equation with exponentials like OP has asked to show. thanks
 

D94

New Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2011
Messages
4,423
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
That is the only way. Either trial and error, or by graphical methods (graph y=2^x and y=1+2x-x^2 accurately on graph paper and approximate the intersections).

In general there is no way to get an exact solution.

Of course in this case x=1. However, most of the time the solution will not be an integer.
...for 2U Maths.

If this was MX1/MX2, then you can use Newton's Method.
 

D94

New Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2011
Messages
4,423
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Once again, in general that would not give an exact solution.
True, I never said otherwise. I was disputing what you said about Trial and Error being the "only way". I believe, in an exam situation, Newton's Method would be the most accurate. (obviously, in this case, it is conveniently a calculable integer, so by observation would be the best method)
 
Joined
May 18, 2012
Messages
193
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
True, I never said otherwise. I was disputing what you said about Trial and Error being the "only way". I believe, in an exam situation, Newton's Method would be the most accurate. (obviously, in this case, it is conveniently a calculable integer, so by observation would be the best method)
Newton's Method is essentially a form of "trial and error" :|.
 

iSplicer

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2008
Messages
1,809
Location
Strathfield
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Uni Grad
2017
How do you solve algebraically besides trial and error?
You can't solve that algebraically, I'm pretty sure it's a transcendental equation (someone with uni maths experience may want to correct me on this).

Use newton's method/graphing/interval method if not blatant, thoughtless trial and error.
 

Sy123

This too shall pass
Joined
Nov 6, 2011
Messages
3,730
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
I was able to algebraically simplify the expression into its simplest form of x=5- 2*2^x
This is done by doing ln to both sides after you make the RHS a perfect square, then playing around with log laws and the numbers after that.
 

Sy123

This too shall pass
Joined
Nov 6, 2011
Messages
3,730
Gender
Male
HSC
2013


The answer is much more evident there, and moreover, it is more evident that there is only 1 solution here since it is a linear function intersecting an exponential graph (in my simplified version)
 

AAEldar

Premium Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2010
Messages
2,246
Gender
Male
HSC
2011


The answer is much more evident there, and moreover, it is more evident that there is only 1 solution here since it is a linear function intersecting an exponential graph (in my simplified version)
How does





?
 

Sy123

This too shall pass
Joined
Nov 6, 2011
Messages
3,730
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
Well, if you take it this way, ln of anything is always a value that is fixed, so whatever x is fixed at, ln is fixed. So in that line of working, Im basically saying that:

2 of the LHS = 1 of the RHS

Therefore 1 of the LHS = 0.5 of the RHS. Because its an equation and balance needs to be retained

I myself am a tiny bit unsure about that method, but my brain tells me its ok to do that. Or is that way just simply mathematically incorrect?
 

iSplicer

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2008
Messages
1,809
Location
Strathfield
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Uni Grad
2017


The answer is much more evident there, and moreover, it is more evident that there is only 1 solution here since it is a linear function intersecting an exponential graph (in my simplified version)
Intuitive idea, but I'm not sure if your line 6 is correct =)
 

Sanjeet

Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
239
Gender
Male
HSC
2012
Well, if you take it this way, ln of anything is always a value that is fixed, so whatever x is fixed at, ln is fixed. So in that line of working, Im basically saying that:

2 of the LHS = 1 of the RHS

Therefore 1 of the LHS = 0.5 of the RHS. Because its an equation and balance needs to be retained

I myself am a tiny bit unsure about that method, but my brain tells me its ok to do that. Or is that way just simply mathematically incorrect?
you mean 1 of the LHS = 2 of the RHS
Your line 6 is wrong.
 
Joined
May 18, 2012
Messages
193
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
You also took logarithms of (x-1)^2

This is zero for the obvious solution x=1

ln(0) is not defined.
 

Sy123

This too shall pass
Joined
Nov 6, 2011
Messages
3,730
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
Yes, I just graphed my solution and the question on Geogebra, and they intersect at y=0
i.e. I graphed y=5-2^(x+1)-x and y=1+2x-x^2-2^x

I thought it was fine though because I tested x=1, the solution

*embarassed*
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top