Lesson 6.

6
Solving Exponential and
Logarithmic Equations
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Warm-Up

Simplify the expression.

log 106x

ln e0.2x

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Learning Target:
Solve exponential and logarithmic equations.

Success Criteria:
• I can solve exponential equations.
• I can solve logarithmic equations.
• I can solve real-life problems involving exponential or logarithmic equations.

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Explore It! Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Work with a partner.

a. Find the intersection point of the graphs. Explain how this point can
be used to solve each equation.

i. 4x = 2 ii. log4x = 1

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 Explore It! Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Work with a partner.

b. Solve each equation by graphing.

ex = 2
ln x = −1
i.

2x = 3−x
ii.

log5 x =
iii.
iv.

c. Solve one of the equations in part (b) using a numerical approach, such as
SELECT using a table or a spreadsheet. Explain your reasoning.
METHODS
What are some d. Solve one of the equations in part (b) using an analytical approach, such
characteristics of an
as using properties of exponents and logarithms. Explain your reasoning.
equation that can
help you choose
your solution e. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the solution
method? methods in parts (b)–(d)?

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 KEY
IDEA Solving Exponential Equations

Vocabulary Exponential equations are equations in which variable expressions

exponential equations, occur as exponents. You can use the following property to solve
p. 352 some exponential equations.
logarithmic equations,
p. 353

Property of Equality for Exponential Equations

If b is a positive real number other than 1, then bx = by
if and only if x = y.
Algebra

Example If 3x = 35, then x = 5. If x = 5, then 3x = 35.

The property above is useful for solving an exponential equation when

each side has the same base (or can be rewritten using the same
base). When it is not convenient to rewrite each side of an exponential
equation using the same base, you can try to solve the equation by
taking a logarithm of each side.
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 Example 1 Solving Exponential Equations
x 3
Solve (a) 6 (b) 100 x
, and (c) 2x 7.

SOLUTION
Check
? a.
6 6 Write the equation.
?
6 1 2x 3 Property of Equality for Exponential Equations
6 ✓ 4 2x Add 3 to each side.
2 x Divide each side by 2.
b. x 3
100 x
Write original equation.
Check
?1 3 Rewrite 100 and as powers with base 10.
1001 (102)x (101)x 3

?2 102x 10x 3
Power of a Power Property
100
2x x 3 Property of Equality for Exponential Equations
100 100 ✓ x 1 Solve for x.
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Example 1 Solving Exponential Equations
x 3
Solve (a) 6 (b) 100 x
, and (c) 2x 7.

SOLUTION

c. 2x 7 Write original equation.

log2 2x log2 7 Take log2 of each side.

x log2 7 logb bx x

x 2.807 Use technology.

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Solve the equation.

1. 73x + 5 = 7x + 1 2. 82x − 1 = 24x − 4

3. 2x = 5 4. 79x = 15

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 An important application of exponential equations is Newton’s law of
DECOMPOSE A
PROBLEM cooling. This law states that for a cooling substance with initial
Notice that Newton’s temperature T0, the temperature T after t minutes can be modeled by
T = (T0 − TR)e−rt + TR
law of cooling models
the temperature of a
cooling body by adding
a constant function, where TR is the surrounding temperature and r is the cooling rate of
TR, to a decaying the substance.
(T0 − TR)e−rt.
exponential function,

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Example 2 Modeling Real Life
You are cooking aleecha, an Ethiopian stew. When you take it off the stove,
its temperature is 212°F. The room temperature is 70, and the cooling rate of
the stew is r 0.046. How long will it take to cool the stew to a serving
temperature of 100?
SOLUTION
Use Newton’s Law of Cooling with T 100, T0 212, TR 70, and r 0.046.
T (T0 TR)ert TR Newton’s Law of Cooling
100 (212 70)e0.046t 70 Substitute for T, T0, TR, and r.
30 142e0.046t Subtract 70 from each side.
0.211 e0.046t Divide each side by 142.
ln 0.211 ln e0.046t Take natural log of each side.
1.556 0.046t ln ex loge ex x
33.8 t Divide each side by 0.046.
You should wait about 34 minutes before serving the stew.
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You are cooking aleecha, an Ethiopian stew. When you take it off the stove, its temperature
is 212°F. The room temperature is 70, and the cooling rate of the stew is r 0.046.

5. Use the information in above.

a. How long will it take to cool the stew to 100°F when the room temperature is 75°F?
b. How much sooner can your guests begin to eat when the serving temperature is
140°F instead of 100°F? Explain your reasoning.

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KEY
IDEA
Solving Logarithmic Equations
Logarithmic equations are equations that involve one or more
logarithms of variable expressions. You can use the following
property to solve some logarithmic equations.

Property of Equality for Logarithmic Equations

If b, x, and y are positive real numbers with b ≠ 1, then
logb x = logb y if and only if x = y.
Algebra

Example If log2 x = log2 7, then x = 7. If x = 7, then log2 x = log2 7.

The property above implies that if you are given an equation x = y,

form bx = by.
then you can exponentiate each side to obtain an equation of the

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 Example 3 Solving Logarithmic Equations
Solve (a) ln(4x 7) ln(x 5) and (b) log2(5x 17) 3.
SOLUTION
Check
a. ln(4x 7) ln(x 5) Write original equation.
?
ln(4 4 7) ln(4 5)
4x 7 x 5 Property of Equality for Logarithmic
? Equationsx from each side.
ln( 7) ln 9 3x 7 5 Subtract
ln 9 ln 9 ✓ x 4 Solve for x.

Check b. log2(5x 17) 3 Write original equation.

?
log2(5 5 17) 3 2log2(5x 17)
23 Exponentiate each side using base
? 2.logbx
log2(25 17) 3 5x 17 8 b x
?
log2 8 3 x 5 Solve for x.
Because 23 8,
log2 8 3. ✓
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 Example 4 Solving an Equation with an Extraneous Solution

Solve log 2x log(x 5) 2.

SOLUTION

log 2x log(x 5) 2 Write original equation.

Study Tip
Because the domain of log [2x(x 5)] 2 Product Property of Logarithms
a logarithmic function
generally does not include 10log [2x(x 5)]
102 Exponentiate each side using base
all real numbers, be sure to 10.
check for extraneous 2x(x 5) 100 blogbx x.
solutions of logarithmic
equations. You can do this 2x2 10x 100 0 Use Distributive Property
algebraically or graphically. and write in standard form.
x2 5x 50 0 Divide each side by 2.
(x 10)(x 5) 0 Factor.
x 10 or x 5 Zero-Product Property

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Example 4 Solving an Equation with an Extraneous Solution

? ?
Check log(2 10) log(10 5) 2 log[2 (5)] log(5 5) 2
?
log 20 log 5 2 ? log(10) log(10) 2
log 100 ?2
Because log(10) is not defined,
2 2 ✓ ✘
5 is not a solution.

The apparent solution x 5 is extraneous. So, the only solution is x 10.

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Solve the equation. Check your solution(s).

6. ln (7x − 4) = ln(2x + 11) 7. log7(4x − 1) = log7 23

8. log2(x − 6) = 5 9. log 5x + log(x − 1) = 2

10. log4(x + 12) + log4 x = 3 11. ln(x + 4) + ln x = 6

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12. When do logarithmic equations have extraneous solutions?

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Example 5 Modeling Real Life

Scientists studying longhorn beetles in Florida use the model

log S 0.9202 0.2864 log A to approximate the number S of species on an
island with an area of A square kilometers. Approximate the area of an island
that is home to 20 species of longhorn beetles.
SOLUTION
1. Understand the Problem You are given a model that represents the
relationship between the area of an island and the number of species of
longhorn beetles on the island. You are asked to approximate the area
of an island that is home to 20 species of longhorn beetles.

2. Make a Plan Substitute 20 for the number S of species. Then use

properties of logarithms to solve the equation for the area A of the island.

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Example 5 Modeling Real Life

3. Solve and Check

log S 0.9202 0.2864 log A Write original equation.

log 20 0.9202 0.2864 log A Substitute 20 for S.

log 20 0.9202 0.2864 log A Subtract 0.9202 from each side.

log A Divide each side by 0.2864.

Exponentiate each side using

base 10.

21.4 A Use technology.

The area of the island is about 21.4 square kilometers.

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Example 5 Modeling Real Life

The area of the island is about 21.4 square kilometers.

?
Check log 20 0.9202 0.2864 log 21.4
?
1.30 0.9202 0.2864(1.33)
1.30 1.30 ✓

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Scientists studying longhorn beetles in Florida use the model log S 0.9202 0.2864 log A to
approximate the number S of species on an island with an area of A square kilometers.

13. About how many times greater is the area of the island in Example 5 than the area of an
island containing 10 species of longhorn beetles? Justify your answer.

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14. A researcher uses the function y = to represent that a person remembers y% of
information over time t (in minutes), where t = 1 represents the end of the initial
learning.

a. How long does it take for someone to forget 25% of the information?

b. How much longer does it take for someone to forget 50% of the information than
25% of the information? Justify your answer.

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 In-Class
Mini-Assessment
Practice

1. 5x = 12
2. 3x + 1 = 81x − 2

3. log6(4x + 8) = 2

4. log2 2x + log2(x 3) = 3

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