Very Cool Problem I Found

Hi, BRILLIANT. It's been a few months since I last contributed to the Community. A few days ago, I found this really awesome problem by Dr Jamie Frost (I am a user of DrFrostMaths.com):

Solve the question. Only give the answer as I'll be posting the solution soon...

Good luck and happy tidings!

Yaj

Easy Math Editor

This discussion board is a place to discuss our Daily Challenges and the math and science related to those challenges. Explanations are more than just a solution — they should explain the steps and thinking strategies that you used to obtain the solution. Comments should further the discussion of math and science.

When posting on Brilliant:

Use the emojis to react to an explanation, whether you're congratulating a job well done , or just really confused .
Ask specific questions about the challenge or the steps in somebody's explanation. Well-posed questions can add a lot to the discussion, but posting "I don't understand!" doesn't help anyone.
Try to contribute something new to the discussion, whether it is an extension, generalization or other idea related to the challenge.
Stay on topic — we're all here to learn more about math and science, not to hear about your favorite get-rich-quick scheme or current world events.

Markdown	Appears as
`italics` or `_italics_`	italics
`bold` or `__bold__`	bold
- bulleted - list	bulleted list
1. numbered 2. list	numbered list
Note: you must add a full line of space before and after lists for them to show up correctly
paragraph 1 paragraph 2	paragraph 1 paragraph 2
`[example link](https://brilliant.org)`	example link
`> This is a quote`	This is a quote
# I indented these lines # 4 spaces, and now they show # up as a code block. print "hello world"	# I indented these lines # 4 spaces, and now they show # up as a code block. print "hello world"

Math	Appears as
Remember to wrap math in `$` ... `$` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\sum_{i=1}^3`	$\sum_{i=1}^3$
`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
`\boxed{123}`	$\boxed{123}$

Comments

@Vinayak Srivastava

Yajat Shamji - 8 months, 1 week ago

$3^{{2/4}-{3/5}}=3^{-1/10}=3^{1/x}$ $1/x=-1/10 \implies \boxed{x=-10}$

Vinayak Srivastava - 8 months, 1 week ago

I said only the answer!

Yajat Shamji - 8 months, 1 week ago

Its too easy, nobody would even require the solution. Also, Vinayak's solution is simpler than yours, because it takes less steps.

A Former Brilliant Member - 8 months, 1 week ago

@A Former Brilliant Member – This is an A-Level solution. But do whatever suits you, @Vinayak Srivastava.

P.S. I know it's too easy.

Yajat Shamji - 8 months ago

$x = -10$

Cool problem, but too easy. Vinayak's solution shows how easy it is. Basic identities we learn in 5th grade.

A Former Brilliant Member - 8 months, 1 week ago

Here's the solution (by Dr Jamie Frost):

Yajat Shamji - 8 months, 1 week ago

x = -10

num IC - 8 months, 1 week ago

Math	Appears as
Remember to wrap math in `\(` ... `\)` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\sum_{i=1}^3`	$\sum_{i=1}^3$
`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
`\boxed{123}`	$\boxed{123}$