Is there really only one answer?

Algebra Level 2

Find the sum of all real roots of x x such that the equation below is satisfied.

2 x + 3 x = 5 x \large2^x+3^x=5^x


The answer is 1.

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4 solutions

Ponhvoan Srey
Oct 7, 2015

2 x + 3 x = 5 x {2}^{x}+{3}^{x}={5}^{x} Substitute x = 1 2 + 3 = 5 x=1\ \implies 2 + 3=5 ,satisfying the equation.It can be concluded that x = 1 x=1 is a root.But is it the ONLY possible answer?That's the real question.Divide both sides by 5 x {5}^{x} to get ( 2 5 ) x + ( 3 5 ) x = 1 {\left(\dfrac{2}{5}\right)}^{x}+{\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)}^{x}=1 .Now we have to cases:

Case # 1: x<1

If x < 1 x<1 ,then: { ( 2 5 ) x > 2 5 ( 3 5 ) x > 3 5 ( 2 5 ) x + ( 3 5 ) x > 1 \begin{cases} {\left(\dfrac{2}{5}\right)}^{x}>\dfrac{2}{5}\\ {\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)}^{x}>\dfrac{3}{5}\end{cases} \\ \implies {\left(\dfrac{2}{5}\right)}^{x}+{\left( \dfrac {3}{5}\right)}^{x}>1 Case # 2:x>1

If x > 1 x>1 ,then: { ( 2 5 ) x < 2 5 ( 3 5 ) x < 3 5 ( 2 5 ) x + ( 3 5 ) x < 1 \begin{cases}{\left(\dfrac{2}{5}\right)}^{x}<\dfrac{2}{5}\\ {\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)}^{x}<\dfrac{3}{5}\end{cases}\\ \implies {\left(\dfrac{2}{5}\right)}^{x}+{\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)}^{x}<1 Therefore,it can be observed that neither x < 1 x<1 nor x > 1 x>1 satisfies the equation.Thus, x = 1 \boxed{x=1} is the only root of the equation 2 x + 3 x = 5 x {2}^{x}+{3}^{x}={5}^{x} .

Or you could differentiate LHS of original equation and show it is an increasing function.

Abhishek Sharma - 5 years, 8 months ago

I did not think like that.

gahin maiti - 5 years, 8 months ago

@Ponhvoan Srey Please enclose only the mathematical expressions in LaTeX.A series of \quads donot look really nice.I've edited your solution.Please take care in the future.

Abdur Rehman Zahid - 5 years, 7 months ago
Drex Beckman
Jan 1, 2016

Because 5 2 2 2 + 3 2 5^{2}\neq2^{2}+3^{2} , we know there is only one solution (x = 1) because of Fermat's theorem.

Fermat's? Correct me if I'm wrong.

All you have to do is turn it into a fraction and add it. 2 and 3 will become the numerator and 5 will be the denominator.

So it's 3/5+2/5= 5/5 which is equal to 1

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