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Algebra Level 2

Find the sum of the real values of x x which satisfy the equation

2 x = log 3 ( 10 3 x ) 2-x=\log_{3}(10-3^x)


The answer is 2.

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2 solutions

James Villanueva
Oct 25, 2014

2 x = l o g 3 ( 10 3 x ) 2-x=log_{3}(10-3^{x})

Rewrite the equation in exponential form

3 2 x = 10 3 x 3^{2-x} =10-3^{x}

Now, 3 2 x = 9 3 x 3^{2-x} =9 \cdot 3^{-x}

9 3 x = 10 3 x 9 \cdot 3^{-x} = 10 - 3^{x}

Multiply both sides by 3 x 3^{x}

9 = 10 3 x 3 2 x 9=10 \cdot 3^{x} - 3^{2x}

Rearranging

3 2 x 10 3 x + 9 = 0 3^{2x} - 10 \cdot 3^{x} +9=0

Factoring the left side

( 3 x 1 ) ( 3 x 9 ) = 0 (3^{x}-1)(3^{x}-9)=0

Set each factor equal to 0 0 and solve for x

3 x 1 = 0 3^{x}-1=0 or 3 x 9 = 0 3^{x} - 9=0

3 x = 1 3^{x}=1 or 3 x = 9 3^{x}=9

x = 0 x = 0 or x = 2 x=2

The sum of the solutions is:

0 + 2 = 2 0+2= \boxed{2}

Shagun Bhatia
Oct 25, 2014

Taking 3^x as t, the following quadratic equation is obtained : t²-10t+9 where t=1,9. This makes x=0,2 and hence the sum is 2.

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