Precalculus (6th Edition) Blitzer

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-13446-914-3
ISBN 13: 978-0-13446-914-0

Chapter 3 - Section 3.4 - Exponential and Logarithmic Equations - Exercise Set - Page 489: 69

Answer

Solution set = $\{-3\}$

Work Step by Step

For the equation to be defined, logarithms must have positive arguments $\left[\begin{array}{lll} x+6 \gt 0, & and & x+4 \gt 0\\ x \gt -6 & & x \gt -4 \end{array}\right]$ $ x \gt -4 \qquad (*)$ This is the condition eventual solutions must satisfy. $\log_{3}(x+6)+\log_{3}(x+4)=2$ LHS: apply the product rule; RHS write $2$ as $\log_{3}3^{2}$ $\log_{5}[(x+6)(x+4)]=\log_{3}3^{2}\qquad $ (if $\log_{b}M=\log_{b}N,$ then M=N) $(x+6)(x+4)=3^{2}$ $ x^{2}+10x+24=9$ $ x^{2}+10x+15=0$ Factor, by finding two factors of $15$ whose sum is $10$ $(x+5)(x+3)=0$ $ x=-5$ or $ x=-3$ The solution $ x=-5$ does not satisfy (*), so the solution set = $\{-3\}$
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