2logax+logaax+3logaa2x=0, Find x ?

1 Answer
Aug 30, 2017

x=107 or 1107

Explanation:

The notation you have appears to be wrong, so I will assume that the first a in each log is the base of the log, making the equation look like this:

2logax+logaax+3logaa2x=0

Now, here are a few properties of logs that we need to look at:
1) logaa=1
2) logabx=xlogab
3) logabc=logab+logac
4) logab=logcalogcb this is how you change the base of a log

To our equation then:

Applying Property 3 to the second and third terms we get:
2logax+logaa+logax+3(logaa2+logax)=0

distribute that 3:
2logax+logaa+logax+3logaa2+3logax=0

Now use property 2 on that 4th term:
2logax+logaa+logax+32logaa+3logax=0

Now property 1 of the 2nd and 4th terms:
2logax+1+logax+321+3logax=0

Adding all the logax terms together and all the numbers we get:
6logax+7=0
6logax=7
logax=76

Now we use property 4 to change the base to 10 (a log without a base is in base 10):
logax=logxloga=76

Looking at those fractions, we can equate the top parts and the bottom parts, and since we aren't interested in loga we're left with:
logx=7

The last thing we need to remember is the definition of a log which is:
logab=c means that b=ac

So now we have a known base for the log (10) a known quantity that the log is equal to (-7) so we just plug that in and get:
x=107 or 1107