How do you solve 25^x=125^(x-2)?

1 Answer
Jun 5, 2017

x=6

Explanation:

In this exponential equation, the clue is that both 25 and 125 are powers of 5.

Write them both with a base of 5

25^x = 125^(x-2)

(5^2)^x = (5^3)^(x-2)

Raising a power to a power rarrmultiply the indices:

color(blue)(5)^color(red)((2x)) = color(blue)(5)^color(red)((3x-6))

In this equation the bases are both equal (to 5,) so the indices also have to be equal.

:. color(red)(2x=3x-6)" "larr solve this linear equation for x

6=x