How do you solve 32x+1=5?

1 Answer
Aug 3, 2017

x=0.232 (to 3 sf)

Explanation:

We will not attempt to treat this as an exponential equation by working with the bases, because 5 is not a power of 3.

Find the log of both sides.

log32x+1=log5 use the log power law

(2x+1)log3=log5 isolate the x term

2x+1=log5log3

2x=log5log31

x=(log5log31)÷2

There are no laws to simplify this, so use a calculator to find a value for x

x=0.23248676