How do you solve 5^x = 28?

1 Answer
Mar 25, 2016

x~~2.07

Explanation:

1. Since the left and right sides of the equation do not have the same base, start by taking the logarithm of both sides.

5^x=28

log(5^x)=log(28)

2. Use the log property, log_color(purple)b(color(red)m^color(blue)n)=color(blue)n*log_color(purple)b(color(red)m), to simplify the left side of the equation.

xlog(5)=log(28)

3. Solve for x.

x=(log(28))/(log(5))

color(green)(|bar(ul(color(white)(a/a)x~~2.07color(white)(a/a)|)))