How do you solve log(x+1)log(x1)=1?

1 Answer
Mar 2, 2016

I found (depending upon the base b of your logs):
x=b+1b1

Explanation:

We do not know the base of the logs (it could be 10...) so we say that the base is b:
we get:
logb(x+1)logb(x1)=1
we use the property of logs that tells us:
logxlogy=log(xy)
and write:
logb(x+1x1)=1
we now use the definition of log:
logbx=ax=ba
x+1x1=b1
rearranging:
x+1=b(x1)
x+1=bxb
xbx=1b
x(1b)=1b
x=1b1b=b+11b=b+1b1

Now you can choose the base b of your original logs and find x.
If, for example, b were 10 then you get:
x=119