How do you solve Log(x+2)+log(x-1)=1log(x+2)+log(x1)=1?

1 Answer
Nov 18, 2015

x=-4 " or " +3x=4 or +3

Explanation:

Let "log base" be b

Known that log_b(b)=1logb(b)=1

Assumption: The use of 'log' in the question is referring to logs to base 10 giving:

log_10(x+2) +log_10(x-1) =1.....................(1)

But color(white)(xxxxxx)log_10(10)=1 .............................(2)

Substitute (2) into (1) giving:

log_10(x+2)+log_10(x-1) = log_10(10) ..........(3)

But log_10(x+2)+log_10(x-1) = log_10[ (x+2)(x-1)]

Rewrite (3) as:

log_10[(x+2)(x-1)] = log_10(10)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Personal note: I am of 'very' old school where "antilog" -> log^(-1)

Taking antilogs -> (x+2)(x-1)=10

=> x^2+x-12=0

(x +4)(x-3)=0

color(blue)( x=-4 " or " +3)