We use the following three rules for logs :
1. nloga(m)=loga(mn)
2. loga(b)−loga(c)=loga(b/c)
3. loga(p)=r⇒p=ar
Using rule 1 we get
2log3(x+19)−log3(x+37)=log3((x+19)2)−log3(x+37)
Using rule 2 gives
log3((x+19)2)−log3(x+37)=log3((x+19)2x+37)
So the equation to solve becomes:
log3((x+19)2x+37)=2
and using rule 3 this gives:
(x+19)2x+37=32⇒(x+19)2=32(x+37)=9(x+37)⇒x2+29x+28=0
Solving this quadratic we get two solutions:
x=−1 and x=−28
We should check that these solutions gives positive values for x+19 and x+37 as otherwise the logs are not defined.
The value x=−1 gives:
Substituting this value for x into log3(x+19) we get log3(18) so OK.
Substituting this value for x into log3(x+37) we get log3(36) so OK.
Hence x=−1 is a solution to our original equation.
The value x=−28 gives:
Substituting this value for x into log3(x+19) we get log3(−9) so NOT OK.
Substituting this value for x into log3(x+37) we get log3(9) so OK.
Hence x=−28 is NOT a solution to our original equation as log3(x+19) is not defined for this value of x.
So there is only one solution x=−1.