// Numbas version: exam_results_page_options {"name": "Logarithms: Solving equations 6", "extensions": [], "custom_part_types": [], "resources": [], "navigation": {"allowregen": true, "showfrontpage": false, "preventleave": false, "typeendtoleave": false}, "question_groups": [{"pickingStrategy": "all-ordered", "questions": [{"functions": {}, "name": "Logarithms: Solving equations 6", "tags": ["logarithmic equations", "logarithms", "logs", "quadratic equation", "solving a quadratic equation", "solving equations involving powers", "solving logarithmic equations"], "advice": "\n

In the equation
\\[\\var{c}\\left(\\var{a^2}^x \\right)+ \\var{d}\\left(\\var{a}^{x+1}\\right)=\\var{b}\\]

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Let $y=\\var{a}^x$ and since $\\var{a^2}^x=(\\var{a}^2)^x=\\left(\\var{a}^x\\right)^2 $ on substitution this becomes:
\\[\\begin{eqnarray*} \\var{c}y^2 + \\var{d}\\left(\\var{a}y\\right)&=&\\var{b} \\\\  \\\\ \\Rightarrow \\var{c}y^2 + \\var{a*d}y&=&\\var{b}\\Rightarrow \\var{c}y^2 + \\var{a*d}y-\\var{b}=0\\\\ \\\\ \\Rightarrow (\\var{c}y+\\var{al})(y-\\var{abs(be)})&=&0 \\mbox{ on factorisation.} \\end{eqnarray*} \\]
This quadratic has solutions $\\displaystyle y=\\simplify[std]{{-al}/{c}},\\;\\;y=\\var{-be}$.

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But $y=\\var{a}^x \\gt 0$ for all $x$ and so $\\displaystyle y=\\simplify[std]{{-al}/{c}}$ cannot be a solution for the original equation.

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We are left with $y=\\var{-be}$ which gives:
\\[\\begin{eqnarray*} \\var{a}^x &=& \\var{-be}\\\\ \\Rightarrow x\\ln(\\var{a})&=&\\ln(\\var{-be})\\\\ \\Rightarrow x&=&\\frac{\\ln(\\var{-be})}{\\ln(\\var{a})} = \\var{ans1} \\end{eqnarray*} \\]

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to 3 decimal places.

\n ", "rulesets": {"std": ["all", "fractionNumbers", "!collectNumbers", "!noLeadingMinus"]}, "parts": [{"prompt": "\n

$x=\\;\\;$[[0]]

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Input your answer to 3 decimal places.

\n ", "gaps": [{"minvalue": "ans1-tol", "type": "numberentry", "maxvalue": "ans1+tol", "marks": 2.0, "showPrecisionHint": false}], "type": "gapfill", "marks": 0.0}], "extensions": [], "statement": "\n

Solve the following equation for $x$. Note that there is only one solution.

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\\[\\var{c}\\left(\\var{a^2}^x \\right)+ \\var{d}\\left(\\var{a}^{x+1}\\right)=\\var{b}\\]

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Hint: remember that $\\left(A^2\\right)^x=\\left(A^x\\right)^2$ for any number $A$.

\n ", "variable_groups": [], "progress": "ready", "type": "question", "variables": {"a": {"definition": "random(4..9)", "name": "a"}, "be": {"definition": "random(-9..-2)", "name": "be"}, "c": {"definition": "random(2..6)", "name": "c"}, "b": {"definition": "-al*be", "name": "b"}, "d": {"definition": "if(c=2 or c=4,random(3,5,7,9),if(c=3,random(2,4,5,7,8),if(c=5,random(2,3,4,6,7),random(5,7,11))))", "name": "d"}, "ans1": {"definition": "precround(tans1,3)", "name": "ans1"}, "al": {"definition": "d*a-be*c", "name": "al"}, "tol": {"definition": 0.0, "name": "tol"}, "tans1": {"definition": "ln(-be)/ln(a)", "name": "tans1"}}, "metadata": {"notes": "

2/07/2012:

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Added tags.

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Added that the solution is to 3 decimal places.

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Forced exact solution to 3 decimal places - no tolerance.

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Improved display.

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19/07/2012:

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Added description.

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Checked calculation.

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New tolerance variable tol=0 for the answer.

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25/07/2012:

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Added tags.

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Is it necessary to include the hint? It is a rather basic mathematical identity.

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In the Advice section moved \\Rightarrow so that it is at the beginning of the line instead of the end of the previous line.

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Question appears to be working correctly.

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", "description": "

Solve for $x$: $c(a^2)^x + d(a)^{x+1}=b$ (there is only one solution for this example).

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