document.write( "Question 253703: Solve for x: log(x-3)= -log (x) + log (2)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "A) 5/2 B) (3+sqrt(17))/2 C) sqrt(6) D) {1,2}
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Algebra.Com's Answer #186046 by edjones(8007)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
log(x-3)= -log (x) + log (2)
\n" ); document.write( "10^(log(x-3))=10^(-log(x))+10^(log(2)) Raising logs base 10 to the 10th power cancels them out.
\n" ); document.write( "x-3=1/x * 2 Sign changes from a + to a * because adding logs is multiplying.
\n" ); document.write( "x-3=2/x
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-3x=2 multiply each side by x.
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-3x-2=0
\n" ); document.write( "x=(3+sqrt(17))/2 see below [x=(3-sqrt(17))/2 is not an answer because logs of negative numbers are not allowed.]
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\n" ); document.write( "This was a tough one; don't give up; you will get it!
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\n" ); document.write( "Ed
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Solved by pluggable solver: SOLVE quadratic equation with variable
Quadratic equation \"ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc=0\" (in our case \"1x%5E2%2B-3x%2B-2+=+0\") has the following solutons:
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x%5B12%5D+=+%28b%2B-sqrt%28+b%5E2-4ac+%29%29%2F2%5Ca\"
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\n" ); document.write( " For these solutions to exist, the discriminant \"b%5E2-4ac\" should not be a negative number.
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\n" ); document.write( " First, we need to compute the discriminant \"b%5E2-4ac\": \"b%5E2-4ac=%28-3%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-2=17\".
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\n" ); document.write( " Discriminant d=17 is greater than zero. That means that there are two solutions: \"+x%5B12%5D+=+%28--3%2B-sqrt%28+17+%29%29%2F2%5Ca\".
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x%5B1%5D+=+%28-%28-3%29%2Bsqrt%28+17+%29%29%2F2%5C1+=+3.56155281280883\"
\n" ); document.write( " \"x%5B2%5D+=+%28-%28-3%29-sqrt%28+17+%29%29%2F2%5C1+=+-0.56155281280883\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Quadratic expression \"1x%5E2%2B-3x%2B-2\" can be factored:
\n" ); document.write( " \"1x%5E2%2B-3x%2B-2+=+1%28x-3.56155281280883%29%2A%28x--0.56155281280883%29\"
\n" ); document.write( " Again, the answer is: 3.56155281280883, -0.56155281280883.\n" ); document.write( "Here's your graph:
\n" ); document.write( "\"graph%28+500%2C+500%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+-20%2C+20%2C+1%2Ax%5E2%2B-3%2Ax%2B-2+%29\"
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