document.write( "Question 55681: I am trying to solve for a \"to the power of x\" equation using a scientific calculator.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I have started with an example for which I know the answer
\n" ); document.write( "How do you use a calculator to solve for, for example:
\n" ); document.write( "5 to the power of x = 125
\n" ); document.write( "Solve for x.
\n" ); document.write( "I know x =3 but how do you get the calculator to tell you this!\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Ultimately I want to know how to solve for
\n" ); document.write( "0.5 = 1 - e to the power of (-8.9*t)
\n" ); document.write( "Solve for t.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Calculator crazy,
\n" ); document.write( "Heather
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #37784 by Earlsdon(6294)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
While finding the power of a number in a calculator is relatively simple (use the caret (^) as in 4^2 = 16), the inverse is not as easy unless your calculator has a logarithm function.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Addressing your example:
\n" ); document.write( " \"5%5Ex+=+125\" To find the value of x, you would take the logarithm of both sides.
\n" ); document.write( "\"log%28%285%5Ex%29%29+=+log%28%28125%29%29\" But you can simplify the left side because \"log%28%28a%5Eb%29%29+=+blog%28a%29\", so:
\n" ); document.write( "\"xlog%285%29+=+log%28%28125%29%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"x+=+%28log%28125%29%29%2Flog%285%29\" = 3\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );