document.write( "Question 958316: Solve the given exponential equation.
\n" ); document.write( "5^(|x| − 1) = 125
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Algebra.Com's Answer #585670 by LinnW(1048) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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take the log of each side
\n" ); document.write( "log(5^|x|-1) = log(125)
\n" ); document.write( "(|x-1|)*log(5) = log(5^3)
\n" ); document.write( "(|x-1|)*log(5) = 3*log(5)
\n" ); document.write( "divide each side by log(5)
\n" ); document.write( "(|x-1|) = 3
\n" ); document.write( "x-1 = 3 or x-1 = -3
\n" ); document.write( "x-1 = 3
\n" ); document.write( "add 1 to each side
\n" ); document.write( " x = 4
\n" ); document.write( "x-1 = -3
\n" ); document.write( "add 1 to each side
\n" ); document.write( " x = -2
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