document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=998190>Question 998190</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> How do I solve this? log(x-1)=-2 and check the solution?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #616035 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><B>solver91311(24713)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=solver91311><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=616035\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"+2\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "It really depends on the value of the logarithm base that you assume when the base is not specified.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large \log(x)\"> refers to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large \log_2(x)\"> in computer science and information theory.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large \log(x)\"> refers to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large \log_e(x)\">  or the natural logarithm in mathematical analysis, physics, chemistry, statistics, economics, and some engineering fields.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large \log(x)\"> refers to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large \log_{10}(x)\"> in various engineering fields, logarithm tables, and handheld calculators.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Either way, you use the same process to solve.  I'll assume base 10 to demonstrate.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \log_b(x)\ =\ y\ \Leftrightarrow\ b^y\ =\ x\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \log(x\ -\ 2)\ =\ -2\ \Leftrightarrow 10^{-2}\ =\ (x\ -\ 2)\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hence\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ x\ =\ 2.01\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Check\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 2.01\ -\ 2\ =\ 0.01\ =\ 10^{-2} \Rightarrow \log_{10}(x\ -\ 2)\ =\ -2\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "John<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE e^{i\pi}\ +\ 1\ =\ 0\"><BR>\n" );
document.write( "My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it\r<BR>\n" );
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