SOLUTION: Hi Could you please solve the following 4 to the power of x plus 6 to the power of x equals 9 to the power of x. What is the value of x. Thanks

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Question 1150869: Hi
Could you please solve the following
4 to the power of x plus 6 to the power of x equals 9 to the power of x.
What is the value of x.
Thanks

Found 2 solutions by MathLover1, ikleyn:
Answer by MathLover1(20849) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
go to:
https://socratic.org/questions/how-do-you-solve-6-x-4-x-9-x#255318


Answer by ikleyn(52775) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

The given exponential equation


    4%5Ex + 6%5Ex = 9%5Ex             (1)


is equivalent to


    2%5E%282x%29 + 6%5Ex%29 = 3%5E%282x%29,   or


    2%5E%282x%29 + 2%5Ex%2A3%5Ex = 3%5E%282x%29.          (2) 


Introduce new variables  u = 2^x,  v = 3^x.  Then equation (2) takes the form

    u^2 + u*v = v%5E2.


Divide both sides by u^2.  You will get

    %28v%2Fu%29%5E2 - v%2Fu - 1 = 0                (3)


Let z = v%2Fu.   Then equation (3) takes the form

    z^2 - z - 1 = 0.


Solve this quadratic equation using the quadratic formula


    z%5B1%2C2%5D = %281+%2B-+sqrt%28%28-1%29%5E2+%2B+4%29%29%2F2 = %281+%2B-+sqrt%285%29%29%2F2.


The roots are  

    z%5B1%5D = %281+%2B+sqrt%285%29%29%2F2,   and

    z%5B2%5D = %281+-+sqrt%285%29%29%2F2.


Thus, we should consider two cases.


(a)  z%5B1%5D = %281%2Bsqrt%285%29%29%2F2%29.


     It means  %281%2Bsqrt%285%29%29%2F2%29 = v%2Fu = %283%2F2%29%5Ex.


     Next, take any logarithm, log base 10, or natural logarithm "ln"  from both sides to continue


       log%2810%2C+%28%281%2Bsqrt%285%29%29%2F2%29%29 = x%2A%28log%2810%2C%283%2F2%29%29%29,

        x = log+%28%28%28sqrt%285%29%2B1%29%2F2%29%29 / log%28%283%2F2%29%29 =  = 1.1868  (approximately).


    Thus this case is completed.



(b)  z%5B2%5D = - %28sqrt%285%29%2B1%29%2F2%29


     It means  - %28sqrt%285%29%2B1%29%2F2%29 = v%2Fu = %283%2F2%29%5Ex.

     
     The left side is negative, while the right side is positive.


     So, this case has no solutions.
     

ANSWER.  The original equation has only one root  x = log+%28%28%28sqrt%285%29%2B1%29%2F2%29%29 / log%28%283%2F2%29%29 =  = 1.1868  (approximately).
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On solving exponential equations see also the lesson
    - Solving exponential equations
    - OVERVIEW of lessons on solving exponential equations
in this site.