Question 1186865:  Solve the following exponential equation. Express your answer as both an exact expression and a decimal approximation rounded to two decimal places. 
 
 3e^−x+11 = 48
 
If you wish to enter log or ln, you must use the keypad
 
 
x =  __________________          ≈ _________ 
 Answer by Theo(13342)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! i believe this is:
 
 
your equation is, as far as i can tell,
 
 
3e^(-x) + 11 = 48
 
 
if so, subtract 11 from both sides of the equation to get:
 
 
3e^(-x) = 37
 
 
divide both sides of the equation by 3 to get:
 
 
e^(-x) = 37/3
 
 
take thre natural log of both sides of the equation to get:
 
 
ln(e^(-x) = ln(37/3)
 
 
since ln(e^(-x) = -x * ln(e) and, since ln(e) = 1, then ln(e^(-x) = -x.
 
 
your equation becomeds:
 
 
-x = ln(37/3)
 
 
solve for x to get:
 
 
x = -ln(37/3) = -2.512305624.
 
 
confirm by replacing x in the original equation to get:
 
 
3e^(-x) + 11 = 48 becomes 3e^(-2.512305624) + 11 = 48
 
 
evaluate to get 48 = 48, confirming the value of x is correct.
 
 
HOWEVER,
 
 
it is also possible that your equation is:
 
 
3e^(−x+11) = 48
 
 
without any parentheses, it's difficult to determine what you meant.
 
 
in this case, divide both sides of the equation by 3 to get:
 
 
e^(-x+11) = 16
 
 
take the natural log of both sides of the equation to get:
 
 
ln(e^(-x+11)) = ln(16)
 
 
since ln(e^(-x+11)) = (-x+11) * ln(e) which is equal to -x+11, your equation becomes:
 
 
-x + 11 = ln(16).
 
 
subtract 11 from both sides of the equation to get:
 
 
-x = ln(16) - 11.
 
 
multiply both sides of the equation by -1 to get:
 
 
x = -ln(16) + 11
 
 
solve for x to get:
 
 
x = 8.227411278.
 
 
confirm by replacing x in the original equation to get:
 
 
3e^(−x+11) = 48 becomes 3e^(−8.227411278+11) = 48
 
 
evaluate to get 48 = 48, confirming that the value of x is good.
 
 
if the original equation was 3e^(-x) + 11 = 48, then the solution is x = -2.512305624.
 
 
if the original equation was 3e^(−x+11) = 48, then the solution is x = 8.227411278.
 
 
i would have chosen the first option of 3e^−x+11 = 48 = 3e^(-x) + 11 = 48 because, without the parentheses, the equation becomes: 
3 * e^(-x) + 11 = 48. 
it then becomes: 
(3 * e^(-x) + 11 = 48 
subtract 11 from both sides to get: 
3 * e^(-x) = 37 
divide both sides by 3 to get: 
e^(-x) = 37/3. 
you then took the natural log of both sides to get: 
-x = ln(37/3). 
you then solve for x to get: 
x = -ln(37/3).
 
 
these equations can be graphed.
 
 
the graph is shown below:
 
 
the red equation is y = 3 * e^(-x + 11).
 
 
the blue equation is y = 3 * e^(-x) + 11.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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