8^x = 16^x + 4
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I read this equation exactly and literally as it is written
     =
 =  +
 +  .     (1)
My statement is that this equation has no solutions in real numbers.
Indeed, if  x >= 0,  then, obviously,
.     (1)
My statement is that this equation has no solutions in real numbers.
Indeed, if  x >= 0,  then, obviously,   is less than
  is less than   ;
Hence, a fortiori,
;
Hence, a fortiori,   <
 <  +
 +  ,  so equation (1) has no solutions in the domain  x >= 0.
Next, if  x < 0,  then left side of equation (1) is less than 1,
while right side of this equation is greater than 4, so equation (1) has no solutions in the domain   x < 0.
Thus the statement is proved and the equation has no solutions in real domain.
,  so equation (1) has no solutions in the domain  x >= 0.
Next, if  x < 0,  then left side of equation (1) is less than 1,
while right side of this equation is greater than 4, so equation (1) has no solutions in the domain   x < 0.
Thus the statement is proved and the equation has no solutions in real domain.
Solved.
If, in opposite, your original equation is
     =
 =  ,    (2)
then the reasoning is different and the answer is different, too.
Then this equation (2) can be rewritten equivalently in base '2'
,    (2)
then the reasoning is different and the answer is different, too.
Then this equation (2) can be rewritten equivalently in base '2'
     =
 =  ,
which implies an equation for indexes
    3x = 4*(x+4),
    3x = 4x + 16,
    3x - 4x = 16,
       -x   = 16,
        x   = -16,
so the solution for equation (2) is x = -16.
,
which implies an equation for indexes
    3x = 4*(x+4),
    3x = 4x + 16,
    3x - 4x = 16,
       -x   = 16,
        x   = -16,
so the solution for equation (2) is x = -16.
Solved two times for two different interpretations.