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| Question 465374:  I have  a quick clarifying question:
 I solved a problem to where the two results are e^x= 1/3 or e^x= -2. I believe that you can't deal with the -2 because it's negative, but then my answer key is telling me that x= -ln 3. I guess this is because ln 1/3 is ln 1 - ln 3, but wouldn't that be -ln 2. I hope that makes sense to you, because I am confused. I guess I just need a little brush-up on some properties here.
 Thanks,
 Jessica
 Answer by richard1234(7193)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! ln 1 - ln 3 is actually ln 1/3 (the property is ln a - ln b = ln (a/b)). Also, there is no real solution x such that e^x = -2, because e^x is always positive for real x. 
 Update: Remember ln 1 - ln 3 = ln 1/3. Since ln 1 = 0, we have -ln 3 = ln 1/3.
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