Chapter 5: Problem 91
$$\text { The given equations are quadratic in form. Solve each and give exact solutions.}$$ $$(\ln x)^{2}+16=10 \ln x$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The exact solutions are \( x = e^8 \) and \( x = e^2 \).
Step by step solution
01
Recognize the Quadratic Form
Identify that the equation \((\ln x)^{2} + 16 = 10 \ln x\) is quadratic in form, but with \( \ln x \) as the variable. Rewriting it gives us \((\ln x)^{2} - 10 \ln x + 16 = 0\).
02
Use Substitution
Substitute \( y = \ln x \) into the equation. The equation becomes \( y^2 - 10y + 16 = 0 \).
03
Solve the Quadratic Equation
Apply the quadratic formula \( y = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \). Here, \( a = 1, b = -10, c = 16 \). Calculate the discriminant: \( b^2 - 4ac = (-10)^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 16 = 100 - 64 = 36 \).
04
Apply the Quadratic Formula
Plug the values into the quadratic formula: \( y = \frac{10 \pm \sqrt{36}}{2} \). This simplifies to \( y = \frac{10 \pm 6}{2} \). Thus, the solutions are \( y = \frac{16}{2} = 8 \) and \( y = \frac{4}{2} = 2 \).
05
Reverse the Substitution
Since \( y = \ln x \), substitute back to find \( x \). For \( y = 8 \), \( \ln x = 8 \) so \( x = e^8 \). For \( y = 2 \), \( \ln x = 2 \) so \( x = e^2 \).
06
Write the Solution
The exact solutions in terms of \( x \) are \( x = e^8 \) and \( x = e^2 \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Logarithms
Logarithms serve as a crucial tool in mathematics to deal with exponential relationships. They help transform multiplicative processes into additive ones, simplifying complex calculations. The logarithm of a number is the exponent to which another fixed number, the base, must be raised to produce that number. In the equation \((\ln x)^2 + 16 = 10 \ln x\), \(\ln x\) represents the natural logarithm of \(x\), which uses the base \(e\). The natural logarithm simplifies the operations on exponential equations, making them easier to handle when dealing with quadratic forms.
- The natural logarithm (\(\ln(x)\)) is the inverse operation to exponentiation with base \(e\).
- If \(y = \ln(x)\), then this means \(x = e^y\).
- In the context of solving equations, logarithms allow us to revert back to the original variable once the quadratic form has been solved.
Substitution Method
The substitution method is a strategy used to simplify solving equations by reducing them into a more familiar form. In this exercise, we replaced the variable \(\ln x\) with \(y\) to transform the equation from \((\ln x)^2 + 16 = 10 \ln x\) into a simpler quadratic, \(y^2 - 10y + 16 = 0\).
- Substitution is especially useful when dealing with non-linear terms as it can turn them into linear ones.
- By substituting, you effectively create a new equation in terms of a single variable, simplifying the resolution process.
- After solving in terms of the new variable, you must remember to substitute back to find the solutions in terms of the original variable.
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a powerful tool for finding the roots of any quadratic equation. It is particularly useful when factorization is difficult or impossible. For a quadratic equation of the form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\), the quadratic formula is given by:\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \] In our problem, we applied this formula to \(y^2 - 10y + 16 = 0\) with \(a = 1\), \(b = -10\), and \(c = 16\). After calculating the discriminant \(b^2 - 4ac\), which was \(36\), we computed the solutions:
- \( y = \frac{10 + 6}{2} = 8\)
- \( y = \frac{10 - 6}{2} = 2\)
Exact Solutions
Exact solutions provide a precise answer to mathematical problems without approximations. When using exact methods, like employing logarithms and quadratic equations, we retain the full accuracy of the mathematical process. In solving \((\ln x)^2 + 16 = 10 \ln x\), exact solutions were achieved at \(x = e^8\) and \(x = e^2\), owing to the exactness of both the exponential function and logarithms.
- Exact solutions allow mathematicians and scientists to maintain precision in calculations.
- This precision becomes notably important in fields where small deviations can lead to large errors, like engineering and computer science.
- Unlike numerical approximations, exact solutions give the most reliable long-term results.