Chapter 6: Problem 3
Solve for \(x .\) Hint \(\log _{a} b=c \Leftrightarrow a^{c}=b\). $$ \log _{4} x=\frac{3}{2} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solution for \( x \) is 8.
Step by step solution
01
Set up the equation using logarithmic form
The given equation is \( \log_{4} x = \frac{3}{2} \). According to the hint, we know that \( \log_{a} b = c \Leftrightarrow a^{c} = b \). In this case, \( a = 4 \), \( b = x \), and \( c = \frac{3}{2} \).
02
Convert logarithmic equation to exponential form
Using the equivalence \( \log_{a} b = c \Leftrightarrow a^{c} = b \), we convert \( \log_{4} x = \frac{3}{2} \) into exponential form: \( 4^{\frac{3}{2}} = x \).
03
Simplify the exponential expression
\( 4^{\frac{3}{2}} \) can be rewritten as \( (4^{\frac{1}{2}})^{3} \). First, calculate \( 4^{\frac{1}{2}} = \sqrt{4} = 2 \). Then raise 2 to the power of 3: \( 2^{3} = 8 \).
04
Conclude with the solution
Since \( x = 8 \), we have found the value of \( x \) that satisfies the original equation \( \log_{4} x = \frac{3}{2} \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Exponential Form
The exponential form of an equation is a way of expressing a number as a base raised to a power. It essentially mirrors the concept found in logarithms but expressed differently. For instance, in the exercise, the logarithmic equation is given by \( \log_{4} x = \frac{3}{2} \). According to the mathematical principle \( \log_{a} b = c \leftrightarrow a^{c} = b \), we can rewrite this in exponential form as \( 4^{\frac{3}{2}} = x \).
- Base: The number that is being multiplied, here it's 4.
- Exponent: The power to which the base is raised, which is \( \frac{3}{2} \) in this example.
- Result: What the base raised to the exponent equals, thus 'x' represents the result.
Logarithmic Form
Logarithmic form is important for solving equations where the variable is the exponent. A logarithm in its simplest sense asks "to what power must the base be raised to achieve a certain number?"
The standard form is \( \log_{a} b = c \), where 'a' is the base, 'b' is the result, and 'c' is the exponent.
The standard form is \( \log_{a} b = c \), where 'a' is the base, 'b' is the result, and 'c' is the exponent.
- Base (a): This is a constant number. In our problem, the base is 4.
- Logarithm (b): This part is the result we are trying to find the exponent for. Here, 'x' takes this position which makes us want to solve \( \log_{4} x \).
- Exponent (c): It tells how many times the base should be multiplied by itself to reach 'b'. In our equation, this exponent is \( \frac{3}{2} \).
Exponents and Roots
Understanding exponents and roots is critical when dealing with both exponential and logarithmic equations. They are inverse operations, just like addition and subtraction.
- Exponents: Represent repeated multiplication of the base, expressed in the form \( a^{b} \), where 'a' is the base, and 'b' is the exponent.
- Roots: The root operation can undo the exponent. A square root \( \sqrt{a} \) is equivalent to raising 'a' to the power of \( \frac{1}{2} \).