Chapter 9: Problem 18
Solve each equation. See Examples 1 through 4. $$ \log _{2}\left(x^{2}+x\right)=1 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solutions are \( x = 1 \) and \( x = -2 \).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Equation
We need to solve the equation \( \log_{2}(x^2 + x) = 1 \). The logarithm \( \log_{2} \) indicates that the base for the logarithm is 2.
02
Apply Definition of Logarithms
Recall that \( \log_{b}(a) = c \) is equivalent to \( b^c = a \). Apply this to the current problem where \( \log_{2}(x^2 + x) = 1 \). Therefore, \( 2^1 = x^2 + x \).
03
Simplify the Equation
Since \( 2^1 = 2 \), we substitute into the equation to get: \[ x^2 + x = 2 \] This is now a quadratic equation.
04
Rearrange into Standard Quadratic Form
Rearrange \( x^2 + x - 2 = 0 \) into the standard form, where the equation is \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). Here, \( a = 1, b = 1\), and \( c = -2 \).
05
Solve the Quadratic Equation
We will solve using the quadratic formula: \[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \] Substitute \( a = 1, b = 1, c = -2 \): \[ x = \frac{-1 \pm \sqrt{1 + 8}}{2} \] \[ x = \frac{-1 \pm \sqrt{9}}{2} \] \[ x = \frac{-1 \pm 3}{2} \]
06
Calculate the Solutions
Calculate the two possible solutions: 1. \( x = \frac{-1 + 3}{2} = 1 \) 2. \( x = \frac{-1 - 3}{2} = -2 \)
07
Verify the Solutions
Check the solutions against the original equation: - For \( x = 1 \): \( \log_{2}(1+1) = \log_{2}(2) = 1 \), which is correct.- For \( x = -2 \): \( \log_{2}((-2)^2 - 2) = \log_{2}(2) = 1 \), which is also correct.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Quadratic Equation
A quadratic equation is a type of polynomial equation of degree 2. It is in the form of \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \), where \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) are constants. Understanding quadratic equations is crucial because they often appear in various mathematical contexts, including physics, engineering, and finance.
- When solving quadratic equations, our goal is to find the value of \( x \) that makes the equation equal to zero.
- These equations can have two, one, or no real solutions depending on the discriminant \( b^2 - 4ac \).
Logarithm Properties
Logarithms are a critical concept in algebra which help in solving equations where the variable is an exponent. Understanding the properties of logarithms can simplify complex expressions and equations:
- Logarithm to a base \( b \) of a number \( a \), represented as \( \log_b{a} \), solves for \( c \) in the equation \( b^c = a \).
- The inverse property of exponents and logarithms: \( b^{\log_b{a}} = a \).
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a powerful tool used for solving quadratic equations. It provides a systematic approach to finding the roots of any quadratic equation of form \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). The formula is:
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\]
- \( -b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac} \) accounts for the two potential solutions in quadratic equations.
- The discriminant \( b^2 - 4ac \) determines the nature of the roots (real or complex).
Verifying Solutions
Verifying solutions is a critical step in solving equations to ensure correctness. Once solutions are found, they should comply with the original equation when substituted back:
- For \( x = 1 \), \( \log_{2}(2) = 1 \) matches.- For \( x = -2 \), \( \log_{2}(2) = 1 \) also holds true.
This final step confirms the solutions we found are correct and valid for the given equation.
- Substitute each solution back into the original equation to check congruence.
- Ensure no extraneous solutions exist, often a result of squaring both sides in an equation.
- For \( x = 1 \), \( \log_{2}(2) = 1 \) matches.- For \( x = -2 \), \( \log_{2}(2) = 1 \) also holds true.
This final step confirms the solutions we found are correct and valid for the given equation.