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Worked solution

Solve with a common exponential base

Solve the equation 92x+1−27x=09^{2x+1}-27^x=0.

CJC · Discussion · Question 9

Answer

x=−2x=-2.

Rewrite with base 3

34x+2−33x=33x(3x+2−1)=03^{4x+2}-3^{3x}=3^{3x}(3^{x+2}-1)=0.

How did this part go?

Reject the impossible exponential factor

33x>03^{3x}>0 for every real xx, so only 3x+2=1=303^{x+2}=1=3^0 is possible. Therefore x=−2x=-2.

How did this part go?

Common mistakes

A positive-base exponential never equals zero.

Read the hint