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Solve the equation ((2)/(3))^x + ((3)/(2))^x = (13)/(6) for x.

Mathematics

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Answer

x=1,−1x = 1, -1

Step-by-step solution

4 steps
  1. Rewrite the equation using a substitution.

    Notice that (32)x=((23)−1)x=(23)−x\left(\frac{3}{2}\right)^x = \left(\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^{-1}\right)^x = \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^{-x}.
    Let y=(23)xy = \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^x. Then the equation becomes:

    y+y−1=136y + y^{-1} = \frac{13}{6} y+1y=136y + \frac{1}{y} = \frac{13}{6}
  2. Convert the equation into a quadratic form.

    Multiply the entire equation by 6y6y to eliminate the denominators:

    6y⋅y+6y⋅1y=6y⋅1366y \cdot y + 6y \cdot \frac{1}{y} = 6y \cdot \frac{13}{6} 6y2+6=13y6y^2 + 6 = 13y

    Rearrange the terms to form a standard quadratic equation:

    6y2−13y+6=06y^2 - 13y + 6 = 0
  3. Solve the quadratic equation for yy.

    We can factor the quadratic equation. We need two numbers that multiply to 6×6=366 \times 6 = 36 and add up to −13-13. These numbers are −4-4 and −9-9.

    6y2−9y−4y+6=06y^2 - 9y - 4y + 6 = 0

    Factor by grouping:

    3y(2y−3)−2(2y−3)=03y(2y - 3) - 2(2y - 3) = 0 (3y−2)(2y−3)=0(3y - 2)(2y - 3) = 0

    This gives two possible values for yy:

    3y−2=0  ⟹  3y=2  ⟹  y=233y - 2 = 0 \implies 3y = 2 \implies y = \frac{2}{3} 2y−3=0  ⟹  2y=3  ⟹  y=322y - 3 = 0 \implies 2y = 3 \implies y = \frac{3}{2}
  4. Substitute back y=(23)xy = \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^x and solve for xx.

    Case 1: y=23y = \frac{2}{3}

    (23)x=23\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^x = \frac{2}{3}

    Since 23=(23)1\frac{2}{3} = \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^1, we have:

    (23)x=(23)1\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^x = \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^1

    Therefore, x=1x = 1.

    Case 2: y=32y = \frac{3}{2}

    (23)x=32\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^x = \frac{3}{2}

    Since 32\frac{3}{2} is the reciprocal of 23\frac{2}{3}, we can write 32=(23)−1\frac{3}{2} = \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^{-1}.

    (23)x=(23)−1\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^x = \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^{-1}

    Therefore, x=−1x = -1.

    The values of xx are 1 and −1-1.

    x=1,−1x = 1, -1
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