Wednesday, June 18, 2014

If lg2, lg(2^x - 1) and lg(2^x + 3 ) are in A.P., calculate the value of x.

For the beginning, let's note the terms of the
sequence:


a1 = lg2


a2 = lg(2^x
- 1)


a3 = lg(2^x + 3 )


If the
given sequence is an a.p., then:


a2 - a1 = a3 -
a2


lg(2^x - 1) - lg2 = lg(2^x + 3 ) - lg(2^x -
1)


We'll use the quotient property of the
logarithms:


lg [(2^x - 1)/2] = lg [(2^x + 3 )/(2^x -
1)]


Because the bases of logarithms are matching, we'll use
the one to one property:


[(2^x - 1)/2] = [(2^x + 3 )/(2^x -
1)]


We'll remove the brackets and cross
multiply:


(2^x - 1)^2 = 2*(2^x + 3
)


We'll expand the square from the left
side:


2^2x - 2*2^x + 1 = 2*2^x +
6


We'll move all terms to one
side:


2^2x - 4*2^x - 5 =
0


We'll substitute 2^x = t


t^2
- 4t - 5  =0


We'll apply the quadratic
formula:


t1 =
[4+sqrt(16+20)]/2


t1 =
(4+6)/2


t1 = 5


t2 =
(4-6)/2


t2 = -1


Since
2^x>0, the only admissible solution is:


2^x =
5


x = log 2
(5)

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