Solution 3.4:3b
From Förberedande kurs i matematik 1
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| - | The expressions   | + | The expressions <math>\ln\bigl(x^2+3x\bigr)</math> and <math>\ln\bigl(3x^2-2x \bigr)</math> are equal only if their arguments are equal, i.e.   | 
| - | <math>\  | + | |
| - | and   | + | |
| - | <math>\  | + | |
| - | are equal only if their arguments are equal, i.e.   | + | |
| + | {{Displayed math||<math>x^2 + 3x = 3x^2 - 2x\,\textrm{.}</math>}}  | ||
| - | + | However, we have to be careful! If we obtain a value for ''x'' which makes the arguments equal but negative or zero, then it will not correspond to a genuine solution because ln is not defined for negative arguments. At the end of the exercise, we must therefore check that <math>x^2 + 3x</math> and <math>3x^2 - 2x</math> really are positive for those solutions that we have calculated.  | |
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| - | which makes the arguments equal but negative or zero, then it will not correspond to a genuine solution because ln is not defined for negative arguments. At the end of the exercise, we must therefore check that   | + | |
| - | <math>x^  | + | |
| - | and   | + | |
| - | <math>  | + | |
| - | really are positive for those solutions that we have calculated.  | + | |
If we move all the terms over to one side in the equation for the arguments, we get the second-degree equation  | If we move all the terms over to one side in the equation for the arguments, we get the second-degree equation  | ||
| + | {{Displayed math||<math>2x^2-5x=0</math>}}  | ||
| - | + | and we see that both terms contain ''x'', which we can take out as a factor,  | |
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| - | and we see that both terms contain x, which we can take out as a factor  | + | |
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| + | {{Displayed math||<math>x(2x-5) = 0\,\textrm{.}</math>}}  | ||
| - | From this factorized expression, we read off that the solutions are   | + | From this factorized expression, we read off that the solutions are <math>x=0</math>  | 
| - | <math>x=0  | + | and <math>x=5/2\,</math>.  | 
| - | and   | + | |
| - | <math>x=  | + | |
| - | A final check shows that when   | + | A final check shows that when <math>x=0</math> then <math>x^2 + 3x = 3x^2 - 2x = 0</math>, so <math>x=0</math> is not a solution. On the other hand, when <math>x=5/2</math> then <math>x^2 + 3x = 3x^2 - 2x = 55/4 > 0</math>, so <math>x=5/2</math> is a solution.  | 
| - | <math>x=0  | + | |
| - | then   | + | |
| - | <math>x^  | + | |
| - | <math>x=0  | + | |
| - | is not a solution. On the other hand, when  | + | |
| - | <math>x=  | + | |
| - | then   | + | |
| - | <math>x^  | + | |
| - | <math>x=  | + | |
| - | is a solution.  | + | |
Current revision
The expressions \displaystyle \ln\bigl(x^2+3x\bigr) and \displaystyle \ln\bigl(3x^2-2x \bigr) are equal only if their arguments are equal, i.e.
| \displaystyle x^2 + 3x = 3x^2 - 2x\,\textrm{.} | 
However, we have to be careful! If we obtain a value for x which makes the arguments equal but negative or zero, then it will not correspond to a genuine solution because ln is not defined for negative arguments. At the end of the exercise, we must therefore check that \displaystyle x^2 + 3x and \displaystyle 3x^2 - 2x really are positive for those solutions that we have calculated.
If we move all the terms over to one side in the equation for the arguments, we get the second-degree equation
| \displaystyle 2x^2-5x=0 | 
and we see that both terms contain x, which we can take out as a factor,
| \displaystyle x(2x-5) = 0\,\textrm{.} | 
From this factorized expression, we read off that the solutions are \displaystyle x=0 and \displaystyle x=5/2\,.
A final check shows that when \displaystyle x=0 then \displaystyle x^2 + 3x = 3x^2 - 2x = 0, so \displaystyle x=0 is not a solution. On the other hand, when \displaystyle x=5/2 then \displaystyle x^2 + 3x = 3x^2 - 2x = 55/4 > 0, so \displaystyle x=5/2 is a solution.
