How do you solve log(x+1) - log(x-1)=1?

1 Answer
Mar 2, 2016

I found (depending upon the base b of your logs):
x=(b+1)/(b-1)

Explanation:

We do not know the base of the logs (it could be 10...) so we say that the base is b:
we get:
log_b(x+1)-log_b(x-1)=1
we use the property of logs that tells us:
logx-logy=log(x/y)
and write:
log_b((x+1)/(x-1))=1
we now use the definition of log:
log_bx=a ->x=b^a
(x+1)/(x-1)=b^1
rearranging:
x+1=b(x-1)
x+1=bx-b
x-bx=-1-b
x(1-b)=-1-b
x=(-1-b)/(1-b)=-(b+1)/(1-b)=(b+1)/(b-1)

Now you can choose the base b of your original logs and find x.
If, for example, b were 10 then you get:
x=11/9