How do you solve log(x-3)+log(x+5)=log9?

1 Answer
Jan 4, 2017

x=4, and possibly x=-6, depending upon the context of the question and what led to the logarithmic equarion

Explanation:

log(x-3)+log(x+5)=log9

Using logAB=logA+logB we get:

log(x-3)(x+5)=log9

Using log A=log B <=> A=B we have

(x-3)(x+5)=9
:. x^2+5x-3x-15=9
:. x^2+2x-24=0
:. (x+6)(x-4)=0
:. x=4,-6

Now depending upon the context of the question we could probably eliminate x=-6.

x=-6, in the original form of the question, would lead to the log of negative numbers which do not exist.