Simple exponential equation solving

Solve a single exponential equation of the form a^(f(x)) = b^(g(x)) or a^(f(x)) = k using logarithms, where f and g are linear expressions.

48 questions · Moderate -0.8

1.06g Equations with exponentials: solve a^x = b
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Edexcel PMT Mocks Q2
3 marks Moderate -0.8
2. The curves \(C _ { 1 }\) and \(C _ { 2 }\) have equations $$\begin{aligned} & C _ { 1 } : \quad y = 2 ^ { 3 x + 2 } \\ & C _ { 2 } : \quad y = 4 ^ { - x } \end{aligned}$$ Show that the \(x\)-coordinate of the point where \(C _ { 1 }\) and \(C _ { 2 }\) intersect is \(\frac { - 2 } { 5 }\).
Edexcel PMT Mocks Q2
4 marks Moderate -0.8
2. Solve $$4 ^ { x - 3 } = 6$$ giving your answer in the form \(a + b \log _ { 2 } 3\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are constants to be found.
Edexcel Paper 1 2020 October Q2
3 marks Easy -1.2
  1. By taking logarithms of both sides, solve the equation
$$4 ^ { 3 p - 1 } = 5 ^ { 210 }$$ giving the value of \(p\) to one decimal place.
AQA C2 2006 January Q3
9 marks Moderate -0.8
3
  1. Use logarithms to solve the equation \(0.8 ^ { x } = 0.05\), giving your answer to three decimal places.
  2. An infinite geometric series has common ratio \(r\). The sum to infinity of the series is five times the first term of the series.
    1. Show that \(r = 0.8\).
    2. Given that the first term of the series is 20 , find the least value of \(n\) such that the \(n\)th term of the series is less than 1 .
AQA C2 2013 June Q4
5 marks Moderate -0.8
4
  1. Sketch the graph of \(y = 9 ^ { x }\), indicating the value of the intercept on the \(y\)-axis.
    (2 marks)
  2. Use logarithms to solve the equation \(9 ^ { x } = 15\), giving your value of \(x\) to three significant figures.
  3. The curve \(y = 9 ^ { x }\) is reflected in the \(y\)-axis to give the curve with equation \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\). Write down an expression for \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\).
    (l mark)
AQA C2 2014 June Q9
15 marks Moderate -0.3
9 A curve has equation \(y = 3 \times 12 ^ { x }\).
  1. The point ( \(k , 6\) ) lies on the curve \(y = 3 \times 12 ^ { x }\). Use logarithms to find the value of \(k\), giving your answer to three significant figures.
  2. Use the trapezium rule with four ordinates (three strips) to find an approximate value for \(\int _ { 0 } ^ { 1.5 } 3 \times 12 ^ { x } \mathrm {~d} x\), giving your answer to two significant figures.
  3. The curve \(y = 3 \times 12 ^ { x }\) is translated by the vector \(\left[ \begin{array} { l } 1 \\ p \end{array} \right]\) to give the curve \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\). Given that the curve \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\) passes through the origin ( 0,0 ), find the value of the constant \(p\).
  4. The curve with equation \(y = 2 ^ { 2 - x }\) intersects the curve \(y = 3 \times 12 ^ { x }\) at the point \(T\). Show that the \(x\)-coordinate of \(T\) can be written in the form \(\frac { 2 - \log _ { 2 } 3 } { q + \log _ { 2 } 3 }\), where \(q\) is an integer. State the value of \(q\).
    [0pt] [5 marks]
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AQA C2 2007 January Q3
5 marks Easy -1.3
3
  1. Write down the values of \(p , q\) and \(r\) given that:
    1. \(64 = 8 ^ { p }\);
    2. \(\frac { 1 } { 64 } = 8 ^ { q }\);
    3. \(\sqrt { 8 } = 8 ^ { r }\).
  2. Find the value of \(x\) for which $$\frac { 8 ^ { x } } { \sqrt { 8 } } = \frac { 1 } { 64 }$$
OCR H240/01 Q5
4 marks Moderate -0.8
5 In this question you must show detailed reasoning. Use logarithms to solve the equation \(3 ^ { 2 x + 1 } = 4 ^ { 100 }\), giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
OCR H240/02 2022 June Q1
8 marks Moderate -0.8
1 In this question you must show detailed reasoning. Solve the following equations.
  1. \(\frac { x } { x + 1 } - \frac { x - 1 } { x + 2 } = 0\)
  2. \(\frac { 8 } { x ^ { 6 } } - \frac { 7 } { x ^ { 3 } } - 1 = 0\)
  3. \(3 ^ { x ^ { 2 } - 7 } = \frac { 1 } { 243 }\)
AQA AS Paper 2 2021 June Q6
3 marks Easy -1.2
6 Find the solution to $$5 ^ { ( 2 x + 4 ) } = 9$$ giving your answer in the form \(a + \log _ { 5 } b\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are integers.
AQA Paper 2 2021 June Q6
4 marks Moderate -0.8
6 Show that the solution of the equation $$5 ^ { x } = 3 ^ { x + 4 }$$ can be written as $$x = \frac { \ln 81 } { \ln 5 - \ln 3 }$$ Fully justify your answer.
Pre-U Pre-U 9794/1 2013 June Q4
4 marks Easy -1.2
4 Solve the equation \(2 ^ { 5 x } = 15\), giving the value of \(x\) correct to 3 significant figures.
Pre-U Pre-U 9794/2 2018 June Q3
11 marks Moderate -0.8
3 Solve the equation \(6 ^ { 2 x - 1 } = 3 ^ { x + 2 }\), giving your answer in the form \(x = \frac { \ln a } { \ln b }\) where \(a\) and \(b\) are integers.
CAIE P2 2024 March Q1
4 marks Moderate -0.5
Use logarithms to solve the equation \(3^{4t+3} = 5^{2t+7}\). Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures. [4]
CAIE P3 2024 June Q1
4 marks Moderate -0.3
Solve the equation \(8^{3-6x} = 4 \times 5^{-2x}\). Give your answer correct to 3 decimal places. [4]
OCR MEI C2 2010 January Q9
5 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. Sketch the graph of \(y = 3^x\). [2]
  2. Use logarithms to solve \(3^{2x+1} = 10\), giving your answer correct to 2 decimal places. [3]
Edexcel C2 Q5
8 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. Sketch the curve \(y = 5^{x-1}\), showing the coordinates of any points of intersection with the coordinate axes. [2]
  2. Find, to 3 significant figures, the \(x\)-coordinates of the points where the curve \(y = 5^{x-1}\) intersects
    1. the straight line \(y = 10\),
    2. the curve \(y = 2^x\). [6]
OCR H240/03 2023 June Q1
3 marks Easy -1.2
Using logarithms, solve the equation $$4^{2x+1} = 5^x,$$ giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures. [3]
AQA Paper 2 2024 June Q4
3 marks Moderate -0.8
Use logarithms to solve the equation $$5^{x-2} = 7^{1570}$$ Give your answer to two decimal places. [3 marks]
WJEC Unit 1 2022 June Q10
3 marks Moderate -0.8
Showing all your working, solve the equation \(2^x = 53\). Give your answer correct to two decimal places. [3]
SPS SPS SM Pure 2021 May Q3
6 marks Standard +0.3
Solve the equation \(2^{4x-1} = 3^{5-2x}\), giving your answer in the form \(x = \frac{\log_{10} a}{\log_{10} b}\). [6]
Pre-U Pre-U 9794/2 2012 June Q4
4 marks Easy -1.2
Use logarithms to solve the equation \(2^{2x-1} = 5\). [4]
Pre-U Pre-U 9794/2 2016 June Q2
4 marks Easy -1.2
Solve the equation \(4 \times 3^x = 5\), giving the solution in an exact form. [4]