Q. Identify the solution set of \(3 \ln(4) = 2 \ln(x)\).
Answer
Divide both sides by 2: \( \ln x = \tfrac{3}{2}\ln 4 \).
Exponentiate: \( x = e^{\tfrac{3}{2}\ln 4} = 4^{3/2} = (\sqrt{4})^{3} = 2^{3} = 8. \)
Solution set: \(\{8\}\).
Detailed Explanation
Problem
Identify the solution set of the equation
\(3\ln 4 = 2\ln x\).
Step-by-step solution with detailed explanations
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Recognize the domain: The natural logarithm function \(\ln x\) is defined only for \(x>0\). Therefore any solution must satisfy
\(x>0\).
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Use a logarithm power rule to simplify one side: The rule \(k\ln a = \ln(a^k)\) (valid for \(a>0\)) allows us to rewrite the left-hand side:
\(3\ln 4 = \ln(4^3) = \ln 64\).
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Express the equation with equal logarithms: Substituting the simplification gives
\(\ln 64 = 2\ln x\).
Use the power rule on the right-hand side as well: \(2\ln x = \ln(x^2)\) provided \(x>0\). Thus
\(\ln 64 = \ln(x^2)\).
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Remove the logarithms using injectivity of ln: Because the natural logarithm is one-to-one on its domain, if \(\ln A = \ln B\) and \(A>0\), \(B>0\), then \(A=B\). Applying this here gives
\(64 = x^2\).
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Solve the resulting algebraic equation: Solve \(x^2 = 64\). This yields
\(x = 8\) or \(x = -8\).
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Apply the domain restriction: Recall from step 1 that we must have \(x>0\). Therefore \(x = -8\) is not admissible because \(\ln(-8)\) is undefined. The only valid solution is
\(x = 8\).
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Optional check: Substitute \(x=8\) back into the original equation:
Left-hand side: \(3\ln 4 = 3(2\ln 2) = 6\ln 2\).
Right-hand side: \(2\ln 8 = 2(3\ln 2) = 6\ln 2\).
Both sides match, confirming the solution.
Solution set
\(\{8\}\)
FAQs
How do I solve \(3\ln 4 = 2\ln x\)?
Why can't \(x=-8\) be accepted?
Could I solve it by exponentiating both sides?
Which logarithm properties are used?
What if the logs were base 10 instead of natural log?
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Are there common mistakes to avoid?
What's the graphical interpretation?
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