Question

Solve the following exponential equation. Express the solution set in terms of natural logarithms or common logarithms.​ Then, use a calculator to obtain a decimal approximation for the solution.
13 Superscript x Baseline equals 71
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Part 1
The solution set expressed in terms of logarithms is StartSet nothing EndSet .
  
​(Use a comma to separate answers as needed. Simplify your answer. Use integers or fractions for any numbers in the expression. Use ln for natural logarithm and log for common​ logarithm.)

Answers

GPT-4o mini
To solve the exponential equation \( 13^x = 71 \), we can take the logarithm of both sides. We can use either natural logarithm (\(\ln\)) or common logarithm (\(\log\)). Here, I will use natural logarithm for this solution.

1. Take the natural logarithm of both sides:
\[
\ln(13^x) = \ln(71)
\]

2. Apply the power rule of logarithms, which states that \(\ln(a^b) = b \cdot \ln(a)\):
\[
x \cdot \ln(13) = \ln(71)
\]

3. Solve for \(x\):
\[
x = \frac{\ln(71)}{\ln(13)}
\]

Thus, the solution set expressed in terms of logarithms is:
\[
\left\{ \frac{\ln(71)}{\ln(13)} \right\}
\]

Now, let's calculate a decimal approximation for the solution using a calculator.

1. Calculate \(\ln(71)\) and \(\ln(13)\).

- \( \ln(71) \approx 4.2627 \)
- \( \ln(13) \approx 2.5649 \)

2. Compute \(x\):
\[
x \approx \frac{4.2627}{2.5649} \approx 1.664
\]

Therefore, the solution set is:
\[
\left\{ \frac{\ln(71)}{\ln(13)} \right\}
\]

And the decimal approximation for the solution is approximately \(1.664\).