27^x = 3/(9^(x-3))

1 answer

To solve the equation \( 27^x = \frac{3}{9^{x-3}} \), we first express all numbers as powers of 3.

We know:

  • \( 27 = 3^3 \)
  • \( 9 = 3^2 \)

Thus, we can rewrite both sides:

\[ 27^x = (3^3)^x = 3^{3x} \]

For the right-hand side:

\[ 9^{x-3} = (3^2)^{x-3} = 3^{2(x-3)} = 3^{2x - 6} \]

So the equation becomes:

\[ 3^{3x} = \frac{3}{3^{2x - 6}} \]

Next, we can simplify the right-hand side:

\[ \frac{3}{3^{2x - 6}} = 3^{1 - (2x - 6)} = 3^{1 - 2x + 6} = 3^{7 - 2x} \]

Now we have:

\[ 3^{3x} = 3^{7 - 2x} \]

Since the bases are the same, we can set the exponents equal to each other:

\[ 3x = 7 - 2x \]

Now, we will solve for \( x \). Adding \( 2x \) to both sides gives:

\[ 3x + 2x = 7 \]

\[ 5x = 7 \]

Now, divide both sides by 5:

\[ x = \frac{7}{5} \]

Thus, the solution to the equation is:

\[ \boxed{\frac{7}{5}} \]