Semja

How do I approach the following problem. Please don't give answer but just guidance as to how to approach these in general. I need to be able to solve without a calculator. 3^(2x+1)-16(3^x)+5=0

Eventually answered my own question. No idea what distributing has to do with anything though... I simplified 3^(2x+1) to ((3^x)^2)*3^x then substituted a variable for 3^x and solved the corresponding quadratic. Seems to have worked