Solving Logarithmic Equations
TI-Nspire™ CX CAS
Solving Logarithmic Equations
Numeric, graphical and algebraic solutions to logarithmic equations.
- Students will numerically approximate solutions to logarithmic equations
- Students will graphically determine exact solutions to logarithmic equations using the functions f(x) = loga(x) and f-1(x) = ax and the composition
- Students will find exact solutions to exponential equations using algebraic techniques that employ the relationship f ° f-1(x) = x
- Exponential functions and equations
- Logarithmic functions and equations
- Inverse functions
- Composition of functions
This lesson involves numeric, graphical, and algebraic solutions to the equation log3(x) = 1.5. Students will:
- Analyze numeric patterns, predict an approximate solution, and evaluate predictions in a spreadsheet.
- Consider the graphs of both f(x) = log3(x) and f-1(x) =3x to determine that f(x) = 1.5 precisely when f-1(1.5) = x.
- Use the compositional relationship of logs(3x) = x to solve the equation. Since log3(31.5) = 1.5, the solution to the equation log3(x) = 1.5 is x = 31.5.
- Consider composition in the opposite order, solving the equation algebraically by employing 3log3(x) = x
- Use these techniques to solve similar equations.
TI-Nspire™ CX CAS
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