Solve 8(4^x ) – 9(2^x ) + 1 = 0

At first this equation seems tricky, but we can perform a clever substitution to simplify it. We notice that if let y = 2^x, then we can rewrite this as:

8(y^2) - 9y + 1 = 0

This now becomes a simple quadratic equation, which can be simplified to: (8y -1) (y-1) = 0

Therefore y = 1/8; y =1. Now solving for x: 2^x = 1/8 leads to x = -3; 2^x = 1 leads to x = 0;

DS

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

Integrate 1 / x(2sqrt(x)-1) on [1,9] using x = u^2 (u > 0).


Integrate 2sin(theta)cos(2*theta)


How do you find the minimum of the equation sin^2(x) + 4sin(x)?


The equation kx^2+4kx+5=0, where a is a constant, has no real roots. Find the range of possible values of k.