solve 2^(3x+1)=16

The first step is to make sure that everything has the same base, so you can equate the powers. For example if you have an equation 2² = 2^x you know that x must equal 2. So with this question you can rewrite 16 as 2^4, and then equate the powers. So you get the new equation: 3x+1 = 4, then just rearrange to get x. So 3x = 4-1 so 3x=3 then divide both sides by 3 to get x=1.So the general way to solve questions like this is to: 1. change the bases so they are all the same 2. equate the powers