Precalculus Examples

$10^{- x} = 4$

Step 1

Take the base $10$ logarithm of both sides of the equation to remove the variable from the exponent.

$\log (10^{- x}) = \log (4)$

Step 2

Expand the left side.

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Step 2.1

Expand $\log (10^{- x})$ by moving $- x$ outside the logarithm.

$- x \log (10) = \log (4)$

Step 2.2

Logarithm base $10$ of $10$ is $1$ .

$- x \cdot 1 = \log (4)$

Step 2.3

Multiply $- 1$ by $1$ .

$- x = \log (4)$

Step 3

Divide each term in $- x = \log (4)$ by $- 1$ and simplify.

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Step 3.1

Divide each term in $- x = \log (4)$ by $- 1$ .

$\frac{- x}{- 1} = \frac{\log (4)}{- 1}$

Step 3.2

Simplify the left side.

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Step 3.2.1

Dividing two negative values results in a positive value.

$\frac{x}{1} = \frac{\log (4)}{- 1}$

Step 3.2.2

Divide $x$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{\log (4)}{- 1}$

Step 3.3

Simplify the right side.

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Step 3.3.1

Move the negative one from the denominator of $\frac{\log (4)}{- 1}$ .

$x = - 1 \cdot \log (4)$

Step 3.3.2

Rewrite $- 1 \cdot \log (4)$ as $- \log (4)$ .

$x = - \log (4)$

Step 4

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$x = - \log (4)$

Decimal Form:

$x = - 0.60205999 \dots$