Precalculus Examples

$\log (5 + x) - \log (x - 4) = \log (2)$

Step 1

Use the quotient property of logarithms, $\log_{b} (x) - \log_{b} (y) = \log_{b} (\frac{x}{y})$ .

$\log (\frac{5 + x}{x - 4}) = \log (2)$

Step 2

For the equation to be equal, the argument of the logarithms on both sides of the equation must be equal.

$\frac{5 + x}{x - 4} = 2$

Step 3

Solve for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.1

Find the LCD of the terms in the equation.

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.1.1

Finding the LCD of a list of values is the same as finding the LCM of the denominators of those values.

$x - 4, 1$

Step 3.1.2

Remove parentheses.

$x - 4, 1$

Step 3.1.3

The LCM of one and any expression is the expression.

$x - 4$

Step 3.2

Multiply each term in $\frac{5 + x}{x - 4} = 2$ by $x - 4$ to eliminate the fractions.

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.2.1

Multiply each term in $\frac{5 + x}{x - 4} = 2$ by $x - 4$ .

$\frac{5 + x}{x - 4} (x - 4) = 2 (x - 4)$

Step 3.2.2

Simplify the left side.

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.2.2.1

Cancel the common factor of $x - 4$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.2.2.1.1

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{5 + x}{x - 4} (x - 4) = 2 (x - 4)$

Step 3.2.2.1.2

Rewrite the expression.

$5 + x = 2 (x - 4)$

Step 3.2.3

Simplify the right side.

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.2.3.1

Apply the distributive property.

$5 + x = 2 x + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.2.3.2

Multiply $2$ by $- 4$ .

$5 + x = 2 x - 8$

Step 3.3

Solve the equation.

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.3.1

Move all terms containing $x$ to the left side of the equation.

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.3.1.1

Subtract $2 x$ from both sides of the equation.

$5 + x - 2 x = - 8$

Step 3.3.1.2

Subtract $2 x$ from $x$ .

$5 - x = - 8$

Step 3.3.2

Move all terms not containing $x$ to the right side of the equation.

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.3.2.1

Subtract $5$ from both sides of the equation.

$- x = - 8 - 5$

Step 3.3.2.2

Subtract $5$ from $- 8$ .

$- x = - 13$

Step 3.3.3

Divide each term in $- x = - 13$ by $- 1$ and simplify.

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.3.3.1

Divide each term in $- x = - 13$ by $- 1$ .

$\frac{- x}{- 1} = \frac{- 13}{- 1}$

Step 3.3.3.2

Simplify the left side.

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.3.3.2.1

Dividing two negative values results in a positive value.

$\frac{x}{1} = \frac{- 13}{- 1}$

Step 3.3.3.2.2

Divide $x$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{- 13}{- 1}$

Step 3.3.3.3

Simplify the right side.

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.3.3.3.1

Divide $- 13$ by $- 1$ .

$x = 13$