To solve the equation , we need to apply the properties of exponents. 1. Identify the Core Property Any non-zero number raised to the power of is equal to . Mathematically, this is expressed as: In your equation, the base is . Therefore, for the expression to equal , the exponent must be equal to . 2. Set up the Quadratic Equation By equating the exponent to zero, we get: 3. Solve the Quadratic Equation We can solve this using the quadratic formula or by factoring. Factoring Method: We look for two numbers that multiply to and add up to . These numbers are and . Setting each factor to zero:
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4. Verification
- If : If :
Final Answer: The solutions to the equation are and . Would you like me to solve a similar equation involving a different base or a more complex exponent?