Solve the Logarithmic Equation: Base-8 and Base-4 Logs with Quadratic Terms

Question

log89log83+log4x2=log81.5+log82+log4(x211x9) \log_89-\log_83+\log_4x^2=\log_81.5+\log_82+\log_4(-x^2-11x-9)

?=x

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation: log89log83+log4x2=log81.5+log82+log4(x211x9) \log_8 9 - \log_8 3 + \log_4 x^2 = \log_8 1.5 + \log_8 2 + \log_4 (-x^2 - 11x - 9) , we proceed as follows:

Step 1: Simplify Both Sides
On the left-hand side (LHS), apply logarithmic subtraction: log8(93)+log4x2=log83+log4x2 \log_8 \left(\frac{9}{3}\right) + \log_4 x^2 = \log_8 3 + \log_4 x^2 .
Note log83\log_8 3 remains and convert log4x2\log_4 x^2 using the base switch to 88:
log4x2=2log4x=2×log8xlog822=log8xlog82 \log_4 x^2 = 2\log_4 x = 2 \times \frac{\log_8 x}{\log_8 2^2} = \frac{\log_8 x}{\log_8 2} .
Thus, the LHS combines into:
log83+2log8xlog84 \log_8 3 + \frac{2\log_8 x}{\log_8 4} (because log4x2=2log4x\log_4 x^2 = 2 \log_4 x).

On the right-hand side (RHS):
Combine: log8(1.5×2)=log83 \log_8 (1.5 \times 2) = \log_8 3 .
Also apply for log4 \log_4 term:
log4(x211x9)=log8(x211x9)log84 \log_4 (-x^2 - 11x - 9) = \frac{\log_8 (-x^2 - 11x - 9)}{\log_8 4} .

Step 2: Equalize Both Sides
Equate LHS and RHS logarithmic expressions:
log83+2log8xlog84=log83+log8(x211x9)log84 \log_8 3 + \frac{2\log_8 x}{\log_8 4} = \log_8 3 + \frac{\log_8 (-x^2 - 11x - 9)}{\log_8 4} .
The log83\log_8 3 cancels out on both sides, leaving:
2log8xlog84=log8(x211x9)log84 \frac{2\log_8 x}{\log_8 4} = \frac{\log_8 (-x^2 - 11x - 9)}{\log_8 4} .

Step 3: Solve for xx
Since the denominators are equal, set the numerators equal:
2log8x=log8(x211x9) 2\log_8 x = \log_8 (-x^2 - 11x - 9) .
Translate this into an exponential equation:
(x2)2=x211x9 (x^2)^2 = -x^2 - 11x - 9 or
82log8x=x211x9 8^{2\log_8 x} = -x^2 - 11x - 9 .
Let y=xy = x, solve the resulting quadratic equation:
x2=x211x9 x^2 = -x^2 - 11x - 9 .
Then, finding valid x x by allowing roots of polynomial calculations should yield laws consistency:
x211x9=0 -x^2 - 11x - 9 = 0 or rather substituting potential values. After appropriate checks:

The valid xx that satisfies the problem is thus x=4.5x = -4.5.

Answer

4.5 -4.5