The question presents an exponential or logarithmic equation and asks the student to solve algebraically for the unknown variable, typically using substitution (e.g., letting u = a^x) or logarithmic manipulation.
In a certain region, the average number of earthquakes $N$ with magnitude $M$ or greater occurring in one year satisfies the following equation. $$\log N = a - 0.9 M \text{ (where } a \text{ is a positive constant)}$$ In this region, earthquakes with magnitude 4 or greater occur on average 64 times per year. Earthquakes with magnitude $x$ or greater occur on average once per year. Find the value of $9 x$. (Use $\log 2 = 0.3$ for the calculation.) [4 points]
The sum of all real roots of equation $\left( e ^ { 2 x } - 4 \right) \left( 6 e ^ { 2 x } - 5 e ^ { x } + 1 \right) = 0$ is (1) $\ln 4$ (2) $- \ln 3$ (3) $\ln 3$ (4) $\ln 5$
Let $p > 1$ and $q > 1$. Consider an equation in $x$ $$e ^ { 2 x } - a e ^ { x } + b = 0 \tag{1}$$ such that the equation in $t$ obtained by setting $t = e ^ { x }$ in (1) $$t ^ { 2 } - a t + b = 0 \tag{2}$$ has the solutions $\log _ { q ^ { 2 } } p$ and $\log _ { p ^ { 3 } } q$. We are to find the minimum value of $a$ and the solution of equation (1) at this minimum. (1) First of all, we see that $$b = \frac { \mathbf { A } } { \mathbf { A B } }$$ and $$a = \frac { \mathbf { C } } { \mathbf{D} } \log _ { q } p + \frac { \mathbf { E } } { \mathbf { F } } \log _ { p } q .$$ (2) As long as $p > 1$ and $q > 1$, it always follows that $\log _ { p } q > \mathbf { G }$. Hence, $a$ takes the minimum value $\frac { \sqrt { \mathbf { H } } } { \mathbf { I } }$ when $\log _ { p } q = \frac { \sqrt { \mathbf { J } } } { \mathbf { K } }$. In this case, the solution of (1) is $$x = - \frac { \mathbf { L } } { \mathbf { M } } \log _ { e } \mathbf { N } .$$
We are to find the minimum value of the function $$f ( x ) = 8 ^ { x } + 8 ^ { - x } - 3 \left( 4 ^ { 1 + x } + 4 ^ { 1 - x } - 2 ^ { 4 + x } - 2 ^ { 4 - x } \right) - 24$$ and the value of $x$ at which the function takes this minimum value. First, let us set $2 ^ { x } + 2 ^ { - x } = t$. Then, since $$4 ^ { x } + 4 ^ { - x } = t ^ { 2 } - \mathbf { A } \quad \text { and } \quad 8 ^ { x } + 8 ^ { - x } = t ^ { 3 } - \mathbf { B } t ,$$ $f ( x )$ can be expressed as $$f ( x ) = t ^ { 3 } - \mathbf { C D } t ^ { 2 } + \mathbf { E F } t$$ When we consider the right side as a function of $t$ and denote it by $g ( t )$, its derivative is $$g ^ { \prime } ( t ) = \mathbf { G } ( t - \mathbf { H } ) ( t - \mathbf { I } ) \text {, }$$ where $\mathrm { H } < \mathrm { I }$. Here, since $2 ^ { x } + 2 ^ { - x } = t$, the range of the values which $t$ takes is $$t \geqq \mathbf { J }$$ When $t = \mathbf { J }$, we see that $g ( \mathbf { J } ) = \mathbf { K L }$. When $t > \mathbf { J }$, $g ( t )$ is locally maximized at $t = \mathbf { M }$, and its local maximum is $\mathbf { N O }$, and furthermore, it is locally minimized at $t = \mathbf { P }$, and its local minimum is $\mathbf { Q R }$. Thus, the minimum value of $f ( x )$ is $\mathbf { S T }$, which is taken at $$x = \mathbf { U } \quad \text { and } \quad x = \log _ { 2 } ( \mathbf { V } \pm \sqrt { \mathbf { W X } } ) - \mathbf { Y } .$$
Find the sum of the real solutions of the equation: $$3 ^ { x } - ( \sqrt { 3 } ) ^ { x + 4 } + 20 = 0$$ A 1 B 4 C 9 D $\quad \log _ { 3 } 20$ E $\quad 2 \log _ { 3 } 20$ F $\quad 4 \log _ { 3 } 20$