How do you solve #3^(x^2) + 4x = 1/27#?

1 Answer
Jake M.
May 7, 2018

#x approx -1.2, -0.26#

Explanation:

This is called a transcendental equation and therefore does not generally have a simple/exact solution. This is because of the x in the exponential and the coefficient. For example, #e^x = x# doesn't have an analytical solution, just a numerical one.

Generally, the best method of solving these is Newton's method, numerically approximating the solution.

In this case, it is pretty easy for a calculator to find that there is a solution around -1.2 and one around -0.26.

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