Equations involving indices, (has no root)

logarithms and others

Example 2
Equations involving indices
This involves expressing the values raised to (a) Solve the simultaneous equations
the powers into simplest form and
thereafter making appropriate substitutions.
Example 1 Given

Solve the following equations Solution

(a) ……………………… (i)

(b) …………………(ii)
(c)
Introducing log to both sides of equation
Solution (i)
xlog 3 = 3y + 1log 2

(a)
8x – 15y = 5 ………………………(iii)
From eqn. (ii)
Let p =
3p2 -4p + 1 = 0

p = or p = 1

5x – 18y = 14 …………………..(iv)
5eqn. (iii) – 8eqn (iv)
69y = -87

y=
substituting for y in equation (iii)

8x = 5+ 15

Hence x = 0 or x = -1
(c)
(b) Find the value of x to 2 decimal
Let p = places if
3p2 + 2p -1 = 0 Solution
Introducing log
1)(p + 1) = 0 p =
(3x + 1)log2 = (x +2)log3
or p = -1
or x = -1
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 (b) Show that:

2log4 +
(c) Evaluate
2log4 +

Solution

4log2 +
2log 2
(c) Express in terms of
Let q =
. Hence or otherwise
3q2 – 26q – 9 = 0
solve the simultaneous equations:
(q – 9)(3q + 1) = 0
q = 9 0r q =

Solution

Hence x = 2

Logarithmic equations
It convenient to convert logarithms to the
same base before the calculations Hence solving
Example 3

Solve the equations

(a) ……………….. (i)

Expressing terms on LHS to log5.

…………….(ii)
Substituting eqn. (ii) into eqn. (i)

y=
Substituting into equation (ii)

y=

 and y

x= √

Equations with repeated terms (s) When q = 4

Whenever a term or terms appear repeated in

an equation make use of appropriate substitution.

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Example 4 Hence x = and x = 8
(a) Solve the simultaneous equations
(ii)
Solution
Let t =
=16

(t – 8)(t – 3) = 0

t = 8 or t = 3
…………….(i)
When t = 8
=16 ……..(ii)

Substituting
eqn.(i) into eqn. (ii)

(x – 4)(x + 2) = 0

x = 4 or x = -2

When t = 3

Substituting y into eqn. (i)

(x – 3)(x +1) = 0
= 8 = x = 3 or x = -1

hence x = -2, -1, 3 or 4

Hence x = 3 and y = 1

(b) Solve the equations

Symmetrical equations

These are equations whose coefficients are

Solution symmetrical

Example 5
and
Let q =
in terms of q

Solution

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 Squaring both sides

(9q – 1)(q – 4) = 0
q = or q = 4

When q = ;

Cubing both sides

(q – 2)(2q – 5) = 0 q = 2

or q =

When q = 2

Raising both sides to power four

(x – 1)(x – 1) = 0 x = 1

When q =

(2x – 1)(x – 2) = 0

x = or x =

2
(a)(ii) Solve the equation
Hence [x:x = , 1, or 2]
Solution

Dividing through by x2 (b) By using the substitution q = solve

the equation

Let q =
2( – 9q + 14 = 0
4( 17q + 8 = 0
2 – 9q+ 10 = 0
4 17q = 0
q(4q + 17) = 0

q = 0 or q =
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When q = 0
; => x + 4z = 8 ……………….(i)
; => y + z = 12 ……………….(ii)
(no real roots)
; => 3x + y =10 …………….. (iii)
When q = From eqn. (i): x = 8 – 4z
Substituting for x into eqn. (iii)
3(8 – 4z) + y = 10
y – 12z = -14 ………………………………(iv)
(4x + eqn. (ii) – eqn. (iv)
13z = 26; z = 2 Substituting for
1)(x
z into eqn. (i) x = 8 – 4 x 2 =0
+ 4) substituting for x into eqn. (iii)
=0x y = 10 – 3x = 10 – 0 = 10 Hence
(x, y, z) = (0, 10, 2)
=
or x
= -4
Solution
Hence x = or x = -4
Let
Equations with ratios
Then
The basis of these types of
k=1
equations it the ration theorem

Given ; x + 2y = -3……………… (i)

; y + 2z = 4 ………………(ii)
Then

This can ; 2x + z = 5 ………………(iii)

From eqn. (i) x = -3 – 2y
Then => a = bk
Substituting x into eqn. (iii)
=> c = dk
2(-3 – 2y) + z = 5
=> e= fk
4y – z = -11……………………………..(iv)
LHS: From eqn. (ii): y = 4 – 2z
Example 6 Substituting for y in eqn. (iv)
Solve the equations 4(4 – 2z) –z = -11

9z = 27; z = 3

Substituting for z into eqn. (ii)

Let
Y = 4 – 2 x 3 = -2
Then
Substituting for y into eqn.

(i) x = -3 – 2(-2) = 1

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Hence (x, y, z) = (1, -2, 3) Example 7

(a) Given that the following equations have

repeated roots, solve them (i) X3 –x2 – 8x +
(c) 2x = 3y= -4z; x2 – 9y2 –
12 = 0
4z = 0 Solution
A repeated root is also a root of
Let 2x = 3y= -4z =k, constant

Substituting for x, y, z in x2 – (x – 2)(3x + 4) = 0

9y2 – 4z = 0 x = 2 or x =
Testing for repeated root
Sum of roots = 1
(3k + Products of root = -12
8)(k If x = 2 is the repeated root, then Sum = 2
– 4) + 2 + n = 1 n = -3 where n is the third
=0k root Product of roots = 2 x 2 x -3 = -12
which is correct
=
or k If x = is the repeated root, then
=4 Sum =
When k = ; x = 2, y = n= where n is the third root
Product of roots = 12
When k = 4; x =
which is not correct
Hence the roots are 2, 2, -3
(x, y, z) = (2,
(ii) 2x3 – 11x2 + 12x + 9 = 0

Equations with repeated roots A repeated root is also a root of

If a function y = f(x) has a
repeated root, then it is also a
6x2 -22x + 12 = 0
root of its derivative i.e. it is a

root of 3x2 – 11x + 6 = 0

In order to find other root, make (x – 3)(3x -2) = 0

use of the sum and product of
x = 3 or x =
roots

Note Testing for repeated root;

Sum of roots = coefficient of the 2x3 – 11x2 + 12x + 9 = 0
second term of the equation
x + 6x +
Product of the roots= last term
with the appropriate signs. Sum of roots =
Product of roots =

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 If x = 3 is the If k = 3; x2 – 4x + 4 =0
repeated root,
(x – 2)(x – 2) = 0
then Sum = 3 + 3 +
n= n= x=2
where n is the Hence repeated roots are 0 and 2
third root
Product of roots = 3 x 3 x

which Example 8
is correct Show that if the
Hence the roots are 3, 3, equations

(b) Find the value of k for which x2 + px + q = 0 and x2 + mx + k = 0 have a

the equation repeated root, then

= k has repeated roots.

What are the repeated Let the common root be x1
roots? The two equations become
Solution
x12 + px1 + q = 0 ……………… (i)

x12 + mx1 + k = 0……………….(ii)

Eqn. (i) – eqn. (ii) (p

=k
– m)x1 + (q – k) = 0

Since a quadratic equation x

has only two roots,
Substituting x1 into equation (i)
therefore the roots will be
equal if
they are repeated
The condition for equal Thus,
roots: b2 = 4ac

Equations with square roots

(i) In this context, √ means the positive

square root of x.
(k +
(ii) The solution should be checked to
1)(k – 3) = 0 discard off the unwanted root might
k = -1 and k emerge due to squaring.
=3 If k = - Illustration
2
1; x – (0)x +
Suppose the root of the equation is x = 5
0 =0
By squaring x2 = 52 i.e. x2 – 52 = 0
x=0
(x -5)(x + 5) = 0
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Now solution is x = -5 and x = When x = 0; -2 3; x = 0 is not a root
5 where -5 is unwanted.
Example 9 When x = - = 3 which is

Solve the equations consistent.

Other equations

Solution Example 10

Given that x2 + 2xy + y2 – 8x – 8y + 15 = 0,

find x in terms of y
x – 5 = 25 - 10 +x
=> 10 = 30 Hence or otherwise solve the pair of

; x = 9 (upon squaring) equations: x2 + 2xy + y2 – 8x – 8y + 15 = 0

and x2 + y2 = 17 Solution x2 + 2xy + y2 – 8x –
8y + 15 = 0 …….. (i)
Solution (x + y)2 – 8(x + y) + 15 =

0 Let q = (x + y) q2 – 8q
1 – 20x = 9 + 12 + 4(x + 1)
+ 15 = 0 (q – 5)(q – 3) =
24x + 12 = -
0 q = 5 and q = 3
2x + 1 = -
When q = 5; x = 5 – y ………………….(ii)
Squaring both sides
When q = 3; x = 3 – y …………………. (iii)
4x2 + Now x2 + y2 = 17 ………………….(iv)
4x + Eqn. (ii) into eqn. (iv)
1=x
(5 – y)2 + y2 = 17
+1
2y2 -10y + 8 = 0
2
4x
(y – 4)(y – 1) = 0; => y = 4 or y = 1
+ 3x
When y = 4: x = 5 – 4 = 1
=0
When y = 1: x = 5 – 1 = 4
x(4x
Eqn. (iii) into eqn. (iv)
+ 3)
(3 – y)2 + y2 = 17
=0x
=0 2y2 -6y – 8 = 0

or x (y – 4)(y + 1)= 0; => y = 4, or y = -1

When y = 4: x = 3 – 4 = -1
=-
When y = -1: x = 3 +1 = 4

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 (x, y) = (1, 4), (4, 1), (-1, 4), (4, - Let α be the common root
1)
For y2 + py + q = 0

α2 + pα + q = 0 …………………
Example 11
(i) For y2 + my + k = 0 α2 +
Solve the simultaneous
equations mα + k = 0 ………………… (ii)

, x(5 – x) = Eqn. (i) – eqn. (ii)

2y (p – m)k + (q – k) = 0
Solution

From Substituting α into eqn. (i)

y ………………………(i)
x(5 – x) = 2y ………………(ii)

Substituting eqn. (i) into eqn. (ii)

x(5 – x) =
x(5 – x)(6 – x) – 12x = 0 x[(5 – as
required
x)(6 – x) – 12] =0 x(x2 – 11x + 18)

= 0 x(x – 2)(x – 9) = 0; x =0, x = 2,

x = 9 Substituting for x in eqn.

(i)

When x = 0; y= 0

When x = 2; y = 3

When x = 9; y = - 18 Revision questions

(x, y) = (0, 0), (2, 3) or (9, - 18) 1. Solve the equations
Example 12

Given that the equations y2 + py

+ q = 0 and y2 + my + k = 0 have
common root. Show 2. (a) Given that ,
show that xy = 16. Hence solve the
(q – k)2 = (m – p)(pk – mq) simultaneous
equations
Solution
[(x, y) = (8, 2) or
(2, 8)]

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 10. Solve the simultaneous equations x2 –
(b) Show that .
10x + y2 = 25
[y – x = 1 [(x, y) =(6, 7) or (
11. Solve for x in the equation
[x =
Hence solve the 2]
simultaneous equations
3. Show that if the expressions
(i) x2 + px + q and 3x2+ q
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have a common root,
then 3p2 + 4q = 0 Dr. Bbosa Science
(ii) x2 + bx + c and x2 + px + q
have a common root,
then

4. Solve the simultaneous

equations
(a) 2x+ y = 1

5x2 + 2xy = y + 2x -1[(x,

y)=(0,1), (-2, 5)]

(b) x + 2y = 1
3x2 + 5xy – 2y2 = 10 [(x,
y) = (3, -1)
5. Solve the simultaneous
equation 2x+ 4y= 12
3(2)x – 2(2)2y = 16 [x= 2, y =
1]
Hence show that (4)x +
4(3)2y = 100 6. Solve 4x – 2x+1 –
15 = 0 [x=2.322] 7. Show that if
the expressions: x2 + bx + c and
x2 + px + q have a common
factor. Then (c –q)2 = (b – p)(cp
–bq)
8. Solve 2

[x = 5 or x =
9. Solve the simultaneous
equations x + y + z = 2

[x = 1, y
= -2, z = 3]
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