Difference between revisions of "1982 AHSME Problems/Problem 17"

 
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==Problem==
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How many real numbers <math>x</math> satisfy the equation <math>3^{2x+2}-3^{x+3}-3^{x}+3=0</math>?
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<math>\text {(A)} 0 \qquad  \text {(B)} 1 \qquad  \text {(C)} 2 \qquad  \text {(D)} 3 \qquad  \text {(E)} 4</math>
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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
  
 
Let <math>a = 3^x</math>. Then the preceding equation can be expressed as the quadratic, <cmath>9a^2-28a+3 = 0</cmath> Solving the quadratic yields the roots <math>3</math> and <math>1/9</math>. Setting these equal to <math>3^x</math>, we can immediately see that there are <math>\boxed{2}</math> real values of <math>x</math> that satisfy the equation.
 
Let <math>a = 3^x</math>. Then the preceding equation can be expressed as the quadratic, <cmath>9a^2-28a+3 = 0</cmath> Solving the quadratic yields the roots <math>3</math> and <math>1/9</math>. Setting these equal to <math>3^x</math>, we can immediately see that there are <math>\boxed{2}</math> real values of <math>x</math> that satisfy the equation.

Latest revision as of 23:02, 16 June 2021

Problem

How many real numbers $x$ satisfy the equation $3^{2x+2}-3^{x+3}-3^{x}+3=0$?

$\text {(A)} 0 \qquad  \text {(B)} 1 \qquad  \text {(C)} 2 \qquad  \text {(D)} 3 \qquad  \text {(E)} 4$

Solution

Let $a = 3^x$. Then the preceding equation can be expressed as the quadratic, \[9a^2-28a+3 = 0\] Solving the quadratic yields the roots $3$ and $1/9$. Setting these equal to $3^x$, we can immediately see that there are $\boxed{2}$ real values of $x$ that satisfy the equation.