What are the solutions to [tex]\log_3 x + \log_3 \left(x^2 + 2\right) = 1 + 2 \log_3 x[/tex]?

A. [tex]x = -2[/tex]
B. [tex]x = -1[/tex]
C. [tex]x = 1[/tex]
D. [tex]x = 2[/tex]
E. There is no true solution.



Answer :

To solve the equation [tex]\(\log_3 x + \log_3 (x^2 + 2) = 1 + 2 \log_3 x\)[/tex], let's go through the solution step-by-step.

1. Combine the logarithmic terms on the left-hand side:
[tex]\[ \log_3 x + \log_3 (x^2 + 2) = \log_3 \left( x \cdot (x^2 + 2) \right) \][/tex]
Thus, the equation becomes:
[tex]\[ \log_3 \left( x(x^2 + 2) \right) = 1 + 2 \log_3 x \][/tex]

2. Simplify the expression inside the logarithm:
[tex]\[ x(x^2 + 2) = x^3 + 2x \][/tex]
So the equation now is:
[tex]\[ \log_3 (x^3 + 2x) = 1 + 2 \log_3 x \][/tex]

3. Express [tex]\(2 \log_3 x\)[/tex] as a single logarithm:
[tex]\[ 2 \log_3 x = \log_3 x^2 \][/tex]
So the equation can be rewritten as:
[tex]\[ \log_3 (x^3 + 2x) = 1 + \log_3 x^2 \][/tex]

4. Use the property of logarithms to combine [tex]\(1\)[/tex] and [tex]\(\log_3 x^2\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ 1 + \log_3 x^2 = \log_3 3 + \log_3 x^2 = \log_3 (3x^2) \][/tex]
Hence, the equation becomes:
[tex]\[ \log_3 (x^3 + 2x) = \log_3 (3x^2) \][/tex]

5. Since the logarithmic functions with the same base are equal, their arguments must be equal:
[tex]\[ x^3 + 2x = 3x^2 \][/tex]

6. Solve the algebraic equation:
Rearrange the equation:
[tex]\[ x^3 + 2x - 3x^2 = 0 \][/tex]
Simplifying further:
[tex]\[ x^3 - 3x^2 + 2x = 0 \][/tex]

7. Factor out the common term [tex]\(x\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ x(x^2 - 3x + 2) = 0 \][/tex]
This gives us:
[tex]\[ x = 0 \quad \text{or} \quad x^2 - 3x + 2 = 0 \][/tex]

8. Solve the quadratic equation:
[tex]\[ x^2 - 3x + 2 = 0 \][/tex]
Factorizing the quadratic equation:
[tex]\[ (x - 1)(x - 2) = 0 \][/tex]
This gives us:
[tex]\[ x = 1 \quad \text{or} \quad x = 2 \][/tex]

So, the solutions to the equation [tex]\(\log_3 x + \log_3 (x^2 + 2) = 1 + 2 \log_3 x\)[/tex] are:

[tex]\[ x = 1 \quad \text{and} \quad x = 2 \][/tex]

Negative values [tex]\(x = -2\)[/tex] and [tex]\(x = -1\)[/tex] are not valid solutions as logarithms of non-positive numbers are undefined in real numbers. Hence, the valid solutions are [tex]\(x = 1\)[/tex] and [tex]\(x = 2\)[/tex].

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