It is given that log⁡2(4−x2)−log⁡2(x−1)=1\log_2\left(4 - x^2\right) - \log_{\sqrt{2}}(x - 1) = 1.

  1. (a)

    Explain clearly why 1<x<21 < x < 2.

  2. (b)

    Hence, solve the equation and show that it has only one solution.

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Worked solution

4(a)

1. State and solve the condition for the first logarithm to be defined

For log⁡2(4−x2)\log_2(4 - x^2) to be defined, the argument must be strictly positive:
4−x2>04 - x^2 > 0
x2<4x^2 < 4
−2<x<2-2 < x < 2

2. State and solve the condition for the second logarithm to be defined

For log⁡2(x−1)\log_{\sqrt{2}}(x - 1) to be defined:
x−1>0x - 1 > 0
x>1x > 1

3. Combine the conditions to obtain the final range

Taking the intersection of −2<x<2-2 < x < 2 and x>1x > 1:
1<x<21 < x < 2

Answer

For the logarithms to be defined, their arguments must be positive. Thus 4−x2>04 - x^2 > 0 and x−1>0x - 1 > 0, which intersect to give 1<x<21 < x < 2.

4(b)

1. Change the base of the second logarithmic term to 2.

log⁡2(x−1)=log⁡2(x−1)log⁡2(2)=log⁡2(x−1)12=2log⁡2(x−1)\log_{\sqrt{2}}(x - 1) = \frac{\log_2(x - 1)}{\log_2(\sqrt{2})} = \frac{\log_2(x - 1)}{\frac{1}{2}} = 2\log_2(x - 1)

2. Combine the logarithmic terms into a single logarithm.

log⁡2(4−x2)−2log⁡2(x−1)=1\log_2(4 - x^2) - 2\log_2(x - 1) = 1
log⁡2(4−x2)−log⁡2((x−1)2)=1\log_2(4 - x^2) - \log_2((x - 1)^2) = 1
log⁡2(4−x2(x−1)2)=1\log_2\left(\frac{4 - x^2}{(x - 1)^2}\right) = 1

3. Convert the logarithmic equation to an algebraic equation.

4−x2(x−1)2=21=2\frac{4 - x^2}{(x - 1)^2} = 2^1 = 2

4. Simplify to form a quadratic equation.

4−x2=2(x2−2x+1)4 - x^2 = 2(x^2 - 2x + 1)
4−x2=2x2−4x+24 - x^2 = 2x^2 - 4x + 2
3x2−4x−2=03x^2 - 4x - 2 = 0

5. Solve the quadratic equation and reject the invalid root using the condition from part (a).

x=−(−4)±(−4)2−4(3)(−2)2(3)x = \frac{-(-4) \pm \sqrt{(-4)^2 - 4(3)(-2)}}{2(3)}
x=4±16+246x = \frac{4 \pm \sqrt{16 + 24}}{6}
x=4±406=4±2106=2±103x = \frac{4 \pm \sqrt{40}}{6} = \frac{4 \pm 2\sqrt{10}}{6} = \frac{2 \pm \sqrt{10}}{3}
x≈1.72x \approx 1.72 or x≈−0.387x \approx -0.387
From (a), 1<x<21 < x < 2. Since 2−103<1\frac{2 - \sqrt{10}}{3} < 1, we reject it.
Therefore, there is only one solution, x=2+103x = \frac{2 + \sqrt{10}}{3}.

Answer

x=2+103x = \frac{2 + \sqrt{10}}{3}

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