Answer:
x = 1/3 . . . . math facts or logarithms are involved; take your pick
Step-by-step explanation:
When you are solving for a variable that is in an exponent, logarithms are often useful. Taking the log of both sides of this equation, you have ...
log(8^x) = log(2)
Using the rules of logarithms, that is ...
x·log(8) = log(2)
x = log(2)/log(8) . . . . . divide by the coefficient of x
You can find the value of this on your calculator, and it will tell you the value is 0.333333333333 or as many digits as your calculator displays. That is a clue that the exact answer is probably 1/3.
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You should recognize that 8 = 2·2·2 = 2^3, so log(8) = 3log(2) and the above solution becomes ...
x = log(2)/(3log(2)) = 1/3
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Recognizing that 8 = 2^3, you can make that substitution into the original equation to get ...
(2^3)^x = 2
2^(3x) = 2^1
3x = 1 . . . . . . . matching exponents; equivalent to taking logs base 2
x = 1/3 . . . . . . divide by 3
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All of the above using 2 as a base of exponents is just dancing around the fact that you already know the math fact ...
8^x = 2 = 8^(1/3)
x = 1/3 . . . . . equating exponents; equivalent to taking logs base 8
