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Re: HELP! algebraic math problem

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg2947] Re: HELP! algebraic math problem
  • From: wilson figueroa <wfigueroa at mosquito.com>
  • Date: Sun, 14 Jan 1996 03:42:41 -0500
  • Organization: Mosquito Net, Inc.

David,

Since you have an equation which involves a transcendental
function, it is almost always impossible to find a closed
form solution involving x only.

At this point one needs to resort to numerical techniques.

Here you can use FindRoot[f(x) == 0, {x,x0}].  For example,

FindRoot[10*Log[x] + 2*x - 3 == 0,{x,4},
         WorkingPrecision -> 30]

would yield,

x = 1.0862...(to thirty places)

Note that I would recommend plotting the function over a range
of x.  Obviously here, x must be > 0, and plotting will help
you to see the zeros of the function.  Have fun

Wilson.


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