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solving non-algebraic exponential equations

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg38059] solving non-algebraic exponential equations
  • From: eva.hoehberger at gmx.net (Eva Hohberger)
  • Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 14:08:00 -0500 (EST)
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

I am trying to solve the following equation for given values of two
parameters a and b:

NSolve[Exp[-Pi*a/x] + Exp[-Pi*b/x] == 1, x]

This is straightforward for integer values of the parameters a and b
(e.g. a=1, b=1). However, Mathematica is unable to compute the
solution for non-integer values of a and b (e.g. a=1.1, b=1.1; even
a=1.0, b=1.0 doesn't work). Instead, the error message "Solve::"tdep":
"The equations appear to involve the variables to be solved for in an
essentially non-algebraic way." is produced.

Can anybody point out a way to overcome this problem and to obtain a
solution?

Thanks,
Eva


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