Expert: Paul Klarreich - 5/4/2009

Question
I am trying to help my son solve a problem of the week.
Can you help me?
6x - 6(x - 1) = 6480

the x's represent "to the power", but I don't know how to make it on my computer.  Does this make sense?


Answer
Questioner:   Janet
Country:  United States
Category:  Advanced Math
Private:  No
 
Subject:  math problem
Question:  I am trying to help my son solve a problem of the week.
Can you help me?
6x - 6(x - 1) = 6480

the x's represent "to the power", but I don't know how to make it on my computer.  Does this make sense?
.....................
Hi, Janet,

Perhaps it does.  You can read some other answers to get an idea how to write math expressions on the computer.

It looks like:

6^x - 6^(x - 1) = 6480

if so, then:

6^x = 6 * 6^(x - 1), and you can write:

6*(6^(x-1)) - 6^(x - 1) = 6480

6^(x-1)(6 - 1) = 6480

6^(x-1)(5) = 6480

6^(x-1) = 1296

But  1296 = 6^4

6^(x-1) = 6^4

x - 1 = 4

x = 5

Does that make sense?

Now be a good girl and when your son hands it in, credit the site.