Expert: Ahmed Salami - 5/6/2010

Question
The Equation is

T  = L * exp(-2*L)
The value of T is 0.0098 for L= 0.01
Then the book says that answer will also come 0.0098 for L=2.835
How he calculated the second value of L for which answer is same. I have done it in Matlab and it comes same, but i am unable to understand the procedure which matlab or book adapted.
Matlab comand
((I took natural Log on both sides for matlab))

solve('log(L)-2*L=log(0.0098)')

ans =

.99979317762569106422661621881686e-2
   2.8334305374382111000180664863260

Answer
Hi Usman,
These type of equations are mostly solved by the numerical methods using multiple iterations and so are best solved by computer programs. If you're so curious, you could pick up a text and read through the mathematics of numerical methods.

Regards