2010 AMC 12A Problem 11

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Concepts:logarithmexponent

Difficulty rating: 1510

11.

The solution of the equation 7x+7=8x7^{x+7}=8^x can be expressed in the form x=logb77.x=\log_b 7^7. What is b?b?

715\dfrac{7}{15}

78\dfrac{7}{8}

87\dfrac{8}{7}

158\dfrac{15}{8}

157\dfrac{15}{7}

Solution:

Since x=logb77,x=\log_b 7^7, we have bx=77.b^x=7^7.

Then (7b)x=7xbx=7x77=7x+7=8x.(7b)^x=7^x\cdot b^x=7^x\cdot7^7=7^{x+7}=8^x.

Because x>0,x\gt0, it follows that 7b=8,7b=8, so b=87.b=\dfrac{8}{7}.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

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