00:01
In this problem, we're asked to solve the exponential equation 2 to the power of x squared minus 4x equals 1 over 16 to the power of x minus 4.
00:09
The first thing to do is to rewrite one of our sides.
00:12
So in this case, we're going to rewrite the right -hand side so that the base of the equation is the same on both sides.
00:19
So on the left -hand side we have a 2 is the base, and on the right -hand side we have a 1 over 16.
00:24
So you want to rewrite 1 over 16 to look like some kind of power of 2.
00:28
So to do this, we should remember that 16 is equal to 2 to the fourth power, right? because 2 times 2 times 2 times 2 is equal to 16, and 1 over 2 to the 4th power is equal to the minus 4th power.
00:48
Remember, putting a negative in the exponent is exactly like doing a reciprocal.
00:52
So 1 over 2 to the 4th power is the same as 2 to the negative 4th power.
00:56
Now we can substitute this into our equation, get 2 to the x squared minus 4x, is equal to 2 to the negative fourth power times x minus four.
01:08
Now we got to remember our exponent laws, namely what happens when we have like a double exponent.
01:14
2 to the power of a to the power of b is just 2 to the power of a times b.
01:21
So we get 2 to the power of x squared minus 4x is equal to 2 to the power of negative 4 times x minus 4...