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survivorboi
Feb 7, 2009, 06:12 PM
there is a math problem I don't know how to do, it goes:

6^(x+1)-6^x=1080

the little ^ sign means that it's squared, cubed, etc.

how do I do it? Please give step-by-step instructions and remember: I'm only in 7th grade so use 7th grade vocabulary! Please explain it as simply as you can :D

galactus
Feb 7, 2009, 06:57 PM
By the property of exponents, we can rewrite 6^{x+1}=6\cdot 6^{x}

So now we have:

6\cdot 6^{x}-6^{x}=1080

Factor out the 6^x:

6^{x}(6-1)=1080

6^{x}(5)=1080

Divide by 5:

6^{x}=216

Now, 6 to what power is 216?

Can you see it? It's a nice integer. Nothing fancy.