# An algebraic solution for \$log_3(x+1)+log_2(x)=5\$

$$log_3(x+1)+log_2 x=5$$

$$log_3(x+1)=5-log_2 x$$

$$x+1=3^{5-log_2 x}$$

For integer solutions for x we must have:

$$5-log_2 x>0$$

$$log_2 x<5$$

Therefore we must check numbers 4, 3,2, 1 which gives:

$$log_2 x= 1, 2, 3, 4$$

$$x=2, 4, 8, 16$$

These solution must also satisfy the initial equation; corresponding values are:

$$log_3 (x+1)=5-log_2x=5-1=4,5-2= 3,5-3= 2,5-4= 1$$

$$x+1= 3^4=81, 3^3=27, 3^2=9, 3^1=3$$

$$x= 80, 26, 8, 2$$

The only common solution is 8.

Let $$f(x)=log_3(x+1)+log_2x.$$

Thus, since $$f$$ increases, our equation has one root maximum.

$$8$$ is a root, which says that it’s an unique root and we are done.

I tried to think of how a middle schooler might solve this:

Let $$x=2^a$$. Then we have

$$log_3 (2^a+1) + a = 5.$$ So that

$$2^a+1 = 3^{5-a}.$$

Multiply by $$3^a$$ to get

$$6^a+3^a = 3^5 = 243.$$

If the student knows that $$6^3 = 216,$$ he knows that $$a$$ is pretty close to $$3$$, which does in fact work, giving $$x=8.$$