16Hit1600
Advanced MathVery hardSolving for the base of an exponential function

Advanced Math practice question

A function of the form f(x) = 2 · bˣ, with b > 0, satisfies f(3) = 250. What is the value of b?

Answer: 5

2b³ = 250 gives b³ = 125, so b = 5.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 10
10 comes from b³ = 1000, a slip; 250/2 = 125 = 5³, so b = 5.
If you answered 125
125 is b³, not b.
If you answered 41.7
41.7 is 250/6, treating the exponent as a multiplier.

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