16Hit1600
Advanced MathVery hardExponential equation solved by factoring out a power

Advanced Math practice question

If 2^(x + 3) − 2^x = 56, what is the value of x?

Answer: 3

Write 2^(x+3) as 8 · 2^x. Then 8 · 2^x − 2^x = 7 · 2^x = 56, so 2^x = 8 = 2³ and x = 3.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 4
4 comes from 2^x = 16, dividing 56 by 3.5 or by a slip in 8 − 1 = 7.
If you answered 7
7 is the factor 8 − 1, not x.
If you answered 8
8 is the value of 2^x, not x.

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