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#1 2005-10-31 16:16:37

Makonorth
Member
Registered: 2005-10-31
Posts: 2

Difficult Exponent Problem

Someone showed me this problem today and I couldn't think of how to solve it:

x^x^x^x^x = 2

Anyone know how to solve it and if so can you explain how you get to your answer?

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#2 2005-11-01 04:29:15

mathsyperson
Moderator
Registered: 2005-06-22
Posts: 4,900

Re: Difficult Exponent Problem

Is that (((x^x)^x)^x)^x or x^(x^(x^(x^x)))?

I'm just asking that to stall for time, because I have no idea how to start trying to solve it. Probably using logs.


Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

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#3 2005-11-01 06:26:31

Makonorth
Member
Registered: 2005-10-31
Posts: 2

Re: Difficult Exponent Problem

math.gif

That's exactly how it was written.

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#4 2005-11-01 08:32:21

MathsIsFun
Administrator
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 7,711

Re: Difficult Exponent Problem

Well then, you should exponentiate in this order I believe:

x^(x^(x^(x^x)))

In Excel (by trial and error) I get: 1.432694...


"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

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#5 2005-11-01 10:23:01

mathsyperson
Moderator
Registered: 2005-06-22
Posts: 4,900

Re: Difficult Exponent Problem

Hmm. It's obvious that once it gets to 2 then it will stay there because (√2)² = 2, but that's not anywhere close to a proof.


Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

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