Algebra · real student question

Solve log10(log10(x + 0.6)) = 8.8289 - 3.2511 log10(284 + 273.15) for x.

Question

Solve for xx:

log10(log10(x+0.6))=8.82893.2511log10(284+273.15)\log_{10}\left(\log_{10}(x+0.6)\right)=8.8289-3.2511\log_{10}(284+273.15)

Step-by-step solution

  1. Collapse the right-hand side to a single number first. It contains no xx, so it is just arithmetic. Start inside the logarithm:

    284+273.15=557.15284+273.15=557.15

    (the shape of adding 273.15273.15 to a Celsius temperature is the giveaway that this is an Antoine-style vapour-pressure formula).

  2. Evaluate the numeric right side.

    log10(557.15)=2.7459721,3.2511×2.7459721=8.9274300\log_{10}(557.15)=2.7459721,\qquad3.2511\times2.7459721=8.9274300

    so

    8.82898.9274300=0.09853008.8289-8.9274300=-0.0985300

    The result is negative, which is fine: it is the logarithm of a number between 00 and 11, not an impossibility.

  3. Undo the outer logarithm. Raise 1010 to the power of each side:

    log10(x+0.6)=100.0985300=0.7969777\log_{10}(x+0.6)=10^{-0.0985300}=0.7969777

    Exponentiating turns the negative value into a positive one less than 11 ✓.

  4. Undo the inner logarithm. Exponentiate once more:

    x+0.6=100.7969777=6.2664477x+0.6=10^{0.7969777}=6.2664477

  5. Solve for xx and check the domain.

    x=6.26644770.6=5.66644775.666x=6.2664477-0.6=5.6664477\approx5.666

    Both logarithms are legal at this value: x+0.6=6.266>0x+0.6=6.266>0, and log10(6.266)=0.797>0\log_{10}(6.266)=0.797>0, so the outer logarithm has a positive argument ✓ — a nested logarithm needs both conditions, and here they hold.

  6. Verify by substituting back. Computing log10(log10(5.6664477+0.6))\log_{10}\left(\log_{10}(5.6664477+0.6)\right) returns 0.0985300-0.0985300, matching the right-hand side to within 101210^{-12} ✓. Because the outer 10u10^{u} amplifies errors, carrying at least seven digits through the intermediate steps matters: rounding 0.0985-0.0985 too early shifts xx in the third decimal.

Answer

x5.666x\approx5.666

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