point(s) possible \( \log (8 x+9)=1+\log (x-4) \)
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To solve the equation \( \log (8x + 9) = 1 + \log (x - 4) \), we can first use properties of logarithms. Recall that \( 1 \) can be rewritten as \( \log(10) \). Thus, the equation can be transformed to: \[ \log(8x + 9) = \log(10) + \log(x - 4) \] Applying the product property of logarithms, we combine the right side: \[ \log(8x + 9) = \log(10(x - 4)) \] Since the logarithms are equal, we can set their arguments equal to each other: \[ 8x + 9 = 10(x - 4) \] Expanding the right side gives: \[ 8x + 9 = 10x - 40 \] Now, rearranging the equation leads to: \[ 9 + 40 = 10x - 8x \] \[ 49 = 2x \] Dividing both sides by 2 gives us: \[ x = \frac{49}{2} = 24.5 \] Finally, we need to check that this solution does not result in a negative argument for the logarithm functions. Substituting \( x = 24.5 \) back into \( x - 4 \) gives \( 24.5 - 4 = 20.5 \), which is positive, and similarly for \( 8x + 9 \): \[ 8(24.5) + 9 = 196 + 9 = 205, \] Thus, both arguments are positive. Therefore, the solution is valid. The final answer is: \[ \boxed{24.5} \]