e)

To solve , it’s helpful to recognize that 243 is a power of 3. In fact, . Therefore, you can rewrite the equation as . Since the bases are the same, you can equate the exponents, leading to .

This method of rewriting numbers in terms of their prime factors is a handy skill in algebra! It simplifies the process of solving exponential equations and can be applied in many real-world situations, such as calculating compound interest or understanding radioactive decay.