Solve in the equation .
Solution
If , we obtain and . By addition, it follows that . The function , , is injective (it is strictly increasing, as the sum of two strictly increasing functions), so .
To determine we need to solve the equation , or . The function , is injective (it is strictly decreasing, as the sum of two strictly decreasing functions). Thus, the equation has the only solution , and this verifies the equation in the statement.
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.