Suppose f(x)=∣lg(x+1)∣ and real numbers a,b (a<b) satisfy f(a)=f(−b+2b+1), f(10a+6b+21)=4lg2. Find the values of a,b.
Solution
∣lg(a+1)∣=∣lg(−b+2b+1+1)∣=∣lg(b+21)∣=∣lg(b+2)∣. Then either a+1=b+2 or (a+1)(b+2)=1. Since a<b, so a+1=b+2. Therefore, (a+1)(b+2)=1. From f(a)=∣lg(a+1)∣ we know 0<a+1<1. Then 0<a+1<b+1<b+2, which implies 0<a+1<1<b+2. Therefore, (10a+6b+21)+1=10(a+1)+6(b+2)=6(b+2)+b+210>1. Then f(10a+6b+21)=lg[6(b+2)+b+210]=lg[6(b+2)+b+210]. On the other hand, f(10a+6b+21)=4lg2. So lg[6(b+2)+b+210]=4lg2, which means 6(b+2)+b+210=16. Then either b=−31 or b=−52 (discarded). Substituting b=−31 into (a+1)(b+2)=1, we find a=−52. Therefore a=−52, b=−31. □
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