x=10.6-.0051679 10.5948321, very nearly. EXAMPLES FOR PRACTICE. 1. Given x3+10x2+5x=2600, to find a near approximate value of x. Ans. 11.00673 2. Given 2x4 - 16x3 +40x3 —30x+1=0, to find a near value of x. Aps. x 1.284724 3 Given x+2x4+3x+4x2+5x=54321, to find the value of x. Ans. 8414455 4. Given /73 +4x2 +√20x3-10x=28, to find the value of x. Ans. 4510661 5. Given 144x2 - (x2+20)+196x2-(x2+2·4)2 114, to find the value of x. Ans 7.123883 OF EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS. An exponential quantity is that which is to be raised to some unknown power, or which has a variable quantity for its index; as And an exponential equation is that which is formed between any expression of this kind and some other quartity, whose value is known; as Where it is to be observed, that the first of these equations, when converted into logarithms, is the same as x log. a=b, or x= log. b ; and the second equation x-a, is the same as x log. x=log. a. In the latter of which cases, the value of the unknown quantity may be determined, to any degree of exactness, by the method of double position, as follows: RULE. J.B. Norsworthị Find, by trial, as in the rule before laid down, twe numbers as near the number sought as possible, and substitute them in the given equation. x log. x= log. a, instead of the unknown quantity, noting the results obtained from each. Then, as the difference of these results is to the difference of the two assumed numbers, so is the difference between the true result, given in the question, and either of the former, to the correction of the number belonging to the result used; which correction being added to that number, when it is too little, or subtracted from it, when it is too great, will give the root required, nearly. And, if the number, thus determined, and the nearest of the two former, or any other that appears to be nearer, be taken as the assumed roots and the operation be repeated as before, a new value of the unknown quantity will be obtained still more correct than the first; and so on, proceeding in this manner, as far as may be thought necessary. EXAMPLES. 1. Given x=100, to find an approximate value of x. Here, by the above formula, we have x log x=log. 100—2. And since x is readily found, by a few trials, to be nearly in the middle between 3 and 4, but rather nearer the latter than the former, let 3.5 and 3.6 be taken for the two assumed numbers. Then log. 3.5.5440680, which, being multiplied by 3.5, gives 1.904238-first result ; And log. 3.6.5563025, which, being multiplied by 3.6, gives 2.002689 for the second result. For the first correction; which, taken from 3.6 leaves x=3.59727, nearly. And as this value is found, by trial, to be rather too small, let 3.59727 and 3.59728 be taken as the two assumed numbers. Then log. 3.59727.5559731, which being multiplied by 3.59727, gives 1.9999854 first result. = And log. 3.59728.5559743, which, being multiplied by 3.51728, gives 1.9999953 second result. .0000099 : .00001 :: .0000047: 00000474747 For the second correction; which, added to 3.59728, gives x 3.59728474747, extremely near the truth. 2. Given x2000, to find an approximate value of x. Ans. x 4.82782263 3. Given (6x)-96, to find the approximate value of x. Ans. x1.8826432 4. Given x=123456789, to find the value of x. Ans. 86400268 5. Given x*—x—(2x—x*)*, to find the value of x Ans. x 1.747933 OF THE BINOMIAL THEOREM. THE binomial theorem is a general algebraical expression, or formula, by which any power, or root of a given quantity, consisting of two terms, is expanded into a series; the form of which, as it was first proposed by Newton, being as follows: m m (p+rq)n=rn[1+=a+ m m-n m- 2n ce+ n 2n 3n term divided by the first, m n of the binomial, the second the index of the power, or root, and A, B, c, &c. the terms immediately preceding those in which they are first found, including their signs + or -. Which theorem may be readily applied to any particular case, by substituting the numbers, or letters, in the given example, for P, Q, m, and n, in either of the above formulæ, and then finding the result according to the rule (1). (1) This celebrated theorem, which is of the most extensive |