Re: How to solve:

Narcoleptic Insomniac <i_have_narcoleptic_insomnia@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On Apr 12, 2008 11:14 PM CT, dd ss wrote:
>
> > Is it possible to solve either of these problems
> > without using a graphing calculator or computer?
> >
> >
> > 1. (X + 2)^X = 7
> >
> > 2. 3^X^X^X   =  11
>
> I suppose it all depend on what you mean by "solve"...
>
> Equations of this form do not usually possess "nice"
> solutions (i.e. solutions expressed in terms of usual
> elementary functions).  One common way to solve equations
> of this form is via the Lambert W-function:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambert_w_function
>
> http://mathworld.wolfram.com/LambertW-Function.html

But as best I can tell, neither of those specific equations can be solved
using the Lambert W function. OTOH, it could be used to solve simpler
equations such as X^X = 7 or 3^X^X = 11.

David