How many solutions are there for the equation $a^x = log_a x$, where $0 < a < 1$?











up vote
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down vote

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How many solutions are there for the equation $a^x = log_a x$, where $0 < a < 1$?




When I first saw this quiz for japanese high school students, I wondered there was only 1 solution for the equation for any $0 < a < 1$.



But I was wrong:



enter image description here



Then, for what values of $a$ such that $0 < a < 1$ are there 3 solutions for the equation?










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  • 1




    There 4 solutions for a=0.05
    – Atharva Kathale
    Dec 1 at 2:49






  • 2




    @AtharvaKathale There are only $3$, please check again. (See: wolframalpha.com/input/?i=(0.05)%5Ex%3Dlog_(0.05)x)
    – YiFan
    Dec 1 at 2:53








  • 1




    I have plotted several roots versus base values here: math.stackexchange.com/q/3023998/113708
    – jlandercy
    15 hours ago















up vote
6
down vote

favorite
1













How many solutions are there for the equation $a^x = log_a x$, where $0 < a < 1$?




When I first saw this quiz for japanese high school students, I wondered there was only 1 solution for the equation for any $0 < a < 1$.



But I was wrong:



enter image description here



Then, for what values of $a$ such that $0 < a < 1$ are there 3 solutions for the equation?










share|cite|improve this question




















  • 1




    There 4 solutions for a=0.05
    – Atharva Kathale
    Dec 1 at 2:49






  • 2




    @AtharvaKathale There are only $3$, please check again. (See: wolframalpha.com/input/?i=(0.05)%5Ex%3Dlog_(0.05)x)
    – YiFan
    Dec 1 at 2:53








  • 1




    I have plotted several roots versus base values here: math.stackexchange.com/q/3023998/113708
    – jlandercy
    15 hours ago













up vote
6
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
6
down vote

favorite
1






1






How many solutions are there for the equation $a^x = log_a x$, where $0 < a < 1$?




When I first saw this quiz for japanese high school students, I wondered there was only 1 solution for the equation for any $0 < a < 1$.



But I was wrong:



enter image description here



Then, for what values of $a$ such that $0 < a < 1$ are there 3 solutions for the equation?










share|cite|improve this question
















How many solutions are there for the equation $a^x = log_a x$, where $0 < a < 1$?




When I first saw this quiz for japanese high school students, I wondered there was only 1 solution for the equation for any $0 < a < 1$.



But I was wrong:



enter image description here



Then, for what values of $a$ such that $0 < a < 1$ are there 3 solutions for the equation?







logarithms recreational-mathematics






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share|cite|improve this question













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edited Dec 1 at 2:45

























asked Dec 1 at 2:12









tchappy ha

389110




389110








  • 1




    There 4 solutions for a=0.05
    – Atharva Kathale
    Dec 1 at 2:49






  • 2




    @AtharvaKathale There are only $3$, please check again. (See: wolframalpha.com/input/?i=(0.05)%5Ex%3Dlog_(0.05)x)
    – YiFan
    Dec 1 at 2:53








  • 1




    I have plotted several roots versus base values here: math.stackexchange.com/q/3023998/113708
    – jlandercy
    15 hours ago














  • 1




    There 4 solutions for a=0.05
    – Atharva Kathale
    Dec 1 at 2:49






  • 2




    @AtharvaKathale There are only $3$, please check again. (See: wolframalpha.com/input/?i=(0.05)%5Ex%3Dlog_(0.05)x)
    – YiFan
    Dec 1 at 2:53








  • 1




    I have plotted several roots versus base values here: math.stackexchange.com/q/3023998/113708
    – jlandercy
    15 hours ago








1




1




There 4 solutions for a=0.05
– Atharva Kathale
Dec 1 at 2:49




There 4 solutions for a=0.05
– Atharva Kathale
Dec 1 at 2:49




2




2




@AtharvaKathale There are only $3$, please check again. (See: wolframalpha.com/input/?i=(0.05)%5Ex%3Dlog_(0.05)x)
– YiFan
Dec 1 at 2:53






@AtharvaKathale There are only $3$, please check again. (See: wolframalpha.com/input/?i=(0.05)%5Ex%3Dlog_(0.05)x)
– YiFan
Dec 1 at 2:53






1




1




I have plotted several roots versus base values here: math.stackexchange.com/q/3023998/113708
– jlandercy
15 hours ago




I have plotted several roots versus base values here: math.stackexchange.com/q/3023998/113708
– jlandercy
15 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
3
down vote



accepted










Too complex for a quiz.



Consider that you look for the zero's of function
$$f(x)=a^x-frac{log (x)}{log (a)}$$ Its derivative is given by
$$f'(x)=a^x log (a)-frac{1}{x log (a)}$$ this cancels at two points given by
$$x_1=frac{W_0left(frac{1}{log (a)}right)}{log (a)}qquad text{and}qquad x_2=frac{W_{-1}left(frac{1}{log (a)}right)}{log (a)}$$ where appears Lambert function. In the real domain, we need $a lt e^{-e}$. When this is the case, $f(x_1)>0$ and $f(x_2) < 0$ and in this range $lim_{xto 0} , f(x)=infty$. So, for $0 < a < e^{-e}$, there are three roots (the first one between $0$ and $x_1$; the second one between $x_1$ and $x_2$; the third one above $x_2$); for $a=e^{-e}$, there is a triple root and for $a>e^{-e}$, there is a single root.



Edit



Since this is an interesting numerical problem, I give you below the three roots for a faw values of $a$
$$left(
begin{array}{cccc}
a & text{first root} & text{second root} & text{third root} \
0.00500 & 0.005883 & 0.256675 & 0.969312 \
0.01000 & 0.013093 & 0.277987 & 0.941488 \
0.01500 & 0.021585 & 0.292615 & 0.913335 \
0.02000 & 0.031462 & 0.304205 & 0.884194 \
0.02500 & 0.042894 & 0.314008 & 0.853652 \
0.03000 & 0.056133 & 0.322619 & 0.821327 \
0.03500 & 0.071532 & 0.330371 & 0.786783 \
0.04000 & 0.089601 & 0.337471 & 0.749451 \
0.04500 & 0.111117 & 0.344056 & 0.708514 \
0.05000 & 0.137359 & 0.350225 & 0.662661 \
0.05500 & 0.170721 & 0.356048 & 0.609472 \
0.06000 & 0.216898 & 0.361580 & 0.543230 \
0.06500 & 0.303124 & 0.366862 & 0.436682 \
0.06510 & 0.306379 & 0.366965 & 0.433018 \
0.06520 & 0.309837 & 0.367069 & 0.429151 \
0.06530 & 0.313538 & 0.367172 & 0.425041 \
0.06540 & 0.317536 & 0.367275 & 0.420633 \
0.06550 & 0.321911 & 0.367378 & 0.415848 \
0.06560 & 0.326787 & 0.367481 & 0.410562 \
0.06570 & 0.332376 & 0.367584 & 0.404564 \
0.06580 & 0.339098 & 0.367686 & 0.397432 \
0.06590 & 0.348099 & 0.367789 & 0.388021 \
0.06591 & 0.349246 & 0.367799 & 0.386833 \
0.06592 & 0.350471 & 0.367810 & 0.385567 \
0.06593 & 0.351791 & 0.367820 & 0.384206 \
0.06594 & 0.353233 & 0.367830 & 0.382723 \
0.06595 & 0.354836 & 0.367840 & 0.381079 \
0.06596 & 0.356672 & 0.367851 & 0.379202 \
0.06597 & 0.358881 & 0.367861 & 0.376952 \
0.06598 & 0.361865 & 0.367871 & 0.373927
end{array}
right)$$



For $a=e^{-e}$, the triple root is $0.367882$.



For the case of a single root
$$left(
begin{array}{cc}
a & text{ root} \
0.10 & 0.399013 \
0.15 & 0.436709 \
0.20 & 0.469622 \
0.25 & 0.500000 \
0.30 & 0.528956 \
0.35 & 0.557154 \
0.40 & 0.585043 \
0.45 & 0.612961 \
0.50 & 0.641186 \
0.55 & 0.669965 \
0.60 & 0.699535 \
0.65 & 0.730133 \
0.70 & 0.762013 \
0.75 & 0.795457 \
0.80 & 0.830785 \
0.85 & 0.868378 \
0.90 & 0.908699 \
0.95 & 0.952326
end{array}
right)$$






share|cite|improve this answer























  • Thank you very much, Claude Leibovici. My imperfect solution agrees with your solution. I guess your solution is perfect, but unfortunately, I don't know Lambert function at all.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago








  • 1




    @tchappyha. It is a fantastic function with a lot of applications. Search on this site (MSE) and have a look on Wikipedia.
    – Claude Leibovici
    2 days ago










  • Thank you very much for the information, Claude Leibovici.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago










  • IMO this post should be the answer, nice shot. Could you detail in what sense root is triple when $x=e^{-e}$ (I guess it is a kind of multiplicity such as for polynomials)? Thank you.
    – jlandercy
    2 days ago










  • Thank you very much again for computation, Claude Leibovici.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago


















up vote
2
down vote













For convenience's sake set $a=1/b$ so that $bin(1,infty)$. The equation becomes solving



$$ b^{-x}=-log_b(x).$$



Let us restrict attention to $x>0$, because that's where all the roots lie (if any). In addition the LHS is always positive, hence the RHS is as well, so any root is in $(0,1)$. Now rewrite the equation in its equivalent form,



$$x=frac1{b^{b^{-x}}}.$$



Proceed to study the expression on the right, and consider its gradient at its point of intersection with $y=x$ (the one which is "always there'). Hence when the gradient is greater than $1$, then the graph had to "cross over" the line $y=x$, and then "cross back"; there are three solutions. Otherwise, there is one unique solution. For a visualisation, check this Desmos plot. Unfortunately, there's no nice expression for the value beyond which $b$ has three solutions, but the numerical value is around $sim15.16$.






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  • 1




    Could you try for a=0.05
    – Atharva Kathale
    Dec 1 at 2:52










  • Thank you very much, YiFan.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago











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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
3
down vote



accepted










Too complex for a quiz.



Consider that you look for the zero's of function
$$f(x)=a^x-frac{log (x)}{log (a)}$$ Its derivative is given by
$$f'(x)=a^x log (a)-frac{1}{x log (a)}$$ this cancels at two points given by
$$x_1=frac{W_0left(frac{1}{log (a)}right)}{log (a)}qquad text{and}qquad x_2=frac{W_{-1}left(frac{1}{log (a)}right)}{log (a)}$$ where appears Lambert function. In the real domain, we need $a lt e^{-e}$. When this is the case, $f(x_1)>0$ and $f(x_2) < 0$ and in this range $lim_{xto 0} , f(x)=infty$. So, for $0 < a < e^{-e}$, there are three roots (the first one between $0$ and $x_1$; the second one between $x_1$ and $x_2$; the third one above $x_2$); for $a=e^{-e}$, there is a triple root and for $a>e^{-e}$, there is a single root.



Edit



Since this is an interesting numerical problem, I give you below the three roots for a faw values of $a$
$$left(
begin{array}{cccc}
a & text{first root} & text{second root} & text{third root} \
0.00500 & 0.005883 & 0.256675 & 0.969312 \
0.01000 & 0.013093 & 0.277987 & 0.941488 \
0.01500 & 0.021585 & 0.292615 & 0.913335 \
0.02000 & 0.031462 & 0.304205 & 0.884194 \
0.02500 & 0.042894 & 0.314008 & 0.853652 \
0.03000 & 0.056133 & 0.322619 & 0.821327 \
0.03500 & 0.071532 & 0.330371 & 0.786783 \
0.04000 & 0.089601 & 0.337471 & 0.749451 \
0.04500 & 0.111117 & 0.344056 & 0.708514 \
0.05000 & 0.137359 & 0.350225 & 0.662661 \
0.05500 & 0.170721 & 0.356048 & 0.609472 \
0.06000 & 0.216898 & 0.361580 & 0.543230 \
0.06500 & 0.303124 & 0.366862 & 0.436682 \
0.06510 & 0.306379 & 0.366965 & 0.433018 \
0.06520 & 0.309837 & 0.367069 & 0.429151 \
0.06530 & 0.313538 & 0.367172 & 0.425041 \
0.06540 & 0.317536 & 0.367275 & 0.420633 \
0.06550 & 0.321911 & 0.367378 & 0.415848 \
0.06560 & 0.326787 & 0.367481 & 0.410562 \
0.06570 & 0.332376 & 0.367584 & 0.404564 \
0.06580 & 0.339098 & 0.367686 & 0.397432 \
0.06590 & 0.348099 & 0.367789 & 0.388021 \
0.06591 & 0.349246 & 0.367799 & 0.386833 \
0.06592 & 0.350471 & 0.367810 & 0.385567 \
0.06593 & 0.351791 & 0.367820 & 0.384206 \
0.06594 & 0.353233 & 0.367830 & 0.382723 \
0.06595 & 0.354836 & 0.367840 & 0.381079 \
0.06596 & 0.356672 & 0.367851 & 0.379202 \
0.06597 & 0.358881 & 0.367861 & 0.376952 \
0.06598 & 0.361865 & 0.367871 & 0.373927
end{array}
right)$$



For $a=e^{-e}$, the triple root is $0.367882$.



For the case of a single root
$$left(
begin{array}{cc}
a & text{ root} \
0.10 & 0.399013 \
0.15 & 0.436709 \
0.20 & 0.469622 \
0.25 & 0.500000 \
0.30 & 0.528956 \
0.35 & 0.557154 \
0.40 & 0.585043 \
0.45 & 0.612961 \
0.50 & 0.641186 \
0.55 & 0.669965 \
0.60 & 0.699535 \
0.65 & 0.730133 \
0.70 & 0.762013 \
0.75 & 0.795457 \
0.80 & 0.830785 \
0.85 & 0.868378 \
0.90 & 0.908699 \
0.95 & 0.952326
end{array}
right)$$






share|cite|improve this answer























  • Thank you very much, Claude Leibovici. My imperfect solution agrees with your solution. I guess your solution is perfect, but unfortunately, I don't know Lambert function at all.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago








  • 1




    @tchappyha. It is a fantastic function with a lot of applications. Search on this site (MSE) and have a look on Wikipedia.
    – Claude Leibovici
    2 days ago










  • Thank you very much for the information, Claude Leibovici.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago










  • IMO this post should be the answer, nice shot. Could you detail in what sense root is triple when $x=e^{-e}$ (I guess it is a kind of multiplicity such as for polynomials)? Thank you.
    – jlandercy
    2 days ago










  • Thank you very much again for computation, Claude Leibovici.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago















up vote
3
down vote



accepted










Too complex for a quiz.



Consider that you look for the zero's of function
$$f(x)=a^x-frac{log (x)}{log (a)}$$ Its derivative is given by
$$f'(x)=a^x log (a)-frac{1}{x log (a)}$$ this cancels at two points given by
$$x_1=frac{W_0left(frac{1}{log (a)}right)}{log (a)}qquad text{and}qquad x_2=frac{W_{-1}left(frac{1}{log (a)}right)}{log (a)}$$ where appears Lambert function. In the real domain, we need $a lt e^{-e}$. When this is the case, $f(x_1)>0$ and $f(x_2) < 0$ and in this range $lim_{xto 0} , f(x)=infty$. So, for $0 < a < e^{-e}$, there are three roots (the first one between $0$ and $x_1$; the second one between $x_1$ and $x_2$; the third one above $x_2$); for $a=e^{-e}$, there is a triple root and for $a>e^{-e}$, there is a single root.



Edit



Since this is an interesting numerical problem, I give you below the three roots for a faw values of $a$
$$left(
begin{array}{cccc}
a & text{first root} & text{second root} & text{third root} \
0.00500 & 0.005883 & 0.256675 & 0.969312 \
0.01000 & 0.013093 & 0.277987 & 0.941488 \
0.01500 & 0.021585 & 0.292615 & 0.913335 \
0.02000 & 0.031462 & 0.304205 & 0.884194 \
0.02500 & 0.042894 & 0.314008 & 0.853652 \
0.03000 & 0.056133 & 0.322619 & 0.821327 \
0.03500 & 0.071532 & 0.330371 & 0.786783 \
0.04000 & 0.089601 & 0.337471 & 0.749451 \
0.04500 & 0.111117 & 0.344056 & 0.708514 \
0.05000 & 0.137359 & 0.350225 & 0.662661 \
0.05500 & 0.170721 & 0.356048 & 0.609472 \
0.06000 & 0.216898 & 0.361580 & 0.543230 \
0.06500 & 0.303124 & 0.366862 & 0.436682 \
0.06510 & 0.306379 & 0.366965 & 0.433018 \
0.06520 & 0.309837 & 0.367069 & 0.429151 \
0.06530 & 0.313538 & 0.367172 & 0.425041 \
0.06540 & 0.317536 & 0.367275 & 0.420633 \
0.06550 & 0.321911 & 0.367378 & 0.415848 \
0.06560 & 0.326787 & 0.367481 & 0.410562 \
0.06570 & 0.332376 & 0.367584 & 0.404564 \
0.06580 & 0.339098 & 0.367686 & 0.397432 \
0.06590 & 0.348099 & 0.367789 & 0.388021 \
0.06591 & 0.349246 & 0.367799 & 0.386833 \
0.06592 & 0.350471 & 0.367810 & 0.385567 \
0.06593 & 0.351791 & 0.367820 & 0.384206 \
0.06594 & 0.353233 & 0.367830 & 0.382723 \
0.06595 & 0.354836 & 0.367840 & 0.381079 \
0.06596 & 0.356672 & 0.367851 & 0.379202 \
0.06597 & 0.358881 & 0.367861 & 0.376952 \
0.06598 & 0.361865 & 0.367871 & 0.373927
end{array}
right)$$



For $a=e^{-e}$, the triple root is $0.367882$.



For the case of a single root
$$left(
begin{array}{cc}
a & text{ root} \
0.10 & 0.399013 \
0.15 & 0.436709 \
0.20 & 0.469622 \
0.25 & 0.500000 \
0.30 & 0.528956 \
0.35 & 0.557154 \
0.40 & 0.585043 \
0.45 & 0.612961 \
0.50 & 0.641186 \
0.55 & 0.669965 \
0.60 & 0.699535 \
0.65 & 0.730133 \
0.70 & 0.762013 \
0.75 & 0.795457 \
0.80 & 0.830785 \
0.85 & 0.868378 \
0.90 & 0.908699 \
0.95 & 0.952326
end{array}
right)$$






share|cite|improve this answer























  • Thank you very much, Claude Leibovici. My imperfect solution agrees with your solution. I guess your solution is perfect, but unfortunately, I don't know Lambert function at all.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago








  • 1




    @tchappyha. It is a fantastic function with a lot of applications. Search on this site (MSE) and have a look on Wikipedia.
    – Claude Leibovici
    2 days ago










  • Thank you very much for the information, Claude Leibovici.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago










  • IMO this post should be the answer, nice shot. Could you detail in what sense root is triple when $x=e^{-e}$ (I guess it is a kind of multiplicity such as for polynomials)? Thank you.
    – jlandercy
    2 days ago










  • Thank you very much again for computation, Claude Leibovici.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago













up vote
3
down vote



accepted







up vote
3
down vote



accepted






Too complex for a quiz.



Consider that you look for the zero's of function
$$f(x)=a^x-frac{log (x)}{log (a)}$$ Its derivative is given by
$$f'(x)=a^x log (a)-frac{1}{x log (a)}$$ this cancels at two points given by
$$x_1=frac{W_0left(frac{1}{log (a)}right)}{log (a)}qquad text{and}qquad x_2=frac{W_{-1}left(frac{1}{log (a)}right)}{log (a)}$$ where appears Lambert function. In the real domain, we need $a lt e^{-e}$. When this is the case, $f(x_1)>0$ and $f(x_2) < 0$ and in this range $lim_{xto 0} , f(x)=infty$. So, for $0 < a < e^{-e}$, there are three roots (the first one between $0$ and $x_1$; the second one between $x_1$ and $x_2$; the third one above $x_2$); for $a=e^{-e}$, there is a triple root and for $a>e^{-e}$, there is a single root.



Edit



Since this is an interesting numerical problem, I give you below the three roots for a faw values of $a$
$$left(
begin{array}{cccc}
a & text{first root} & text{second root} & text{third root} \
0.00500 & 0.005883 & 0.256675 & 0.969312 \
0.01000 & 0.013093 & 0.277987 & 0.941488 \
0.01500 & 0.021585 & 0.292615 & 0.913335 \
0.02000 & 0.031462 & 0.304205 & 0.884194 \
0.02500 & 0.042894 & 0.314008 & 0.853652 \
0.03000 & 0.056133 & 0.322619 & 0.821327 \
0.03500 & 0.071532 & 0.330371 & 0.786783 \
0.04000 & 0.089601 & 0.337471 & 0.749451 \
0.04500 & 0.111117 & 0.344056 & 0.708514 \
0.05000 & 0.137359 & 0.350225 & 0.662661 \
0.05500 & 0.170721 & 0.356048 & 0.609472 \
0.06000 & 0.216898 & 0.361580 & 0.543230 \
0.06500 & 0.303124 & 0.366862 & 0.436682 \
0.06510 & 0.306379 & 0.366965 & 0.433018 \
0.06520 & 0.309837 & 0.367069 & 0.429151 \
0.06530 & 0.313538 & 0.367172 & 0.425041 \
0.06540 & 0.317536 & 0.367275 & 0.420633 \
0.06550 & 0.321911 & 0.367378 & 0.415848 \
0.06560 & 0.326787 & 0.367481 & 0.410562 \
0.06570 & 0.332376 & 0.367584 & 0.404564 \
0.06580 & 0.339098 & 0.367686 & 0.397432 \
0.06590 & 0.348099 & 0.367789 & 0.388021 \
0.06591 & 0.349246 & 0.367799 & 0.386833 \
0.06592 & 0.350471 & 0.367810 & 0.385567 \
0.06593 & 0.351791 & 0.367820 & 0.384206 \
0.06594 & 0.353233 & 0.367830 & 0.382723 \
0.06595 & 0.354836 & 0.367840 & 0.381079 \
0.06596 & 0.356672 & 0.367851 & 0.379202 \
0.06597 & 0.358881 & 0.367861 & 0.376952 \
0.06598 & 0.361865 & 0.367871 & 0.373927
end{array}
right)$$



For $a=e^{-e}$, the triple root is $0.367882$.



For the case of a single root
$$left(
begin{array}{cc}
a & text{ root} \
0.10 & 0.399013 \
0.15 & 0.436709 \
0.20 & 0.469622 \
0.25 & 0.500000 \
0.30 & 0.528956 \
0.35 & 0.557154 \
0.40 & 0.585043 \
0.45 & 0.612961 \
0.50 & 0.641186 \
0.55 & 0.669965 \
0.60 & 0.699535 \
0.65 & 0.730133 \
0.70 & 0.762013 \
0.75 & 0.795457 \
0.80 & 0.830785 \
0.85 & 0.868378 \
0.90 & 0.908699 \
0.95 & 0.952326
end{array}
right)$$






share|cite|improve this answer














Too complex for a quiz.



Consider that you look for the zero's of function
$$f(x)=a^x-frac{log (x)}{log (a)}$$ Its derivative is given by
$$f'(x)=a^x log (a)-frac{1}{x log (a)}$$ this cancels at two points given by
$$x_1=frac{W_0left(frac{1}{log (a)}right)}{log (a)}qquad text{and}qquad x_2=frac{W_{-1}left(frac{1}{log (a)}right)}{log (a)}$$ where appears Lambert function. In the real domain, we need $a lt e^{-e}$. When this is the case, $f(x_1)>0$ and $f(x_2) < 0$ and in this range $lim_{xto 0} , f(x)=infty$. So, for $0 < a < e^{-e}$, there are three roots (the first one between $0$ and $x_1$; the second one between $x_1$ and $x_2$; the third one above $x_2$); for $a=e^{-e}$, there is a triple root and for $a>e^{-e}$, there is a single root.



Edit



Since this is an interesting numerical problem, I give you below the three roots for a faw values of $a$
$$left(
begin{array}{cccc}
a & text{first root} & text{second root} & text{third root} \
0.00500 & 0.005883 & 0.256675 & 0.969312 \
0.01000 & 0.013093 & 0.277987 & 0.941488 \
0.01500 & 0.021585 & 0.292615 & 0.913335 \
0.02000 & 0.031462 & 0.304205 & 0.884194 \
0.02500 & 0.042894 & 0.314008 & 0.853652 \
0.03000 & 0.056133 & 0.322619 & 0.821327 \
0.03500 & 0.071532 & 0.330371 & 0.786783 \
0.04000 & 0.089601 & 0.337471 & 0.749451 \
0.04500 & 0.111117 & 0.344056 & 0.708514 \
0.05000 & 0.137359 & 0.350225 & 0.662661 \
0.05500 & 0.170721 & 0.356048 & 0.609472 \
0.06000 & 0.216898 & 0.361580 & 0.543230 \
0.06500 & 0.303124 & 0.366862 & 0.436682 \
0.06510 & 0.306379 & 0.366965 & 0.433018 \
0.06520 & 0.309837 & 0.367069 & 0.429151 \
0.06530 & 0.313538 & 0.367172 & 0.425041 \
0.06540 & 0.317536 & 0.367275 & 0.420633 \
0.06550 & 0.321911 & 0.367378 & 0.415848 \
0.06560 & 0.326787 & 0.367481 & 0.410562 \
0.06570 & 0.332376 & 0.367584 & 0.404564 \
0.06580 & 0.339098 & 0.367686 & 0.397432 \
0.06590 & 0.348099 & 0.367789 & 0.388021 \
0.06591 & 0.349246 & 0.367799 & 0.386833 \
0.06592 & 0.350471 & 0.367810 & 0.385567 \
0.06593 & 0.351791 & 0.367820 & 0.384206 \
0.06594 & 0.353233 & 0.367830 & 0.382723 \
0.06595 & 0.354836 & 0.367840 & 0.381079 \
0.06596 & 0.356672 & 0.367851 & 0.379202 \
0.06597 & 0.358881 & 0.367861 & 0.376952 \
0.06598 & 0.361865 & 0.367871 & 0.373927
end{array}
right)$$



For $a=e^{-e}$, the triple root is $0.367882$.



For the case of a single root
$$left(
begin{array}{cc}
a & text{ root} \
0.10 & 0.399013 \
0.15 & 0.436709 \
0.20 & 0.469622 \
0.25 & 0.500000 \
0.30 & 0.528956 \
0.35 & 0.557154 \
0.40 & 0.585043 \
0.45 & 0.612961 \
0.50 & 0.641186 \
0.55 & 0.669965 \
0.60 & 0.699535 \
0.65 & 0.730133 \
0.70 & 0.762013 \
0.75 & 0.795457 \
0.80 & 0.830785 \
0.85 & 0.868378 \
0.90 & 0.908699 \
0.95 & 0.952326
end{array}
right)$$







share|cite|improve this answer














share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer








edited 2 days ago

























answered 2 days ago









Claude Leibovici

117k1156131




117k1156131












  • Thank you very much, Claude Leibovici. My imperfect solution agrees with your solution. I guess your solution is perfect, but unfortunately, I don't know Lambert function at all.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago








  • 1




    @tchappyha. It is a fantastic function with a lot of applications. Search on this site (MSE) and have a look on Wikipedia.
    – Claude Leibovici
    2 days ago










  • Thank you very much for the information, Claude Leibovici.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago










  • IMO this post should be the answer, nice shot. Could you detail in what sense root is triple when $x=e^{-e}$ (I guess it is a kind of multiplicity such as for polynomials)? Thank you.
    – jlandercy
    2 days ago










  • Thank you very much again for computation, Claude Leibovici.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago


















  • Thank you very much, Claude Leibovici. My imperfect solution agrees with your solution. I guess your solution is perfect, but unfortunately, I don't know Lambert function at all.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago








  • 1




    @tchappyha. It is a fantastic function with a lot of applications. Search on this site (MSE) and have a look on Wikipedia.
    – Claude Leibovici
    2 days ago










  • Thank you very much for the information, Claude Leibovici.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago










  • IMO this post should be the answer, nice shot. Could you detail in what sense root is triple when $x=e^{-e}$ (I guess it is a kind of multiplicity such as for polynomials)? Thank you.
    – jlandercy
    2 days ago










  • Thank you very much again for computation, Claude Leibovici.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago
















Thank you very much, Claude Leibovici. My imperfect solution agrees with your solution. I guess your solution is perfect, but unfortunately, I don't know Lambert function at all.
– tchappy ha
2 days ago






Thank you very much, Claude Leibovici. My imperfect solution agrees with your solution. I guess your solution is perfect, but unfortunately, I don't know Lambert function at all.
– tchappy ha
2 days ago






1




1




@tchappyha. It is a fantastic function with a lot of applications. Search on this site (MSE) and have a look on Wikipedia.
– Claude Leibovici
2 days ago




@tchappyha. It is a fantastic function with a lot of applications. Search on this site (MSE) and have a look on Wikipedia.
– Claude Leibovici
2 days ago












Thank you very much for the information, Claude Leibovici.
– tchappy ha
2 days ago




Thank you very much for the information, Claude Leibovici.
– tchappy ha
2 days ago












IMO this post should be the answer, nice shot. Could you detail in what sense root is triple when $x=e^{-e}$ (I guess it is a kind of multiplicity such as for polynomials)? Thank you.
– jlandercy
2 days ago




IMO this post should be the answer, nice shot. Could you detail in what sense root is triple when $x=e^{-e}$ (I guess it is a kind of multiplicity such as for polynomials)? Thank you.
– jlandercy
2 days ago












Thank you very much again for computation, Claude Leibovici.
– tchappy ha
2 days ago




Thank you very much again for computation, Claude Leibovici.
– tchappy ha
2 days ago










up vote
2
down vote













For convenience's sake set $a=1/b$ so that $bin(1,infty)$. The equation becomes solving



$$ b^{-x}=-log_b(x).$$



Let us restrict attention to $x>0$, because that's where all the roots lie (if any). In addition the LHS is always positive, hence the RHS is as well, so any root is in $(0,1)$. Now rewrite the equation in its equivalent form,



$$x=frac1{b^{b^{-x}}}.$$



Proceed to study the expression on the right, and consider its gradient at its point of intersection with $y=x$ (the one which is "always there'). Hence when the gradient is greater than $1$, then the graph had to "cross over" the line $y=x$, and then "cross back"; there are three solutions. Otherwise, there is one unique solution. For a visualisation, check this Desmos plot. Unfortunately, there's no nice expression for the value beyond which $b$ has three solutions, but the numerical value is around $sim15.16$.






share|cite|improve this answer



















  • 1




    Could you try for a=0.05
    – Atharva Kathale
    Dec 1 at 2:52










  • Thank you very much, YiFan.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago















up vote
2
down vote













For convenience's sake set $a=1/b$ so that $bin(1,infty)$. The equation becomes solving



$$ b^{-x}=-log_b(x).$$



Let us restrict attention to $x>0$, because that's where all the roots lie (if any). In addition the LHS is always positive, hence the RHS is as well, so any root is in $(0,1)$. Now rewrite the equation in its equivalent form,



$$x=frac1{b^{b^{-x}}}.$$



Proceed to study the expression on the right, and consider its gradient at its point of intersection with $y=x$ (the one which is "always there'). Hence when the gradient is greater than $1$, then the graph had to "cross over" the line $y=x$, and then "cross back"; there are three solutions. Otherwise, there is one unique solution. For a visualisation, check this Desmos plot. Unfortunately, there's no nice expression for the value beyond which $b$ has three solutions, but the numerical value is around $sim15.16$.






share|cite|improve this answer



















  • 1




    Could you try for a=0.05
    – Atharva Kathale
    Dec 1 at 2:52










  • Thank you very much, YiFan.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago













up vote
2
down vote










up vote
2
down vote









For convenience's sake set $a=1/b$ so that $bin(1,infty)$. The equation becomes solving



$$ b^{-x}=-log_b(x).$$



Let us restrict attention to $x>0$, because that's where all the roots lie (if any). In addition the LHS is always positive, hence the RHS is as well, so any root is in $(0,1)$. Now rewrite the equation in its equivalent form,



$$x=frac1{b^{b^{-x}}}.$$



Proceed to study the expression on the right, and consider its gradient at its point of intersection with $y=x$ (the one which is "always there'). Hence when the gradient is greater than $1$, then the graph had to "cross over" the line $y=x$, and then "cross back"; there are three solutions. Otherwise, there is one unique solution. For a visualisation, check this Desmos plot. Unfortunately, there's no nice expression for the value beyond which $b$ has three solutions, but the numerical value is around $sim15.16$.






share|cite|improve this answer














For convenience's sake set $a=1/b$ so that $bin(1,infty)$. The equation becomes solving



$$ b^{-x}=-log_b(x).$$



Let us restrict attention to $x>0$, because that's where all the roots lie (if any). In addition the LHS is always positive, hence the RHS is as well, so any root is in $(0,1)$. Now rewrite the equation in its equivalent form,



$$x=frac1{b^{b^{-x}}}.$$



Proceed to study the expression on the right, and consider its gradient at its point of intersection with $y=x$ (the one which is "always there'). Hence when the gradient is greater than $1$, then the graph had to "cross over" the line $y=x$, and then "cross back"; there are three solutions. Otherwise, there is one unique solution. For a visualisation, check this Desmos plot. Unfortunately, there's no nice expression for the value beyond which $b$ has three solutions, but the numerical value is around $sim15.16$.







share|cite|improve this answer














share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer








edited Dec 1 at 3:00

























answered Dec 1 at 2:50









YiFan

1,7741315




1,7741315








  • 1




    Could you try for a=0.05
    – Atharva Kathale
    Dec 1 at 2:52










  • Thank you very much, YiFan.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago














  • 1




    Could you try for a=0.05
    – Atharva Kathale
    Dec 1 at 2:52










  • Thank you very much, YiFan.
    – tchappy ha
    2 days ago








1




1




Could you try for a=0.05
– Atharva Kathale
Dec 1 at 2:52




Could you try for a=0.05
– Atharva Kathale
Dec 1 at 2:52












Thank you very much, YiFan.
– tchappy ha
2 days ago




Thank you very much, YiFan.
– tchappy ha
2 days ago


















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