If 2^X = 5 and 3^X =40, what is X?

Question

The Multiplier Effect
SOURCE:  “The effect does not add onto itself, it multiplies. You see, two people who do this is not twice an effect on our world, but more like five times. And three are not like 15, but more like forty. This is the way webs change.” Stated by a Peruvian shaman, “Domano,” on p. 72 of “The Reluctant Shaman,” Kay Cordell Whitaker, HarperCollins, NY, 1991.

This is, obviously, a steep exponential, but I've been away from algebra for far too many years! :-)

   Only looking for extrapolated solutions greater than 3.

   "X" does not have to be an integer, but can be a decimal.

Answer 1

2^X = 5

3 ^X = 40

 

  2^X . 3 ^x = 6 ^X

 

   6^X = 200

 

   X log 6 = log200

 

 

   X = log 200/ log6 = 2.975

 

 Each equation could have been evaluated separately.