southdakota: the algebra question is asking me to solve for x
9^x-1=4
Can you start it?
You will get to a point where 9^x = some number
Whenever you need to find the value of an exponent, you have to take the log of both sides.
Then you will need to use one of the log identities on this page to help solve it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_logarithmic_identities
Have a go it it from here.
+118653 
