Solve LaTeX:  \displaystyle \log_{12}(x + 18)+\log_{12}(x + 55) = 3 .

Using logarithmic properties and expanding the argument gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle \log_{12}(x^{2} + 73 x + 990)=3 . Making both sides an exponent on the base gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle x^{2} + 73 x + 990=12^{3} . Expanding and setting equal to zero gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle x^{2} + 73 x - 738=0 . Factoring gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle \left(x - 9\right) \left(x + 82\right)=0 . Solving gives the two possible solutions LaTeX:  \displaystyle x = -82 and LaTeX:  \displaystyle x = 9 . The domain of the original is LaTeX:  \displaystyle \left(-18, \infty\right) \bigcap \left(-55, \infty\right)=\left(-18, \infty\right) . Checking if each possible solution is in the domain gives: LaTeX:  \displaystyle x = -82 is not a solution. LaTeX:  \displaystyle x=9 is a solution.