[tex]\it 4^x+4^{-x} =23\ \ \ \ (*)
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(2^x+2^{-x})^2 = 2^{2x} + 2\cdot2^x\cdot2^{-x} +2^{-2x} = 4^x+2^{1+x-x} +\dfrac{1}{2^{2x}} =
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= 4^x+2+\dfrac{1}{4^x} = 4^x+4^{-x} +2\ \stackrel{(*)}{=}\ 23+2 = 25 \Longrightarrow
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\Longrightarrow \sqrt{(2^x + 2^{-x})^2} = \sqrt{25} \Longrightarrow 2^x+2^{-x} = 5[/tex]