Maxima not finding solution to simultaneous equations when one exists

Question

I am using Maxima to solve the following equations simultaneously: $$ 990=e^x \tag{1}$$ $$ 590=e^{(x - 10y)} \tag{2}$$ however the command solve([990=%e^x, 590=%e^(x-10*y)], [x, y]) returns [] indicating Maxima couldn't find a solution.

For comparison, the command solve([x^2+y^2=8, y=x], [x,y]) returns [[x=2,y=2],[x=−2,y=−2]].

There is definitely a solution to the equations, so what could be stopping Maxima from finding it?

Thanks

Answer 1

It may be that you have not specified that $x$ and $y$ are real valued. There are many complex valued solutions to this system of equations.