Solve the logarithmic equation by $x$

Question

Solve the eqation for all real $x$: $\log_2(x^2+7)+\log_3(x+6)=6$.

What I tried: $\log_2(x^2+7)=a$ and $\log_3(x+6)=b$, then $a+b=6$ and $2^a=3^{2b}-4\cdot3^{b+1}+43$. But the problem is $a$ and $b$ don't have to be integers...

It is easy to show that for $x>3$ and $3>x\ge 0$ there are no soultions. Which leaves us only with the interval $0>x>-6$.

Answer 1

Hint: $x$ is a natural number. Also $log_2(x^2+7)$ and $log_3(x+6)$ are natural numbers. You will end up with $4+2=6$

Answer 2

Take derivative and consider where left part increases and decreases, where are extrema (at least approximately). After proving that it has a single root, we can guess that it is $x=3$.