Before using the one-to-one property, both sides must be written with the same:

1. The property compares exponents, not whole expressions. 2. That comparison is only valid when the bases agree. 3. We must be certain that both sides of the equation are written with the same base. 4. So the bases must match first. _Source: OpenStax Intermediate Algebra 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 10, sections 10.1-10.2 'Evaluate and Graph Exponential Functions'_