Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 111 views

    Solving Radical Equations

    Uploaded by

    Jewel Pott
    This document discusses how to solve radical equations by isolating the variable underneath the radical through algebraic manipulation. The general steps are to isolate the radical(s), raise both sides of the equation to the appropriate power to remove the radical, use algebraic techniques to isolate the variable, and check any solutions. Examples demonstrate solving equations with one or two radicals, as well as checking any solutions obtained. Key points are that squaring both sides when the index is even can introduce extraneous solutions, and the process may need to be repeated if radicals remain after the initial raising to a power.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Solving Radical Equations

    Uploaded by

    Jewel Pott
    111 views3 pages
    This document discusses how to solve radical equations by isolating the variable underneath the radical through algebraic manipulation. The general steps are to isolate the radical(s), raise both sides of the equation to the appropriate power to remove the radical, use algebraic techniques to isolate the variable, and check any solutions. Examples demonstrate solving equations with one or two radicals, as well as checking any solutions obtained. Key points are that squaring both sides when the index is even can introduce extraneous solutions, and the process may need to be repeated if radicals remain after the initial raising to a power.

    Original Title

    Solving_Radical_Equations

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document discusses how to solve radical equations by isolating the variable underneath the radical through algebraic manipulation. The general steps are to isolate the radical(s), raise both sides of the equation to the appropriate power to remove the radical, use algebraic techniques to isolate the variable, and check any solutions. Examples demonstrate solving equations with one or two radicals, as well as checking any solutions obtained. Key points are that squaring both sides when the index is even can introduce extraneous solutions, and the process may need to be repeated if radicals remain after the initial raising to a power.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    111 views3 pages

    Solving Radical Equations

    Uploaded by

    Jewel Pott
    This document discusses how to solve radical equations by isolating the variable underneath the radical through algebraic manipulation. The general steps are to isolate the radical(s), raise both sides of the equation to the appropriate power to remove the radical, use algebraic techniques to isolate the variable, and check any solutions. Examples demonstrate solving equations with one or two radicals, as well as checking any solutions obtained. Key points are that squaring both sides when the index is even can introduce extraneous solutions, and the process may need to be repeated if radicals remain after the initial raising to a power.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Solving Radical Equations

    
    Index or Root √ +  = 

    Radicand

    Solving equations requires isolation of the variable. Equations that contain a variable inside of a
    radical require algebraic manipulation of the equation so that the variable “comes out” from underneath the
    radical(s). This can be accomplished by raising both sides of the equation to the “nth” power, where n is the
    “index” or “root” of the radical. When the index is a 2 (i.e. a square root), we call this method “squaring both
    sides.” Sometimes the equation may contain more than one radical expression, and it is possible that the
    method may need to be used more than once to solve it.
    When the index is an even number (n = 2, 4, etc.) this method can introduce extraneous solutions, so it
    is necessary to verify that any answers obtained actually work. This can be accomplished by plugging the
    answer(s) back in to the original equation to see if the resulting values satisfy the equation. It is also good
    practice to check the solutions when there is an odd index to identify any algebra mistakes.

    General Solution Steps:

    Step 1. Isolate the Radical(s) and identify the index (n).


    Step 2. Raise both sides of the equation to the “nth” power.
    Step 3. Use algebraic techniques (i.e. factoring, combining like terms,…) to isolate the variable.
    Repeat Steps 1 and 2 if necessary.
    Step 4. Check answers. Eliminate any extraneous solutions from the final answer.

    Examples:

    a. √ − − = (Problem with 1 radical)


    Step 1: Isolate the Radical √5 −  = 3 Step 4: Check Answers
    
    Step 2: Square both Sides √5 −  = 3 5 − −4 − 3 = 0
    Step 3: Solve for “x”: 5− =9 √9 − 3 = 0
    − = 4 3−3=0
    = − 0=0 

    b. √  −  − √ +  = 0 (Problem with 2 radicals and no other “non-zero” terms)

    Step 1: Isolate the radicals √  − 2 = √ + 4


     
    Step 2: Square both Sides √  − 2 = √ + 4
    Step 3: Solve for “x”:  − 2 =  + 4
     −  − 6 = 0
     + 2 − 3 = 0
    = −  =
    1
    Step 4: Check Answers  −2 − 2 − −2 + 4 = 0 3 − 2 − 3 + 4 = 0

    √4 − 2 − √2 = 0 √9 − 2 − √7 = 0
    √2 − √2 = 0 √7 − √7 = 0
    0=0  0=0 

    c. √" − # − √" + $ + = (Problem with 2 radicals and another “non-zero” term)


    Step 1: Isolate the radicals so that they are on opposite sides of the “ = ” sign

    √% − 6 + 3 = √% + 9
     
    Step 2: Square both Sides √% − 6 + 3  = √% + 9

    This term will need


    to be “FOIL-ed”

    Step 3: Solve for “x”. Because a radical still remains during this process, repeat Steps 1 and 2.
    FOIL  √% − 6  ∙ √% − 6 + 3 √% − 6 + 3 √% − 6 + 33 = % + 9
    Combine like terms  % − 6 + 6√% − 6 + 9 = % + 9
    % + 3 + 6√% − 6 = % + 9
    Radical still remains  6√% − 6 = 6 Step 4: Check Answer
    (Repeat Step 1) √% − 6 = 1 √7 − 6 − √7 + 9 + 3 = 0
    
    (Repeat Step 2) √% − 6 = 1 √1 − √16 + 3 = 0
    %−6=1 1−4+3= 0
    "=( 0 = 0 


    d.  + √ − # =  (Problem with an “nth” root)
    )
    Step 1: Isolate the radical √ − 6 = −2 Step 4: Check Answer
    )
    Step 2: Raise both sides to the “nth” power (n = 3) −2 − 6 = −2

    ) * )
     √ − 6 = −2* √−8 = −2
    )
    Step 3: Solve for “x”:  − 6 = −8 −2−2−2 = −2

    = − −2 = −2 

    2
    Radical equations can also be re-written in their exponential form and then both sides raised to the
    reciprocal power. This method can be more efficient if the radicand is raised to a power as in the example
    below. (Note: the reciprocal power can be found by flipping the fractional power upside down.)
    )
    e.  − 2 = 4 (Problem with a radicand that is raised to a power)
    Option 1: (“nth” power) Option 2: (reciprocal power)
    )
    Step 1: Isolate the radical  − 2 = 4 Step 1: Isolate & Re-Write in Exponential Form
    ,
    Step 2: Raise both sides to the nth power  − 2) = 4
    )
    *
    -  − 2 . = 4* Step 2: Raise both sides to the reciprocal power

    ,  )
    
    Step 3: Solve for “x”:  − 2 = 64 / − 2 0 = 142,
    )

    ,
     − 2 = ± √64  − 24 = √4*

     = 2 ± 8 Step 3: Solve for “x”  − 2 = ±√64


    = −#  5  = 2 ± 8
    Step 4: A check shows that both solutions = −#  5
    work in the original equation.

    Radical Equations Practice Problems


    Problem Answer
    1. √ + 1 = 4  = 15
    2. √26 + 15 = 6 6 = 5 7869: 6 = −3 ;< =6>?98@<

    3. A − 4 = −5 No Solution

    4. √2 −  =  − 2  = 2 7869:  = 1 ;< =6>?98@<


    5. √<  − 1 = √5< − 5 < = 1, 4
    )
    6. √ = 4  = 64
    C
    7. 2A + 2 = 3 A = 39
    ) )
    8. √ + 1 = √  − 5  = −2, 3

    9. 2 − √ = √  = 1 7869:  = 4 ;< =6>?98@<


    10. √36 + 1 + √5 − 6 = 4 6 = 1, 5
    DE
    11. 8 − A = 2 + 2A + 3 A = −1 7869: A =
    F
    ;< =6>?98@<
    )
    12. √4  + 2 − 8 =   = −√2 , √2 , 4
    )
    13.  − 4 = 1  = 3, 5
    )
    14.  + 1* = 9  = −1 + 3 √3

    15. √< * = −4 No Solution


    3

    You might also like