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Solving Radical Equations: Examples & Steps

1. The document outlines the steps to solve a radical equation: 1) isolate the term with radicals on one side, 2) raise both sides to the power of the radical index, 3) solve the resulting equation, and 4) check if solutions are extraneous. 2. An example problem is shown with the steps applied: √2x − 5 = 3. Isolate the radical term, raise both sides to the second power, solve the resulting equation, and verify the solution is valid. 3. A second example problem is shown: √5m + 1 = −4. Again, the steps are applied and an extraneous solution is identified during verification.

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Alyanna Egualan
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49 views2 pages

Solving Radical Equations: Examples & Steps

1. The document outlines the steps to solve a radical equation: 1) isolate the term with radicals on one side, 2) raise both sides to the power of the radical index, 3) solve the resulting equation, and 4) check if solutions are extraneous. 2. An example problem is shown with the steps applied: √2x − 5 = 3. Isolate the radical term, raise both sides to the second power, solve the resulting equation, and verify the solution is valid. 3. A second example problem is shown: √5m + 1 = −4. Again, the steps are applied and an extraneous solution is identified during verification.

Uploaded by

Alyanna Egualan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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#1

Steps in solving a radical equation


1: isolate the term with radicals on one side of the
equation.
2: raise both sides of the equation by the same power as
the index.
3: solve the resulting equation.
4: check if the root obtained is extraneous (extraneous
solution (or spurious solution) is a solution, such as
that to an equation, that emerges from the process of
solving the problem but is not a valid solution to the
problem.)

#2 (4.39) – example 1
√2𝑥 − 5 = 3
√2𝑥 = 3 + 5 isolate the term with radicals (step 1).
√2x = 8 simplify 3 + 5
(√2x)2 = (8)2 Raise both sides by 2 since the index of the term with radicals is 2 (step 2).
2x = 64 cancel the index and the exponent and evaluate 82 .
2x 64
2
= 2
Divide both sides of the equation by 2.
X = 32 simplify the equation

It is important to check if the root obtained is an extraneous root. It can be verified by substituting the
obtained root to the original equation.

Checking: √2𝑥 − 5 = 3 get the original equation


√2(32) − 5 = 3 multiply 2 and 32
√64 − 5 = 3 Get the square root of 64 then, minus
3=3

Since the equation resulted in a true statement, the solution set of the given radical equation √𝟐𝒙 − 𝟓 =
𝟑 𝒊𝒔 (𝟑𝟐).

#3 (4.40) example 2

√5𝑚 + 1 = −4 Since the terms with radicals are already isolated. Raise both sides by 2 since the
index of the terms with radicals is 2.
√5𝑚 + 1 )2 = (−4)2 Cancel the index and the exponent and evaluate (−4)2 .
5𝑚 + 1 = 16 Transpose 1 to the other side.
5𝑚 = 16 − 1 Simplify 16 – 1.
5𝑚 = 15
5𝑚 15
= Divide both sides of the equation by 5.
5 5
𝑚=3

Checking: √5𝑚 + 1 = −4 get the original equation


√5(3) + 1 = −4 Change m to 3 then, multiply.
√15 + 1 = −4 Add 15 and 1
√16 = −4 then, find the square root of 16.
4 ≠ −4
Since 4 ≠ -4, 3 is an extraneous root, Thus, the radical equation √𝟓𝒎 + 𝟏 = −𝟒 has no solution. In symbols,
you have to write its solution set as { }.
It is important to check if the solution obtained is extraneous or not. Not doing so many results to an incorrect
solution set.
#3 (4.42) example 3
√𝑥 2 − 𝑥 = √𝑥 + 3 Like example #1, since the terms with radicals are already isolated. Raise both sides
by 2 since the index of the terms with radicals is 2.

(√𝑥 2 − 𝑥)2 = √𝑥 + 3)2 Cancel the index and the exponent.

𝑥2 − 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 3 Transpose x and 3 to the other side.


𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 𝑥 − 3 = 0 Add -x and -x together to get -2x
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 3 = 0

The solution resulted to a quadratic equation. Furthermore, the resulting equation can be solved by factoring.
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 3 = 0
(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 1) = 0 use the FOIL Method
By using the zero-property, the solution will be:
(x – 3) = 0 or (x+1) = 0
x=3 or x = -1
Since you have two roots, we have to check both roots if these will satisfy the original equation.
If x = 3,
√𝑥 2 − 𝑥 = √𝑥 + 3 (Original equation/s)
√32 − 3 = √3 + 3 Change the variables into 3.
√9 − 3 = √6 Then, simplify.
√6 = √6

If x=-1
√𝑥 2 − 𝑥 = √𝑥 + 3 (Original equation/s)
√(−1)2 − (−1) = √−1 + 3 Change the variables into -1.
√1 + 1 = √2 Again, simplify.
√2 = √2
Since both of the equations resulted to a true statement, the solution set of the radical equation √𝑥 2 − 𝑥 =
√𝑥 + 3 𝑖𝑠 {3, −1}.

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