SOLVING EQUATIONS CONTAINING VARIABLES UNDER ONE OR MORE RADICALS

EQUATIONS CONTAINING VARIABLES UNDER ONE OR MORE RADICALS

Note:

In order to solve for x, you must isolate x.
In order to isolate x, you must remove it from under the radical.
If there is just one radical in the equation, isolate the radical.
Then raise both sides of the equation to a power equal to the index
of the radical.
With these types of equations, sometimes there are extraneous
solutions; therefore, you must check your answers.
If the index of the radical is even, many times there will be a
restriction on the values of x.

Example 5:.

Since the index of the radical is odd, there is no restriction on the value of x.

Raise both sides of the equation to the power 7.

Add 3 to both sides of the equation

Divide both sides of the equation by 5.

The answer is tex2html_wrap_inline113

Check the solution by substituting in the original equation

for x. If the left side of the equation equals the right side of the

equation after the substitution, you have found the correct answer.

If you would like to test yourself by working some problems similar to this example, click on problem.

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Author:Nancy Marcus