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How do you solve radical equations?

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Firelight · Becca M. · Veddesh

ϕ

$phi$

Nov 4, 2014

A radical equation is solved by simply squaring or cubing both sides of the equation. For example:

$\sqrt (2 x + 9) = 5$ $√(2x+9)=5$

$\sqrt {(2 x + 9)}^{2}$ $√(2x+9)^2$ = $5^{2}$ $5^2$

Then, continue to isolate the variable:

$2 x + 9 = 25$ $2x+9=25$

$2 x + 9 - 9 = 25 - 9$ $2x+9-9=25-9$

$\frac{2 x}{2} = \frac{16}{2}$ $(2x)/2=16/2$

$x = 8$ $x=8$

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