Dec 3 Radical Equations

Front

What is a radical equation?

Back

A radical equation is an equation in which a variable is contained within a radical (square root, cube root, etc.).

Front

How do you isolate a variable in a radical equation?

Back

To isolate a variable in a radical equation, you typically square both sides of the equation to eliminate the radical.

Front

What is an extraneous solution?

Back

An extraneous solution is a solution that emerges from the process of solving an equation but does not satisfy the original equation.

Front

Back

x = 1.

Front

Back

Front

What happens if you square both sides of an equation?

Back

Squaring both sides can introduce extraneous solutions, so it's important to check all potential solutions in the original equation.

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Back

x = 16.

Front

Back

No solution, since the square root cannot be negative.

Front

How do you check for extraneous solutions?

Back

Substitute the solution back into the original equation to see if it holds true.

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Back

x = 16.