Solving 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, you can perform inverse operations, such as squaring both sides to eliminate a square root.

Front

Back

Divide both sides by 2.

Front

What is the process to undo a square root?

Back

You square both sides of the equation.

Front

Back

n = 36.

Front

What should you do after squaring both sides of an equation?

Back

You should simplify the equation and solve for the variable.

Front

Back

Raise both sides to the power of 3.

Front

Back

x = 16.

Front

What happens if you square both sides of an equation incorrectly?

Back

You may introduce extraneous solutions that do not satisfy the original equation.

Front

What is an extraneous solution?

Back

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