Radical Equations

Michigan State University - Diagnostic Exam

[next] [prev] [bottom] [up]

4.6

Which of the following is true about the solution(s) to the equation ?
1. There is exactly one solution.
2. There are two solutions and both are even numbers.
3. There are two solutions and both are odd numbers.
4. There are two solutions and one is odd and the other is even.
5. There are no solutions.

Solution:

If the right hand side of $√------ x - 1 = 3 - x$ is nonnegative then

√ ------2 2 2 ( x - 1) = (3 - x ) ⇒ x - 1 = 9 - 6x + x ⇒ 0 = x2 - 7x + 10 ⇒ 0 = (x - 2)(x - 5) ⇒ x = 2, 5

Notice that 2 is a solution to the original equation but 5 is not.

Diagnostic:

See 2.10: Radical Equations .

[next] [prev] [top] [up]

July 15, 2008