Checking the Proposed Solution

Oct 13, 2025 by pinkandtrash.com 29 views

Introduction

Radical equations are a type of algebraic equation that involves a square root or other radical expression. Solving radical equations can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can find the solutions. In this article, we will focus on solving the radical equation $\sqrt{x+27} - \sqrt{x-6} = 3$ . We will break down the solution into manageable steps and provide a clear explanation of each step.

Step 1: Understand the Equation

The given equation is $\sqrt{x+27} - \sqrt{x-6} = 3$ . Our goal is to find the value of $x$ that satisfies this equation. To start, let's analyze the equation and identify the key components. We have two square root expressions, $\sqrt{x+27}$ and $\sqrt{x-6}$ , and a constant term, $3$ .

Step 2: Isolate One of the Square Root Expressions

To solve the equation, we need to isolate one of the square root expressions. Let's isolate $\sqrt{x+27}$ by adding $\sqrt{x-6}$ to both sides of the equation. This gives us:

$\sqrt{x+27} = 3 + \sqrt{x-6}$

Step 3: Square Both Sides of the Equation

Now that we have isolated one of the square root expressions, we can square both sides of the equation to eliminate the square root. Squaring both sides gives us:

$(\sqrt{x+27})^2 = (3 + \sqrt{x-6})^2$

Expanding the right-hand side of the equation, we get:

$x + 27 = 9 + 6\sqrt{x-6} + (x-6)$

Step 4: Simplify the Equation

Let's simplify the equation by combining like terms. We can start by combining the $x$ terms:

$x + 27 = 9 + 6\sqrt{x-6} + x - 6$

Subtracting $x$ from both sides gives us:

$27 = 9 + 6\sqrt{x-6} - 6$

Simplifying further, we get:

$27 = 3 + 6\sqrt{x-6}$

Step 5: Isolate the Square Root Expression

Now that we have simplified the equation, we can isolate the square root expression. Let's subtract $3$ from both sides of the equation:

$24 = 6\sqrt{x-6}$

Dividing both sides by $6$ gives us:

$4 = \sqrt{x-6}$

Step 6: Square Both Sides of the Equation Again

We have isolated the square root expression, and now we can square both sides of the equation again to eliminate the square root. Squaring both sides gives us:

$(4)^2 = (\sqrt{x-6})^2$

Expanding the right-hand side of the equation, we get:

$16 = x - 6$

Step 7: Solve for $x$

Finally, we can solve for $x$ by adding $6$ to both sides of the equation:

$x = 16 + 6$

$x = 22$

Conclusion

We have solved the radical equation $\sqrt{x+27} - \sqrt{x-6} = 3$ by following a series of steps. We isolated one of the square root expressions, squared both sides of the equation, simplified the equation, isolated the square root expression again, squared both sides of the equation again, and finally solved for $x$ . The solution to the equation is $x = 22$ .

Checking the Proposed Solution

To verify that $x = 22$ is a valid solution, we can plug it back into the original equation:

$\sqrt{22+27} - \sqrt{22-6} = \sqrt{49} - \sqrt{16}$

Simplifying further, we get:

$8 - 4 = 4$

Since $4 = 4$ , we can conclude that $x = 22$ is indeed a valid solution to the equation.

Final Thoughts

Introduction

In our previous article, we solved the radical equation $\sqrt{x+27} - \sqrt{x-6} = 3$ by following a series of steps. We isolated one of the square root expressions, squared both sides of the equation, simplified the equation, isolated the square root expression again, squared both sides of the equation again, and finally solved for $x$ . The solution to the equation is $x = 22$ . In this article, we will provide a Q&A guide to help you understand the solution and answer any questions you may have.

Q: What is a radical equation?

A: A radical equation is a type of algebraic equation that involves a square root or other radical expression. Radical equations can be challenging to solve, but with the right approach, you can find the solutions.

Q: How do I solve a radical equation?

A: To solve a radical equation, you need to follow a series of steps. First, isolate one of the square root expressions. Then, square both sides of the equation to eliminate the square root. Simplify the equation and isolate the square root expression again. Square both sides of the equation again and finally solve for $x$ .

Q: What is the difference between a square root and a radical?

A: A square root and a radical are the same thing. A square root is a mathematical operation that finds the number that, when multiplied by itself, gives a specified value. A radical is a symbol that represents a square root.

Q: How do I know if a solution is valid?

A: To verify that a solution is valid, you need to plug it back into the original equation. If the solution satisfies the equation, then it is a valid solution.

Q: What if I get a negative value when I square both sides of the equation?

A: If you get a negative value when you square both sides of the equation, it means that the solution is not valid. This is because the square of a negative number is always positive.

Q: Can I use a calculator to solve a radical equation?

A: Yes, you can use a calculator to solve a radical equation. However, it's always a good idea to check your solution by plugging it back into the original equation.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when solving radical equations?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when solving radical equations include:

Not isolating one of the square root expressions
Not squaring both sides of the equation
Not simplifying the equation
Not isolating the square root expression again
Not squaring both sides of the equation again
Not solving for $x$

Q: How do I know if a radical equation has a solution?

A: To determine if a radical equation has a solution, you need to check if the equation is true for any value of $x$ . If the equation is true for any value of $x$ , then it has a solution.

Q: Can I use a graphing calculator to solve a radical equation?

A: Yes, you can use a graphing calculator to solve a radical equation. However, it's always a good idea to check your solution by plugging it back into the original equation.

Conclusion

Solving radical equations can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can find the solutions. In this article, we provided a Q&A guide to help you understand the solution and answer any questions you may have. We hope this guide has been helpful in solving radical equations.