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5 votes
Given the equation Square root of 8x plus 1 = 5, solve for x and identify if it is an extraneous solution.

2 Answers

6 votes
do recall that squaring and the *radical sign* cancel each other out... like so:(
√(a))
^(2)= a

When you put it that way, it isn't enough :P
(
√(a))
^(2)= a
(
√(8x+1))
^(2)=?

so you start with
(
√(8x+1))
^(2)=
(5)^(2)
8x+1=25 <-- subtract 1 to both sides
8x=24 <- divide 8 to both sides
x= 3

To find out if it's an extraneous solution ask yourself: It mustn't result in a radical that I like to call... 'illegal'. Plug it into the radicand 8x+1 and make sure you get something that is not a negative number.... so, DO you get a negative number when you plug in x = 3 into the radicand?

(extraneous solution is a invalid solution)

x=3 not extraneous


User David Hunt
by
7.1k points
7 votes

Answer with explanation:

The given equation is


√(8 x +1)=5\\\\ \text{Squaring both sides}}\\\\ 8x +1=25\\\\ 8 x=25-1\\\\8 x=24\\\\x=(24)/(8)\\\\x=3

Substituting the value of , x=3, in original equation

LHS


\rightarrow√(8* 3 +1)\\\\√(25)=5

=R HS,

So, x=3, is not an extraneous solution.

User Ober
by
7.0k points