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How many solutions does the system of equations x − y = 7 and y equals the square root of the quantity 3 times x plus 3 end quantity minus 2 have?

User Mark Verkiel
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1 Answer

14 votes
14 votes

9514 1404 393

Answer:

one solution (11, 4)

Explanation:

Both equations describe curves with positive slope. The y-intercept of the line (-7) is less than that of the root function (-2), so the line must intersect the root function in exactly one place. There is one solution.

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Solved in the conventional way, the equation would become a quadratic, with two solutions. One of them is extraneous. (That is why I prefer a graphical solution.)

Given ...

x -y = 7

y = √(3x +3) -2

We can substitute for y to get ...

x -7 = √(3x +3) -2

x -5 = √(3x +3)

x^2 -10x +25 = 3x +3 . . . . . . square both sides

x^2 -13x +22 = 0 = (x -11)(x -2) . . . . . gives solutions x=11, x=2

The value x=2 does not satisfy the equation ...

x -7 = √(3x +3) -2 ⇒ 2 -7 = √(3·2 +3) -2 ⇒ -5 = 1 (false)

How many solutions does the system of equations x − y = 7 and y equals the square-example-1
User Alex Q
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2.8k points