5

Lesson

Quadratic Equations
Involving Surds
Learning Outcomes and Assesments Standards
Learning Outcomes 2: Functions and algebra
Assessment Standard
Solutions of a quadratic equation with a single surd.

Overview
In this lesson you will:

Examine when a surd expression is real and solve the surd equation.
Examine when a surd equation is defined.

Lesson

Quadratic equations
If x2 = 4

_
x = 4

x = 2

Remember:
_

4= 2_(positive)
and 4= 2 __
(negative) and
4
is non-real

Why are roots (surds) so tricky?

_

? The answer is yes, but if _
we allow non numbers. At
Can we determine
4

school we work with Real () numbers only, so 4

is not possible!
So when we see a root sign, we must make sure that what is underneath that
root sign, is positive in value.
_
So if y =
x
, then x 0
_
Note that we have y = +x
, so y 0
if x 0
_
If we have y = x
, then y 0
if x 0
In both cases, if x is not positive, we cannot determine y.
This forms the conceptual basis that builds sufficiently for flexible application!
_
x _
+ 1
; x 1 and y 0
So for y =
y = 2x + 1
4; x 1 and y 4
Method of solving a surd equation

Page 18

Isolate the surds

State restrictions on x
Square both sides
Get into standard form
Solve for x
Check your solution against the restriction.

Examples
Solve for x.
_
x + 6
x = 4
_
x + 6
= 4 + x
1.

Isolate the surd

Now state restrictions on x.

Remember:

x + 6 0 x 6

(a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2

4 + x 0 x 4
Thus x 4

x + 6 = (4 + x)2

x + 6 = 16 + 8x + x2

0 = x2 + 7x + 10

Get into standard form

0 = (x + 5)(x + 2)

Factorise

x = 5 or x = 2

Solve

Square both sides, not each term

Check answer with restriction. Omit the

But 4 + x 0 x 4
solution
x 5
that does not satisfy the
restriction
x = 2
_

+7=x
2. 2x+1
_

2x
+ 1
= x 7 (Isolate the surd)

Restriction: 2x + 1 0 and x 7 0

x _12

x7

Now: 2x + 1 = (x 7)2

x7
(square both sides)

2x + 1 = x2 14x + 49
x2 16x + 48 = 0
(x 12)(x 4) = 0
x = 12 or x = 4
But x 7
Thus x = 12 only.

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Lesson 1 | Algebra

Linking to graphs

_
1. Lets sketch a graph y =
x
.
x
y

0
0

1
1

4
2

9
3

Remember that
x 0, so we only use
positive values of x in
our table.

Domain (D) = {_xx 0}

y
Range (R ) = {_ 0}

Alternatively, use interval notation:

D = [0; )

R = [0; )

2.

What happens if you reflect the graph in the y-axis?

x changes sign.

New graph:

Page 20

_
For y =
x

Domain = {_x 0}x
x

y
Range = {_y 0} y

3.

What happens is you reflect the graph in the xaxis?

y changes sign

_
For y = x

Domain = {_x 0} x
x

y
Range = {_y 0} y

Alternatively, use interval notation:

Domain = {0;}

Range = {;0}

4.

_
x 2
Sketch graph of (x) =

Restriction: x 2 0
x2
x
y

2
0

3
1

6 11
2 3

y
6

D: x 2; x

R: y 0; y

4
3
2
1
0

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Lesson 1 | Algebra

5.

_
Sketch graph of (x) =
x + 4

Restriction: x 0
x
y

0
4

1
5

4
6

D: x 0; x

R: y 4; y

4
3
2
1
0

Now do Activity 2.
In summary:
If we reflect in the y-axis; x x
If we reflect in the x-axis; y y
If we reflect in the line y = x; x y

Activity 1
1.

Solve for x:

(a)

(a)

Show that 2 x 4

(b)

Solve for x

(c)

4.

_
_
_
12x
x 1+ 8

=3
_
x 1

Solve for x:
3x + 2

_
2x
1
2=x
_
x + 6
x=4
_

x2
x 3
=3
_
x
x = 1

(b) 11
_

+ 1 2x = 0

(c) 5x1
_
x 2
=4

(d) x +
_
3x
= x 2

(e) 10
_
_
5x 3x 2
+ 15 = 0

(f)
xx 2
_ x
= _ + 1
2.
If given 8 2x
2

Without any further calculation, solve the equation

_ x
= _ + 1

8 2x
_2
12
x 5
4=_
_

3.
Solve for x.
x 5

Page 22

Activity 2
(Investigation)

_
x

and write down the domain and range.
Sketch the graph of y =
_
n
give all possible real values of m and all possible real values
2. If m =
of n.
_

give all possible real values of a and all possible real values
3. If a = c
of c.

1.

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Lesson 1 | Algebra