Chapter 9

Radicals and
Rational
Exponents
Section 8
Radical Equations and
Their Applications
Sullivan, III & Struve, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra 9.8 - 2 Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Section 9.8 Objectives
1 Solve Radical Equations Containing One
Radical
2 Solve Radical Equations Containing Two
Radicals
3 Solve for a Variable in a Radical Equation
Sullivan, III & Struve, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra 9.8 - 3 Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Solving Radical Equations
Example: Solve and check: 5 1 3 x =
When the variable in an equation occurs in a radicand, the equation
is called a radical equation.
5 1 3 x =

5x 1
( )
2
= 3
2
Square each side.
5 1 9 x = Simplify and solve for x.
5 10 x =
2 x =
Check:
5 1 3 x =
5(2) 1 3 =
9 3 =
3 3 =
Sullivan, III & Struve, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra 9.8 - 4 Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Solving Radical Equations
When the variable in an equation occurs in a radicand, the equation
is called a radical equation.
5 1 3 x =
4
3 7 0 a + = 6 8 14 4 c c + + =
Solving a Radical Equation Containing One Radical
Step 1: Isolate the radical. That is, get the radical by itself on one
side of the equation and everything else on the other side.
Step 2: Raise both sides of the equation to the power of the index.
This will eliminate the radical from the equation.
Step 3: Solve the equation that results.
Step 4: Check your answer. When solving radical equations
containing an even index, apparent solutions that are not
solutions to the original equation are called extraneous
solutions.
Sullivan, III & Struve, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra 9.8 - 5 Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Solving Radical Equations
Example: Solve:
2 9 3 y y = +
2 9 3 y y = +
3 2 9 y y + = +
Isolate the radical.
( )
( )
2
2
3 2 9 y y + = +
Square each side.
2
6 9 2 9 y y y + + = + FOIL each side.
2
4 0 y y + = Simplify and set equal to 0.
( 4) 0 y y + = Factor the quadratic equation.
0 and 4 y y = = Solve for y.
Continued.
Sullivan, III & Struve, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra 9.8 - 6 Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Solving Radical Equations
Example continued:
2 9 3 y y = +
2 9 3 y y = +
Check:

0 and 4 y y = =
2( ) 9 0 0 3 = +
0 9 3 =
0 3 3 =
0 0 =
2 9 3 y y = +
False
4 4 2( ) 9 3 = +
4 8 9 3 = +
4 1 3 =
4 1 3 =
4 2 =
4 is an extraneous root. The only solution is y = 0.
Sullivan, III & Struve, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra 9.8 - 7 Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Solving Radical Equations
Solving a Radical Equation Containing Two Radicals
Step 1: Isolate the radical. That is, get the radical by itself on one
side of the equation and everything else on the other side.
Step 2: Raise both sides of the equation to the power of the index.
This will eliminate one radical or both radicals from the
equation.
Step 3: If a radical remains in the equation, then follow the steps
for solving a radical equation containing one radical.
Otherwise, solve the equation that results.
Step 4: Check your answer. When solving radical equations
containing an even index, apparent solutions that are not
solutions to the original equation are called extraneous
solutions.
Sullivan, III & Struve, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra 9.8 - 8 Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Solving Radical Equations
Example: Solve: 3 1 4 3 + = y y
3 1 3 4 + = + y y Isolate one of the radicals.
( ) ( )
2 2
3 1 3 4 + = + y y Square each side.
3 1 9 6 4 4 + = + + y y y FOIL each side.
2 4 6 4 = y y Isolate the remaining variable.
( )
( )
2
2
2 4 6 4 = y y Square each side.
2
4 16 16 36( 4) + = y y y Simplify.
Continued.
Sullivan, III & Struve, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra 9.8 - 9 Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Solving Radical Equations
Example continued:
2
4 16 16 36( 4) + = y y y
Continued.
2
4 16 16 36 144 y y y + = Simplify.
2
4 52 160 0 y y + = Simplify.
( )
2
4 13 40 0 y y + =
Factor out a 4.
4( 5)( 8) 0 y y =
Factor the trinomial.
4 0 5 0 8 0 y y = = =
Set each factor equal to 0.
Solve for 0.
5 and 8 = = y y
Sullivan, III & Struve, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra 9.8 - 10 Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Solving Radical Equations
3 1 4 3 + = y y
Check:

5 and 8 = = y y
3( ) 1 ( ) 4 5 5 3 + =
15 1 1 3 + =
16 1 3 =
4 1 3 =
3 1 4 3 + = y y
3( ) 1 ( ) 4 8 8 3 + =
24 1 4 3 + =
25 4 3 =
5 2 3 =
3 3 = 3 3 =

Example continued:
Sullivan, III & Struve, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra 9.8 - 11 Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Solving for a Variable
2U
V
C
=
Example: Solve the following formula for U:
2
2
2U
V
C
| |
=
|
\ .
Square both sides of the equation.
2
2U
V
C
=
Simplify.
2
2 CV U =
Multiply both sides by C.
2
2
CV
U =
Divide both sides by 2.