SQUARING TWICE When an equation contains two radicals, you may need to

square each side twice in order to eliminate both radicals.

EXAMPLE 6 Solve an equation with two radicals

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Solve Ïx 1 2 1 1 5 Ï3 2 x .

Solution
METHOD 1 Solve using algebra.
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Ïx 1 2 1 1 5 Ï3 2 x Write original equation.
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REVIEW (Ïx 1 2 1 1)2 5 (Ï3 2 x )2 Square each side.
FOIL METHOD }
x 1 2 1 2Ïx 1 2 1 1 5 3 2 x Expand left side and simplify right side.
For help with
}
multiplying algebraic 2Ïx 1 2 5 22x Isolate radical expression.
expressions using }
the FOIL method, Ïx 1 2 5 2x Divide each side by 2.
see p. 245. }
(Ï x 1 2 ) 2
5 (2x) 2
Square each side again.

x 1 2 5 x2 Simplify.
2
05x 2x22 Write in standard form.

0 5 (x 2 2)(x 1 1) Factor.

x 2 2 5 0 or x 1 1 5 0 Zero-product property

x 5 2 or x 5 21 Solve for x.

Check x 5 2 in the original equation. Check x 5 21 in the original equation.

} } } }
Ïx 1 2 1 1 5 Ï3 2 x Ïx 1 2 1 1 5 Ï3 2 x
} } } }
Ï2 1 2 1 1 0 Ï3 2 2 Ï 21 1 2 1 1 0 Ï 3 2 (21)
} } } }
Ï4 1 1 0 Ï1 Ï1 1 1 0 Ï4
3Þ1 252✓
c The only solution is 21. (The apparent solution 2 is extraneous.)
METHOD 2 Use a graph to solve the equation.

Use a graphing calculator to graph

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y1 5 Ïx 1 2 1 1 and y 2 5 Ï3 2 x . Then
find the intersection points of the two
graphs by using the intersect feature.
You will find that the only point of
intersection is (21, 2). Therefore, 21 Intersection
X=-1 Y=2
is the only solution of the equation
} }
Ï x 1 2 1 1 5 Ï3 2 x .

✓ GUIDED PRACTICE for Examples 5 and 6

Solve the equation. Check for extraneous solutions.

}
1 5 1x
11. x 2 }
2
}
4
Î }
12. Ï 10x 1 9 5 x 1 3
} } } }
13. Ï 2x 1 5 5 Ï x 1 7 14. Ï x 1 6 2 2 5 Ï x 2 2

6.6 Solve Radical Equations 455