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Mathematics
Quarter 2 – Module 9:
Solve equations involving radical
expressions
Mathematics – Grade 9
Quarter 2 – Module 9: Solve equations involving radical expressions

First Edition, 2020

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Mathematics
Quarter 2 – Module 9:
Solves equations involving
radical expressions
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:
This module is an instrumental material to be used by the learners in
the Public Schools. It is an initiative way to cope-with the goals of
continuing the education despite of the present situation.
It contains nine learning stages; each lesson always starts with the
presentation of Mathematical Concepts. From there the lesson
progresses through various well- rounded mathematical exercises.
The content of these exercises has been structured to suit not only
the age level of the learner but also his experiences at home and
in school. What the learner learned in the previous stages were
reinforced by the next stage. And the last stage is the Reflection,
this is a wall were learners will write his understanding about the
lesson.
As facilitator, you are expected to impart the learners on how to
use this module. It is also expected to track and record learners’
progress while allowing them to manage on their own pace. Lastly,
you are expected to guide and assist the learners as they engaged
the exercises in the module.
For the learner:
Welcome to the Mathematics Self-Learning Module on Solves
equations involving radical expressions
This module was pattern to help you, learners, to achieve better
learning outcome and become prepared for the next grade level.
This is an approach that allows you leaners to express and solve
mathematical problems in a meaningful and easiest way.

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 Lesson SOLVES EQUATION

9 INVOLVING RADICAL
EXPRESSIONS.
Let Us Learn!
This module is all about solving equation involving radical
expressions. At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Review squaring property of equality

2. Define radical equations and extraneous solution
3. Illustrate steps of solving radical equations.
4. Solve equation involving radical expressions.

Your knowledge in solving linear and quadratic equation will

help a lot in this module.

Let Us Try!

On this part you will answer radical equation to gauge

how much you know on this topic.

A. Solve the following radical equations.

1. √x = 3

2. √𝑥 + 2= 7

3. √𝑥 + 3 = √𝑥 +3

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 4. 5x − 7 = x + 10

5. x+7 =x–5

Let Us Study

This aims to help you discover and understand new

concepts and skills

These are equations containing radicals with one or more

variables in the radicand.

√𝑥 − 8 = √𝑥 − 2 x + 1 = √5𝑥 + 1

To solve equations with radicals, place the radical

expression on one side of the sign of equality, then raise both
sides of the equation to the index power to eliminate the radical
or by squaring both sides of the equation using the property:

The Squaring Property of

Equality

If a = b, then a2 = b2

Below are the examples to understand the squaring property of

equality.

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Example 1. Solve and check: √x = 12

Solution: √x = 12

(√𝑥)2 = (12)2 applying square property of equality

x = 144

Check: √𝑥 = 12
√144 = 12
12 = 12 true

Example 2. Solve and check : √𝒙 − 𝟑 = 6

Solution : √𝑥 − 3 = 6

(√𝑥 − 3 )2 = (6)2 square both side

x – 3 = 36 simplify
x = 39

Check : √𝑥 − 3 = 6

√39 − 3 = 6

√36 = 6

6=6

The solution is 39.

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Example 3. Solve: x – 5 = x+7

Solution: x- 5 = x+7

(x – 5)² = ( x + 7 )² use the squaring property

x² - 10x + 25 = x + 7 expand or simplify
x² - 11x + 18 = 0
(x – 9) (x - 2) = 0 factor
x - 9 = 0 or
x-2=0 use the zero product
property
x=9 x=2

Check: if x = 9 x–5= x+7

9 – 5 = 9+7
4 = 16
4=4
if x = 2 x-5= x+7

2-5= 2+7

-3 = 9

-3 ≠ 3

9 is the solution, not 2.

The next examples involve finding the square of a binomial

on the other side of the equation.

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Example 4. Solve: 3x + 4 = 8 – x

Solution 3x + 4 = 8 – x

( 3x + 4 )2 = (8 – x)2 square both sides

3x + 4 = 64 – 16x + x2 the right-hand side is the
result of squaring the
binomial (8 – x)2

0 = 64 – 4 - 3x – 16x + x2 combine similar terms

0 = 60 – 19x + x2
0 = (x – 15)(x – 4) factor
x – 15 =0 or x – 4 = 0
x = 15 or x=4
Check: if x = 15 3x + 4 = 8 – x

3(15) + 4 ? 8 – 15

49 ? -7

7 ≠ -7
If x = 4 3x + 4 = 8 – x

3(4) + 4 ? 8 – 4

16 ? 4

4=4

The solution is 4.

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 Example 5. Solve: √𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 = √𝒙 − 𝟑 + 2

Solution: In this case, since both side of the equation

contain in radical sign. First, isolate one radical on the left-
hand side. Then square both sides.

√2𝑥 + 1 = √𝑥 − 3 + 2

(√2𝑥 + 1)2 = (√𝑥 − 3 + 2)2 square both side

2x + 1 – x + 3 – 4 = 4 √𝑥 − 3 combine similar terms

and isolate the
remaining radical on
one side

x = 4 √𝑥 − 3

Finally, square both sides and solve the resulting

quadratic equation.

x2 = 16 (x – 3)

x2 – 16x + 48 = 0

(x – 4) (x – 12) = 0

x = 4 or x = 12 Verify that both 4 and 12 are

solutions.

Example 6. Solve the equation: x + 1 - 5 = 3

Solution: Notice that the left-hand side consists of two terms,

the first being a radical, x + 1 and the second, a
constant, -5. We cannot square both sides applied
right away. You must rearrange the terms first to
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 isolate the radical on one side of the equation. So
that,

x +1 - 5 = 3
x +1 = 3 + 5
x +1 = 8 square both sides
( x + 1 )2 = 82
x + 1 = 64
x = 64 – 1
x = 63

Check: x +1 - 5 = 3
63 + 1 - 5 ? 3
64 - 5 ? 3
8–5?3
3=3

The solution checks.

Example 7. Solve the equation: x + 1 + 5 = 3

Solution: Rearrange the terms first to isolate the radical on

one side of the equation. So that,

x +1 + 5 = 3
x +1 = 3 - 5
x + 1 = -2

You may already stop here. Notice that the left- hand side,
x + 1 will never be negative. Whereas, the right- hand side is
negative. This makes the equation

x + 1 = -2 not true

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 But, just then, suppose this step is missed?
Let’s continue the solution:

( x + 1 )² = (-2)² square both sides

x+1=4 simplify
x=3

Check: x +1 + 5 = 3

3 +1 + 5 = 3

4 +5=3

4 +5=3

2+5=3
7≠3

Because 7 = 3 is a false result, 3 is not a solution! So that

the original equation has no solution. Truly the equation, as
you’ve seen above, has no solution.

Example 5 illustrates that squaring both sides of an equation

can lead to solutions, called extraneous solutions. This kind of
solutions do not satisfy the original equation. This is because the
squaring property may not produce equivalent equations. When
both sides of an equation are squared, the new equation may have
solutions that the first one does not have.

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Example 8. Solve: 3 + 27 − 3x = x

Solution: The squaring property cannot be used right away

since the radical is not yet isolated, so that

3+ 27 − 3x = x

27 − 3x = x – 3 subtract 3 to isolate the

radical
( 27 − 3x )² = (x – 3)² square both sides
27 – 3x = x² - 6x + 9 expand or simplify
0 = x² - 6x + 9 + 3x – 27 combine similar terms
0 = x² - 3x – 18
0 = (x – 6)(x + 3) factor
x – 6 = 0 or x + 3 = 0 use the zero product
property
x=6 x = -3

Check: if x = 6 3+ 27 − 3x = x

3+ 27 − 3(6) ? 6

3+ 27 − 18 ? 6

3+ 9? 6

3+3?6
6=6

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 if x = -3 3+ 27 − 3x = x

3+ 27 − 3(−3) ? -3

3+ 27 + 9 ? -3

3 + 36 ? -3
3 + 6 ? -3
9 ≠ -3

Clearly, 6 and –3 is an extraneous solution that should be

discarded

For example, the equation

x=1 (1)

has just one solution, 1. Squaring both sides, you will get

x² = 1 (2)

which has two solutions, 1 and –1. Thus, the equation x = 1 and
x² = 1 do not have the same solutions and so are not equivalent.
Whereas, it is true that any solution of equation (1) is a solution of
equation (2), it is not true that any solution of equation (2) is a
solution of equation (1). So that, it is important that you check the
solutions.

There are times when a quadratic equation results in using

the squaring property in a certain radical equation as will be seen
in the next example.

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Let’s have another example,

Example 9. Solve and check: 4 + √𝒙 − 𝟐 = x

Solution:
4 + √𝑥 − 2 = x isolates the radical
expression

√𝑥 − 2 = x -4

(√𝑥 − 2)2 = (x – 4)2 square both sides

x – 2 = x2 – 8x + 16 expand the right side

x2 -9x + 18 = 0

(x -3 ) ( x -6 ) = 0 factor trinomial

x =3 x=6

Check : If x= 3 If x = 6

4 + √𝑥 − 2 = x 4 + √𝑥 − 2 = x
4 + √𝑥 − 2 = 3 4 + √6 − 2 = 6
4 + √1= 3 4 + √4 = 6
4 +1 = 3 4+2=6
5≠3 6 =6

Notice that 3 does not satisfy the original equation, 4 + √𝑥 − 2

= x. Therefore, 6 is not the only solution.
The value 3 is called an extraneous root.

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Now, there are times when the squaring property has to be
applied more than once, as you will see in the next example.

Example 10. Solve: x - 1 = x−5

Solution: In this one, there is no way to isolate the radical

since there is a radical on both sides of the equation.
Thus,

x -1= x−5

( x - 1)² = ( x − 5 )² square both sides

( x )² - 2 x + 1 = x – 5 expand and
simplify
x–2 x +1=x–5 simplify
-2 x = -6 isolate the radical
x =3
( x )² = 3² square both sides
x=9

Check: x -1= x−5

9- 1 ? 9−5

3 -1 ? 4

2=2

The solution is equal 9.

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 The examples above all follow the steps identified below:

Steps in solving radical equations:

1. Whenever possible, rearrange the terms to isolate
a single radical on one side of the equation

2. Square both sides of the equation.

3. If a radical term remains, do steps 1 and 2 again.
Solve for the unknown.

5. Check the solution in the original equation.

This step is required.

Let Us Practice

You are now ready to answer the exercises given in this section.
This comprises activities to solidify your understanding and skills
of the topic. You may check the answers to the exercises using
the Answer Key at the end of the module.

Solve and check

1. √𝑥 = 12

2. √𝑥 − 3 = 6

3. x-6 = √𝑥

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 4. √𝑥 + 3 + 5 =12

5. √𝑥 − 1 = x-7

Let Us Practice More

Let us put your understanding to the test by answering the
next exercises. These problems aim to intensify the
application of the different concepts you have learned.

A. Solve each equation. Check all solutions.

1. √𝑥 = 9

2. √𝑥 = −1

3. √𝑥 + 3 = 2

4. √5𝑥/4 – 8 =2

5. √3𝑥 + 6 = 2√2𝑥 − 11

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 Let Us Remember
Fill the blank with the correct answer.

1. Radical equation is an equation in which the variable is

under a ______________.

2. The squaring property of equality: if a =b then

____________.

3. __________________is used to eliminate the square root

symbol so that what is left is an ordinary equation.

4. _________________solution that does not satisfy the original

equation.

Let Us Assess

You are now ready to solve problems involving radical

equation. This is a task which aims to evaluate your mastery.

A. Check to see if the given value for x is a solution of

the equation.
1. x =4

2. x + 3 = 20

3. 3x + 18 = x a. 6 b. -3

4. 2x + 3 = 0 a. 3 b. -1

5. 3
3x + 4 = 3
2x − 1 a. -3/5 b. -5

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 Let Us Enhance
In this portion, another activity will be given to you to
enrich your knowledge or skill of the lesson learned.

A. Solve the following

1. Is 16 a solution of the equation x = -4? If not, what is

the solution of this equation?

2. What is wrong with the first step in the process?

2x − 3 = x – 2

2x – 3 = x2 + 4

3. 4 + y − 3 = 11

4. x = -7

5. 5x − 7 = x + 10

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 Let Us Reflect

Directions: Solve the radical equations. Write your answer

and the property, definition or theorem that you used in your
solution.

Radical Equations Solution Reason

√5𝑥 + 10 = √6𝑥 + 4

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Let us enhance
1. 52
2. No solution
3. 17/4
4. No, no solution exixts
5. No middle term. The
expression x2 + 4 should be
x2-4x + 4.
Let us practice
1. 144 Let us assess
2. 39
3. X=9 1. 16
X=4 extraneous
2. 397
root
4. 46 3. a. yes b. no
5. 10 4. a. no b. no
5 is extraneous 5. a. no b. yes
Let us remember Let us practice Let us try
1. radical more
2. a2 = b2 1.81 1. 9
3. squaring 2. no sol. 2. 47
property of 3.1 3. No real
equality 4.80 sol.
4. extraneous 5.10 4. 17/4
root 5. 2, 9
Answer key to Activities
 References

Project EASE Modules, Module 6 Radical Expressions, pages

2-20
Learner’s Material for mathematics 9
Bernabe, Julieta G., Intermediate Algebra, Textbook for
Second Year, SD Publications

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Office Address: Energy Park, Apokon, Tagum City, 8100

Telefax: (084) 216-3504

E-mail Address: tagum.city@deped.gov.ph

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