1.6: OTHER TYPES OF EQUATIONS ABUJIYA, M.R.

1.6: OTHER TYPES OF EQUATIONS

Section Outline:
▪ Polynomial equations ▪ Rational equations ▪ Radical equations
▪ Equations that are quadratic in form ▪ Solving for specified variable

I. Polynomial Equations

We have learned how to solve linear and quadratic equations in sections P.8 and 1.4, respectively. In
this section we will learn how to solve some polynomial equations of degree 3 and more using the
already established methods.

Example 1: Solve each polynomial equation.

 x  5   x  5  6  x  5
4 3 2
(a) 4 x5  36 x3  0 (b) x3  3x 2  4 x  12  0 (c)

II. Rational Equations

A rational equation is an equation that involves fractions in which the numerators and/or
denominators are polynomial. Many rational equations are solved by clearing the fraction remembering
that the value of the variable for which the denominator equals to zero cannot be solution of the
equation.

Example 2: Solve each rational equation.

2
x
1 1 5 3 2 12 x
(a)   (b)    2 (c)  x
x 1 x2 4 y y 3 y 9 3
4
x

III. Radical Equations

A radical equation is an equation that involves radicals and can be solved using the following result.

The Power Principle:

Every solution of P  Q is a solution of P n  Qn , where n is a positive integer.

▪ Any solution of P n  Qn that is not a solution of P  Q is called an extraneous solution.

even  n
▪ If an equation contains , 4 ,…., , we must check the solution in the original equation.

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1.6: OTHER TYPES OF EQUATIONS ABUJIYA, M.R.

Example 3: Solve each radical equation.

(a) x  4 x  12  0 (b) x 1  2x  5  1 (c) 3

4 x2  4 x  x

(d) 4
x 2  24 x  3 (e) 2 7x  2  3x  2 (f) x x2  2

IV. Equations that are Quadratic in Form

Any equation that can be written in the form au 2  bu  c  0 , a  0 by means of substitution is said
to be quadratic in form.

Example 4: Which of the following equations are quadratic in form?

(a) x  8 x  15  0 (b) x6  3x3  12  0 (c) x3  4 x  12  0

(d) x1 2  9 x1 4  20  0 (e) x9  3x3  12  0 (f) 15 x 2  7 x 1  2  0

Example 5: Solve each of the following equation.

 x 1   x 1 
2
6 1
(a) 4 x  25 x  36  0
4 2
(b)  2 0 (c)    4   3
 x   x 
2
x x

Example 6: Solve fractional exponent equations.

5x   x  1  2  x  1  3
14 23 13
(a) 3x  2 x1 2  8  0 (b) 2
6  x (c)

V. Solving for a Specified Variable

Example 7: Let the constants a and b are positive real numbers. Solve for the variable x in each

equation. (a) x 4  5ax 2  4a 2  0 (b) x  a 3 x  b 6 x  ab

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1.6: OTHER TYPES OF EQUATIONS ABUJIYA, M.R.

_________Exercises__________

1. Solve the radical equation 4

x 2  20  4
9x

Solve the rational equation 6  x  2    x  2

2 1
2.  1

3. Find the solution set of x  4 x 2  0

4. Find the number of real solutions of the equation 3  y  2 y 3

If x  1 2 , then find the solution set of  2 x  1  2  2 x  1  3  0

12 14
5.

6. If a and b are two consecutive odd integers such that a 2  b2  202 . Find the value of a  b .

7. Solve for the variable x in each equation xa  xa  2 x6

x4 x3 8x2  5

8. Solve the rational equation  
x 1 1 x x2 1
23 13
 3  3
9. If A and B are the solutions of the equation 2  x    3  x    0 , evaluate A B
 8  8

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