SOLVING RADICAL EQUATIONS

Prepared by:
Chamae B. Capito
Pre-Service Teacher
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the students should
be able to:
 solve radical equations.
ACTIVITY TIME!
 ACTIVITY 1:
WHICH IS WHICH?
Direction: In your group, classify whether the following radicals are
radical expressions or radical equations.
𝒙𝟑
𝟑
𝒙𝟒
𝟒𝟖
𝒙+𝟐=𝟑
𝟐𝒙 − 𝟐 = 𝒙 − 𝟏
𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟒 = 𝒙 − 𝟓
RADICAL EQUATION
 an equation in which the variable appears
in a radicand.
 Examples are: 𝑥 = 7, 𝑥 + 2 = 3,
2𝑥 − 3 = 𝑥 + 5
 In solving radical equations, we need to
apply the Principle of Powers. That is,
𝒊𝒇 𝒂 = 𝒃, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏 = 𝒃𝒏 .
 STEPS IN SOLVING RADICAL
EQUATIONS
1. Isolate the radical.
2. Apply the principle of powers.
3. Solve the equation. If there is still a radical,
repeat 1 and 2.
4. Check for extraneous solution.
EXAMPLE 1:
𝒙=𝟒
2 2 2 Square both sides.
𝑥 =4
𝑥 = 16 Simplify.
Checking:
16 = 4
4=4
EXAMPLE 2:
𝟑
𝒙=𝟒
3 3 3 Cube both sides.
𝑥 =4
𝑥 = 64 Simplify.
Checking:
3
64 = 4
4=4
EXAMPLE 3:

𝒙+𝟏=𝟒
2 2
𝑥+1 =4 2 Square both sides.
𝑥 + 1 = 16 Combine similar terms.
𝑥 = 16 − 1
𝑥 = 15 Simplify.
EXAMPLE 4:

7 − 6𝑥 = 𝑥 Square both sides.

2 2
2 Write in standard form
7 − 6𝑥 = 𝑥
7 − 6𝑥 = 𝑥 2 of Quadratic Equation.
2 Factor the equation.
𝑥 + 6𝑥 − 7 = 0
𝑥+7 𝑥−1 =0 Use zero product.
𝑥 = −7 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 1
CHECKING:
𝑥 = −7 𝑥=1
7 − 6𝑥 = 𝑥 7 − 6𝑥 = 𝑥
7 − 6 −7 = −7 7−6 1 =1
7 + 42 = −7 7−6=1
49 = −7 1=1
7 ≠ −7 1=1
𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡