PRACTICE ANSWER KEY

A. Solve the following radical equations.

1. √𝑚 + 5 = 12
𝑚 + 5 = 144
𝑚 = 139

Check:
√139 + 5 = 12
√144 = 12
12 = 12

Answer: 𝑚 = 139

2. √3𝑦 + 10 = 𝑦
3𝑦 + 10 = 𝑦 2
𝑦 2 − 3𝑦 − 10 = 0
(𝑦 − 5)(𝑦 + 2) = 0
𝑦 = 5 or 𝑦 = −2

Check:
If 𝑦 = 5
√3(5) + 10 = 5
√25 = 5
5=5

If 𝑦 = −2
√3(−2) + 10 = −2
√4 = −2
2 ≠ −2

Answer: 𝑦 = 5

3. 𝑝 + 14 = √6𝑝 + 1
𝑝2 + 28𝑝 + 196 = 6𝑝 + 1
𝑝2 + 22𝑝 + 195 = 0

Checking the discriminant: 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 222 − 4(1)(195) = −296 → non real roots

Answer: no solution

4. 4√7 − 8𝑥 + 3 = 15
4√7 − 8𝑥 = 12
16(7 − 8𝑥) = 144
7 − 8𝑥 = 9
8𝑥 = −2
1
𝑥 = −4
 Check:
4√7 − 8(−1/4) + 3 = 15
4√7 + 2 + 3 = 15
4(3) + 3 = 15
15 = 15

1
Answer: 𝑥 = − 4

5. 8√𝑥 − 5 = 𝑥 + 7
64(𝑥 − 5) = 𝑥 2 + 14𝑥 + 49
64𝑥 − 320 = 𝑥 2 + 14𝑥 + 49
𝑥 2 − 50𝑥 + 369 = 0
(𝑥 − 41)(𝑥 − 9) = 0
𝑥 = 41 or 𝑥 = 9

Check:
If 𝑥 = 41
8√41 − 5 = 41 + 7
8√36 = 48
8(6) = 48
48 = 48

If 𝑥 = 9
8√9 − 5 = 9 + 7
8√4 = 16
8(2) = 16
16 = 16

Answer: 𝑥 = 41, 𝑥 = 9

B. Solve the following problems.

1. The Kinetic Energy (K, measured in Joules) of an object depends on the object’s mass (m, in
2𝑘
kg) and velocity (v, in m/s), and can be written as 𝑣 = √ 𝑚 . What is the Kinetic Energy of an
object with a mass of 800 grams that is travelling at 30 meters per second.

SOLUTION:
2𝑘
𝑣 = √𝑚
2𝑘
30 = √30
2𝑘
900 = 30
27000 = 2𝑘
𝑘 = 13500
Answer: 13,500 Joules
 3
2. The trunk length (in inches) of a male elephant can be modeled by 𝑙 = 23 √𝑡 + 17 , where t
is the age of the elephant in years. If a male elephant has a trunk length of 63 inches, about
what is his age?

SOLUTION
3
𝑙 = 23 √𝑡 + 17 , if 𝑙 = 63
3
63 = 23 √𝑡 + 17
3
46 = 23 √𝑡
3
2 = √𝑡
8=𝑡

The elephant is 8 years old.