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indicate the negative square root, it is done by the symbol

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Thus, 16 means +4, while √16 means -4. Similarly, Va2=a and -√a2=—a.

138. Equations Containing Radical Signs. Equations containing radical signs are often solved by squaring each member. This is equivalent to multiplying each member by the same quantity, and hence is justified by Axiom I (§ 9). EXAMPLE 1. Solve the equation √x-2=6.

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EXAMPLE 2. Solve the equation √x-1-√x-4=1. SOLUTION. First, transpose the √x-4 to the right, giving

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-

Square both members, using Formula V, p. 101, for finding (1+x-4). This gives

or,

x-1=1+2 1. √x-4+(√x-4)2,
x-1=1+2√x—
x-4+x-4.

Canceling x from both sides and transposing the 1 and −4 to the left side, gives

2=2√x-4, or √x-4=1.

Whence (squaring again),

Therefore
CHECK.

x-4=12=1.

x=5. Ans.

5-1-√5-4-√4−√ī=2—1=1.

NOTE. It is especially important to check all answers as above for equations containing radicals, since the process of squaring both members sometimes leads to a new equation whose roots do not all belong to the first one. Thus, if we square both members of the equation x=5 we get x2=25, and this last equation has x=-5 as a root as well as x=5.

EXERCISES

Solve each of the following equations, and check your

answer in each case.

1. √x-10=5.

2. 4= √x-3.

3. √2x+1=3.

4. √x2+5=3.

5. √x+5-√x=1.

6. √x-2+Vx+3=5.

7. √2x+5−√2x+2=1. 8. √3x+7-√2x+10=0. 9. √x+a=√x+a.

[HINT. This being a literal equation (see § 106) we are to

find x in terms of a.]

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13. If 10 be added to 2 times a certain number, the square root of the result is 4. What is the number?

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14. If 9 be added to the square of a certain number, the square root of the result is 5. What is the number?

15. The difference between the square root of a certain number and the square root of 11 less than that number is 1. What is the number?

For further exercises on this chapter, see Appendix, pp. 308-309.

CHAPTER XV

RADICALS

139. Radicals. Suppose we have a square (see Fig. 74) which we know contains exactly 2 sq. ft. How long is each of its four sides? In order to answer this, we let x represent the desired length. Then, we must have

or,

Hence,

x x=2,

x2 = 2.

x=√2 ft. Ans.

This number, √2, cannot be found exactly, as explained in § 135, because it is the square root of a number, 2, which is not a perfect square. Still, V2 measures a perfectly definite length, as indicated in Fig. 74. The value of it, correct to two decimal places only, is, by the process in § 135, found to be 1.41.

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Such a number as √2 is called a radical number, or briefly, a radical. It is an indicated root whose value cannot, in general, be exactly determined.

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(Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibnitz, 1646-1716)

Celebrated for his interest and ability in all branches of learning, especially in the fields of mathematics and philosophy. A contemporary of Newton and regarded as sharing with him the honor of inventing the Calculus.

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