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S E C T I O N 1–6 Additional Equation-Solving Techniques 145

Odometer readings enclose an area of 100,000 square feet. Find the length of the
straightaways and the diameter of the semicircles to the nearest
Warehouse 5 2 8 4 6 foot. [Recall: The area A and circumference C of a circle of di-
ameter d are given by A  d 4 and c  d.]
2

Factory A 5 2 ? ? ?
Factory B 5 2 9 3 7
Warehouse 5 3 0 0 2

1
★★94. CONSTRUCTION A 4 -mile track for racing stock cars con- 100,000 square feet
sists of two semicircles connected by parallel straightaways (see
the figure). In order to provide sufficient room for pit crews,
emergency vehicles, and spectator parking, the track must

1-6 Additional Equation-Solving Techniques

Z Solving Equations Involving Radicals
Z Revisiting Equations Involving Absolute Value
Z Solving Equations Involving Rational Exponents

In this section we show that raising each side of an equation to the same power can
lead to the solutions of the equation. We also show that if changing the variable in an
equation transforms the equation into a quadratic equation, then any of the solution
techniques discussed in Section 1-5 can be applied to the transformed equation.

Z Solving Equations Involving Radicals

In solving an equation involving a radical like

x  1x  2

it appears that we can remove the radical by squaring each side and then proceed to
solve the resulting quadratic equation. Thus,

x  1x  2 Square both sides.

x  ( 1x  2)
2 2
Recall that (1a)2  a if a 0.

x x2
2
Subtract x  2 from both sides.

x x20
2
Factor the left side.

(x  2)(x  1)  0 Use the zero property.

x20 or x10
x2 or x  1
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146 CHAPTER 1 EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES

Now we check these results in the original equation.

Check: x  2 Check: x  1
x  1x  2 x  1x  2
? ?
2  12  2 1  11  2
? ?
2  14 1  11
✓
22 1  1

Thus, 2 is a solution, but 1 is not. These results are a special case of Theorem 1.

Z THEOREM 1 Squaring Operation on Equations

If both sides of an equation are squared, then the solution set of the original
equation is a subset of the solution set of the new equation.

Equation Solution Set

x3 {3}
x2  9 {3, 3}

This theorem provides us with a method of solving some equations involving rad-
icals. It is important to remember that any new equation obtained by raising both
members of an equation to the same power may have solutions, called extraneous
solutions, that are not solutions of the original equation. On the other hand, any solu-
tion of the original equation must be among those of the new equation.

Every solution of the new equation must be checked in the original equa-
tion to eliminate extraneous solutions.

ZZZ EXPLORE-DISCUSS 1

Squaring both sides of the equations x  1x and x   1x produces the

new equation x2  x. Find the solutions to the new equation and then check
for extraneous solutions in each of the original equations.
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S E C T I O N 1–6 Additional Equation-Solving Techniques 147

ZZZ CAUTION ZZZ

Remember that 19 represents the positive square root of 9 and 19 rep-
resents the negative square root of 9. It is correct to use the symbol  to
combine these two roots when solving an equation:

x2  9 implies x   19  3

But it is incorrect to use  when evaluating the positive square root of a

number:

19  3 19  3

EXAMPLE 1 Solving Equations Involving Radicals

Solve:

(A) x  1x  4  4 (B) 12x  3  1x  2  2

SOLUTIONS

(A) x  1x  4  4 Isolate radical on one side.

1x  4  4  x Square both sides.

( 1x  4)2  (4  x)2

x  4  16  8x  x2 Write in standard form.

x  9x  20  0
2
Factor left side.

(x  5)(x  4)  0 Use the zero property.

x50 or x40

x5 or x4

CHECK x5 x4

x  1x  4  4 x  1x  4  4
? ?
5  15  4  4 4  14  4  4
✓
64 44

This shows that 4 is a solution to the original equation and 5 is extraneous. Thus,

x4 Only one solution

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148 CHAPTER 1 EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES

(B) To solve an equation that contains more than one radical, isolate one radical at
a time and square both sides to eliminate the isolated radical. Repeat this
process until all the radicals are eliminated.

12x  3  1x  2  2 Isolate one of the radicals.

12x  3  1x  2  2 Square both sides.

( 12x  3)2  (1x  2  2)2

2x  3  x  2  41x  2  4 Isolate the remaining radical.

x  1  41x  2 Square both sides.

(x  1)2  (4 1x  2)2

x2  2x  1  16(x  2) Write in standard form.

x2  14x  33  0 Factor left side.

(x  3)(x  11)  0 Use the zero property.

x30 or x  11  0

x3 or x  11

CHECK x3 x  11
12x  3  1x  2  2 12x  3  1x  2  2
? ?
12(3)  3  13  2  2 12(11)  3  111  2  2
✓ ✓
22 22

Both solutions check. Thus,

x  3, 11 Two solutions 

MATCHED PROBLEM 1

Solve:

(A) x  5  1x  3
(B) 12x  5  1x  2  5 

Z Revisiting Equations Involving Absolute Value

Squaring both sides of an equation can be a useful operation even if the equation does
not involve any radicals.

EXAMPLE 2 Absolute Value Equations Revisited

Solve the following equation by squaring both sides:

|x  4|  3x  8
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S E C T I O N 1–6 Additional Equation-Solving Techniques 149

SOLUTION

|x  4|  3x  8 Square both sides.

|x  4|2  (3x  8)2 Use |u|2  u2 and expand each side.

x2  8x  16  9x2  48x  64 Write in standard form.

8x2  56x  48  0 Divide both sides by 8.

x2  7x  6  0 Factor the left side.

(x  1)(x  6)  0 Use the zero property.

x10 or x60

x1 or x6

CHECK x1 x6

|x  4|  3x  8  x  4   3x  8
? ?
|1  4|  3(1)  8 |6  4|  3(6)  8
? ?
|5|  5  10   10
✓
5  5 10  10

Thus, x  6 is the only solution.

Compare this solution with the solution of Example 7, Section 1-3. Squaring both
sides eliminates the need to consider two separate cases. 

MATCHED PROBLEM 2

Solve the following equation by squaring both sides:

3x  4  x  4 

ZZZ CAUTION ZZZ

When squaring an expression like 1x  2  2, be certain to correctly apply

the formula for squaring the sum of two terms (see Section R-4):

(u  v)2  u2  2uv  v2

(1x  2  2)2  (1x  2)2  2( 1x  2)(2)  (2)2

 x  2  41x  2  4

Do not omit the middle term in this product:

(1x  2  2)2  x  2  4
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150 CHAPTER 1 EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES

Z Solving Equations Involving Rational Exponents

To solve the equation

x23  x13  6  0

write it in the form

(x13)2  x13  6  0

You can now recognize that the equation is quadratic in x13. So, we solve for x13
first, and then solve for x. We can solve the equation directly or make the substitu-
tion u  x13, solve for u, and then solve for x. Both methods of solution are shown
below.
Method I. Direct solution:

(x13)2  x13  6  0 Factor left side.

(x  3)(x13  2)  0
13
Use the zero property.

x13  3 or x13  2 Cube both sides.

(x13)3  33 (x13)3  (2)3

x  27 x  8

Solution set: {8, 27}

Method II. Using substitution:
Let u  x13, solve for u, and then solve for x.

u2  u  6  0 Factor left side.

(u  3)(u  2)  0 Use the zero property.

u  3, 2

Replacing u with x13, we obtain

x13  3 or x13  2 Cube both sides.

x  27 x  8

Solution set: {8, 27}

In general, if an equation that is not quadratic can be transformed to the form

au2  bu  c  0

where u is an expression in some other variable, then the equation is said to be quad-
ratic in u and is called an equation of quadratic type. Once recognized as an equa-
tion of quadratic type, an equation often can be solved using quadratic methods.
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S E C T I O N 1–6 Additional Equation-Solving Techniques 151

ZZZ EXPLORE-DISCUSS 2

Which of the following is an equation of quadratic type?

(A) 3x4  2x2  7 (B) 7x5  3x2  3
(C) 2x5  4x2 1x  6 (D) 8x2 1x  5x1 1x  2
In general, if a, b, c, m, and n are nonzero real numbers, when is
axm  bxn  c  0 an equation of quadratic type?

EXAMPLE 3 Solving Equations of Quadratic Type

Solve:

(A) x4  3x2  4  0 (B) 3x25  6x15  2  0

SOLUTIONS

(A) The equation is quadratic in x2. We solve for x2 and then for x:

(x2)2  3x2  4  0 Factor the left side.

(x2  4)(x2  1)  0 Use the zero property.

x2  4 or x2  1 Use the square root property.

x  2 or x  i

Solution set: {2, 2, i, i}

Since we did not raise each side of the equation to a natural number power, we do
not have to check for extraneous solutions. (You should still check the accuracy of
the solutions.)
(B) The equation 3x25  6x15  2  0 is quadratic in x15. We substitute
u  x15 and solve for u:

3u2  6u  2  0 Use the quadratic formula.

6  112 3  13
u 
6 3
5 3  13
xu Substitute u 
3
.

3  13 5
a b Write with positive exponent.
3

Thus, the two solutions are

5
xa b
3
Two real solutions 
3  13
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152 CHAPTER 1 EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES

MATCHED PROBLEM 3

Solve:

(A) x4  3x2  4  0 (B) 3x25  x15  2  0 

ZZZ EXPLORE-DISCUSS 3

Solve the equation m  71m  12  0 two ways:

(A) By squaring (B) By making a substitution
Which method do you prefer? Why?

EXAMPLE 4 Setting Up and Solving a Word Problem

The diagonal of a rectangle is 10 inches, and the area is 45 square inches. Find the
dimensions of the rectangle correct to one decimal place.

SOLUTION

Draw a rectangle and label the dimensions as shown in Figure 1. From the
es
Pythagorean theorem,
h
inc y
10
x2  y2  102

x Thus,

Z Figure 1 y  2100  x2

Since the area of the rectangle is given by xy, we have

x2100  x2  45 Square both sides.

x2(100  x2)  2,025 Remove parentheses.

100x2  x4  2,025 Write as a quadratic in x2.

(x2)2  100x2  2,025  0 Use the quadratic formula.

100  21002  4(1)(2,025)

x2  Simplify.
2
x2  50  5119 Use the square root property.

x  250  5119 Discard the negative solutions since x  0.

If x  250  5119  8.5, then

y  2100  x2 Substitute x  250  5 119

 2100  (50  5119) Simplify.

 250  5119  5.3

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S E C T I O N 1–6 Additional Equation-Solving Techniques 153

Thus, the dimensions of the rectangle to one decimal place are 8.5 inches by 5.3 inches.
Notice that if x  250  5119, then y  250  5119, and the dimensions are
still 8.5 inches by 5.3 inches.

CHECK Area: (8.5)(5.3)  45.05  45

Diagonal: 28.52  5.32  1100.34  10

Note: An exact check can be obtained by using 250  5119 and 250  5119 in
place of these decimal approximations. This is left to the reader. 

MATCHED PROBLEM 4

If the area of a right triangle is 24 square inches and the hypotenuse is 12 inches, find
the lengths of the legs of the triangle correct to one decimal place. 

ANSWERS TO MATCHED PROBLEMS

1. (A) x  7 (B) x  2
2. x  0, 4
243
3. (A) x  1, 2i (B) x  1, 
32
4. 11.2 inches by 4.3 inches

1-6 Exercises

In Problems 1–6, determine the validity of each statement. If a In Problems 19–24, determine if the equation is an equation of
statement is false, explain why. quadratic type. Do not solve.
1. If x2  5, then x   15. 2. 125  5 19. 3x5  4x2  9  0 20. 4y6  7y3  17  0
3. ( 1x  1  1)2  x 4. (1x  1)2  1  x 21. 6t45  11t 25  8  0 22. 5w2  2w1  4  0
3
5. If x3  2, then x  8. 6. If x13  8, then x  2. 23. 2y  1y  5  0 24. 3x  1 x  13  0

Solve: In Problems 25–48, solve the equation

7. 1x  2  4 8. 1x  4  2 25. 13t  2  1  21t 26. 15t  4  21t  1
9. 13y  2  y  2 10. 14y  1  5  y 27. m4  2m2  15  0 28. m4  4m2  12  0
11. 15w  6  w  2 12. 12w  3  w  1 29. 3x  2x2  2 30. x  25x2  9
13.  2x  1   x  2 14.  2x  2   5  x 31. 2y23  5y13  12  0 32. 3y23  2y13  8  0
15.  x  5   7  2x 16.  x  7   1  2x 33. (m2  2m)2  2(m2  2m)  15
17.  3x  4   2x  5 18.  3x  1   x  1
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154 CHAPTER 1 EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES

34. (m2  2m)2  6(m2  2m)  16 62. DESIGN A food-processing company packages an assort-
ment of their products in circular metal tins 12 inches in diame-
35. 12t  3  2  1t  2
ter. Four identically sized rectangular boxes are used to divide
36. 12x  1  1x  5  3 the tin into eight compartments (see the figure). If the cross-
sectional area of each box is 15 square inches, find the dimen-
37. 1w  3  12  w  3 sions of the boxes correct to one decimal place.
38. 1w  7  2  13  w
39. 18  z  1  1z  5
40. 13z  1  2  1z  1
41. 24x2  12x  1  6x  9
42. 6x  24x2  20x  17  15
43. y2  2y1  3  0 44. y2  3y1  4  0
★63. CONSTRUCTION A water trough is constructed by bending
45. 2t4  5t2  2  0 46. 15t4  23t2  4  0 a 4- by 6-foot rectangular sheet of metal down the middle and
attaching triangular ends (see the figure). If the volume of the
47. 3z1  3z1/2  1  0 48. 2z1  3z1/2  2  0
trough is 9 cubic feet, find the width correct to two decimal
places.
Solve Problems 49–52 two ways: by squaring and by
substitution.
6 feet
49. 4m  8 1m  5  0 50. 4m  81m  21  0
51. 2w  3 1w  14 52. 3w  51w  12

2 feet
In Problems 53–60, solve the equation.
53. 17  2x  1x  2  1x  5
54. 11  3x  12x  1  1x  2 ★64. DESIGN A paper drinking cup in the shape of a right circu-
lar cone is constructed from 125 square centimeters of paper
55. 3  x4  5x2 56. 2  4x4  7x2
(see the figure). If the height of the cone is 10 centimeters, find
57. 21x  5  0.01x  2.04 the radius correct to two decimal places.
58. 31x  1  0.05x  2.9
59. 2x25  5x15  1  0 r

60. x25  3x15  1  0

h
APPLICATIONS
61. MANUFACTURING A lumber mill cuts rectangular beams
from circular logs (see the figure). If the diameter of the log is
16 inches and the cross-sectional area of the beam is 120 square
inches, find the dimensions of the cross section of the beam cor-
rect to one decimal place. Lateral surface area:
S  ␲r r 2  h 2