Solving Radical Equations

An equation that contains a variable within a radical (square root, cube root, etc.).

Square both sides of the equation to eliminate the radical, then solve for the variable.

Square both sides to get x + 5 = 49.

x = 44.

Check your solution by substituting it back into the original equation.

A solution that does not satisfy the original equation after substitution.

x = 14.

x must be greater than or equal to 2.

Isolate the radical: √(x + 1) = 3, then square both sides to find x = 8.

It allows you to eliminate the radical, but you must check for extraneous solutions.