Overview
On this page, we review how to solve an equation involving radicals by eliminating the radicals.
Basic Learning Objectives
These are the tasks you should be able to perform with reasonable fluency when you arrive at your next class meeting. Important new vocabulary words are indicated in italics.
- Solve an equation where one side is entirely under a square root by squaring both sides.
Advanced Learning Objectives
In addition to mastering the basic objectives, here are the tasks you should be able to perform after class, with practice:
- Solve an equation involving a single radical by isolating it and squaring (or cubing) both sides.
- Solve an equation involving multiple radicals by repeating that procedure.
- Understand why squaring both sides can produce extraneous solutions.
To prepare for class
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Watch the following videos (by Tyler Wallace) which show how to solve an equation in which one side is entirely under a square root by squaring both sides, then checking the solutions:
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Watch the following video (by Tyler Wallace) which show how to solve an equation in which one side is entirely under a cube root by cubing both sides:
After class
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Watch the following videos (by Tyler Wallace) which show how to solve an equation with a single radical term by isolating it and eliminating the radical:
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Watch the following videos (by Tyler Wallace) which show how to solve an equation with a many radical terms by isolating a radical, eliminating it, and repeating until there are no more radicals: