In Lesson 12, we solved certain quadratic equations by taking the square

root of both sides of the equation.

𝑥 2 = 36 (𝑥 − 3)2 = 8

𝑥 = ±√36 𝑥 − 3 = ±√8

𝑥 = ±6 𝑥 = 3 ± 2√2
Taking the square root of both sides of an equation is the equivalent of
1
raising both sides to the power of 2. So to eliminate an exponent of 2, we
1
raised both sides of an equation to the power of 2.

𝑥2 = 9
1 1
(𝑥 2 )2
= ±(9)2
𝑥 = ±3
1
The opposite is also be true; to eliminate an exponent of 2, we can raise
both sides of an equation to the power of 2, or square both sides.

√𝑥 = 3
2
(√𝑥) = (3)2

𝑥=9
This is what’s known as the principle of powers.
Principle of powers:
- two equivalent expressions will still be equivalent if they are raised to
the same power
o 𝑥 𝑎 = 𝑦 𝑎 if and only if 𝑥 = 𝑦
- this is another example of the #1 rule of algebra; whatever you do to
one side of an equation, you must do to the other
Steps for Solving Radical Equations:
1. isolate the radical
2. raise both sides of the equation to a power that will eliminate the
radical (principle of powers)
a. if your radical is a square root (like we’ll see in these notes),
square both sides
b. if your radical is a 𝑛𝑡ℎ root (like we’ll see in the next set of
notes), raise both sides of the equation to the power of 𝑛
3. solve
a. after eliminating the radical, solve the equation that remains
4. check your answers by plugging them back into the original equation
a. it is imperative that you check your solutions when solving
radical equations with even roots, such as the square roots in this
set of notes, as well as square roots, 4th roots, and 6th roots in the
next set of notes

Example 1: Solve the following equations for 𝑥 and enter exact answers
only (no decimal approximations). If there is more than one solution,
separate your answers with commas. If there are no real solutions, enter
NO SOLUTION.

𝑥 + √5𝑥 + 19 = −1

√5𝑥 + 19 = −1 − 𝑥

Similar to rational equations (equations with fractions), radical equations

have a restricted domain. That means there is a limited set of values that
can take the place of 𝑥, and the restriction is based on the fact the radicals
with even roots (such as square roots) cannot have a radicand that’s
negative and cannot be equal to a negative value. So in this case, the
equation √5𝑥 + 19 = −1 − 𝑥 tells us that 5𝑥 + 19 ≥ 0 AND
−1 − 𝑥 ≥ 0, because 5𝑥 + 19 is the radicand of a square root and −1 − 𝑥
is equal to a square root. You can simplify these two inequalities to find
the values that 𝑥 can be equal to, or you can simply solve the equation and
then check your answers to see if they make the original equation true.
Example 1 continued:
𝑥 + √5𝑥 + 19 = −1

√5𝑥 + 19 = −1 − 𝑥

2
(√5𝑥 + 19 ) = (−1 − 𝑥 )2

5𝑥 + 19 = (−1 − 𝑥 )(−1 − 𝑥 )

5𝑥 + 19 = 1 + 2𝑥 + 𝑥 2

0 = 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 18

0 = 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 6𝑥 − 18

0 = 𝑥 (𝑥 + 3) − 6(𝑥 + 3)

0 = (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 6)

0=𝑥+3 ; 0=𝑥−6

−3 = 𝑥 ; 6 = 𝑥

Now we have to check to verify that both answers make the original
equation true.

Why? Because as we saw on the previous page, the equation

√𝟓𝒙 + 𝟏𝟗 = −𝟏 − 𝒙 tells us that 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟏𝟗 ≥ 𝟎 AND
−𝟏 − 𝒙 ≥ 𝟎, because 5𝑥 + 19 is the radicand of a square root and −1 − 𝑥
is equal to a square root.
 𝑥 = −3 𝑥=6

𝑥 + √5𝑥 + 19 = −1 𝑥 + √5𝑥 + 19 = −1

−3 + √5(−3) + 19 = −1 6 + √5(6) + 19 = −1

−3 + √−15 + 19 = −1 6 + √30 + 19 = −1

−3 + √4 = −1 6 + √49 = −1

−3 + 2 = −1 6 + 7 = −1

−1 = −1 13 ≠ −1

Since 𝑥 = −3 made the original equation true, −3 is a valid answer.

Since 𝑥 = 6 did not make the original equation true, 6 is not a valid
answer.

𝒙 = −𝟑
Again, the reason we must check our answers is because equations with
square roots, just like equations with fractions, have restrictions on what
can replace 𝑥. In Example 1, −3 is a value that can replace 𝑥 while 6 is
not. And just like when we solve rational equations, you can find the
restricted values first, before solving the equation, or you can solve the
equation first and then plug your answers back in. Either way at some
point, you must determine what values are acceptable to replace 𝑥.

Finding the restricted values prior to solving Example 1 would have meant
solving 5𝑥 + 19 ≥ 0 AND −1 − 𝑥 ≥ 0, which results in the compound
inequality −3.8 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ −1. Of the answers we came up with, 𝑥 = −3 is
the only one that satisfies that inequality.
Example 2: Solve the following equations for 𝑥 and enter exact answers
only (no decimal approximations). If there is more than one solution,
separate your answers with commas. If there are no real solutions, enter
NO SOLUTION.

To determine 4 + √2 − 𝑥 ALWAYS start by

what values are =𝑥 isolating the radical
valid prior to 2 you are given in the
equation. In this
solving the case I multiply both
equation, you can 4 + √2 − 𝑥 = 2𝑥 sides by 2 to
solve the eliminate the
inequalities fraction, then I
2 − 𝑥 ≥ 0 and
√2 − 𝑥 = 2𝑥 − 4 subtract 4 from both
sides.
2𝑥 − 4 ≥ 0. 2
These inequalities (√2 − 𝑥) = (2𝑥 − 4)2 Once the radical is
come from the isolated, eliminate it
expression that is by using an exponent
under the square 2 − 𝑥 = (2𝑥 − 4)(2𝑥 − 4) that is equivalent to
root (2 − 𝑥) and the index of the
radical. In this
the expression
that is equal to the
2 − 𝑥 = 4𝑥 2 − 16𝑥 + 16 example I have a
square root, so I use
square root a power of 2.
(2𝑥 − 4). 0 = 4𝑥 2 − 15𝑥 + 14
Once the radical is
2−𝑥 ≥0 eliminated, I can
2≥𝑥 0 = 4𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 8𝑥 + 14 remove parentheses,
combine like terms,
2𝑥 − 4 ≥ 0 and solve the

2𝑥 ≥ 4
0 = 𝑥 (4𝑥 − 7) − 2(4𝑥 − 7) resulting equation (in
this case a quadratic
equations). Keep in
𝑥≥2
0 = (4𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 − 2) mind there are
2≤𝑥≤2 multiple ways to
solve a quadratic
So 2 is the only 0 = 4𝑥 − 7 ; 0 = 𝑥 − 2 equation, so if you
value that 𝑥 can don’t want to factor
be equal to for like I did, you are
this problem. 7 welcome to use a
=𝑥 ; 2=𝑥 different method.
4

Now we have to check to verify that both answers make the original
equation true.
 Solving the
7 quadratic
𝑥= 𝑥=2 equation
4 from the
previous
4 + √2 − 𝑥 4 + √2 − 𝑥 page
=𝑥 =𝑥 produces two
2 2 answers, but
because
7 4 + √2 − 2 radicals with
4 + √2 − 4 7 even roots
=2
= 2 have
2 4 restricted
domains, one
1 4 + √0
4+√ 7
of those
4 =2 answer might
= 2 not be valid.
2 4 So we must
1 4+0 plug both
4+2 7
= =2 answers back

2 4 2 into the
original
9 4 equation to
2 =7 =2 determine
whether one,
2 4 2 both, or
neither
9 7 answer is
≠ 2=2 valid.
4 4

Since 𝑥 = 2 made the original equation true, 2 is a valid answer. Since

7 7
𝑥 = 4 did not make the original equation true, 4 is not a valid answer.

𝒙=𝟐
Again, the reason we must check our answers is because equations with
square roots, just like equations with fractions, have restrictions on what
7
can replace 𝑥. In Example 2, 2 is a value that can replace 𝑥 while 4 is not.
And just like when we solve rational equations, you can find the restricted
values first, before solving the equation, or you can solve the equation first
and then plug your answers back in. Either way at some point, you must
determine what values are acceptable to replace 𝑥.
Example 3: Solve the following equations for 𝑥 and enter exact answers
only (no decimal approximations). If there is more than one solution,
separate your answers with commas. If there are no real solutions, enter
NO SOLUTION.
a. 𝑥 = 4 + √4𝑥 − 19 b. 𝑥 − √18𝑥 − 81 = 0
b.
c. √−7𝑥 − 4 = √−7 + 8𝑥 d. 𝑥 + 9 = √−4𝑥 − 24
d.
Answers to Examples:
3a. 𝑥 = 5, 7 ; 3b. 𝑥 = 9 ; 3c. 𝑁𝑂 𝑆𝑂𝐿𝑈𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁 ; 3d. 𝑥 = −7 ;