Advanced MathVery hardRadical equation with an extraneous root
Advanced Math practice question
If √(2x + 7) = x − 4, what is the value of x?
Answer: 9
Squaring gives 2x + 7 = x² − 8x + 16, so x² − 10x + 9 = 0 and x = 1 or x = 9. Since x − 4 must be nonnegative, x = 9.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 1
- 1 makes the right side −3, so it is extraneous.
- If you answered 10
- 10 is the sum of the two roots of the squared equation.
- If you answered -1
- −1 makes the right side negative.
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