SOLUTION: Solve for x. x^2 + 3x + sqrt{x^2 + 3x} = 6 Moving x^2 + 3x to the right, I got this: sqrt{x^2 + 3x} = -x^2 - 3x + 6 Squaring both sides leads to the following:

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Question 1199266: Solve for x.

x^2 + 3x + sqrt{x^2 + 3x} = 6

Moving x^2 + 3x to the right, I got this:

sqrt{x^2 + 3x} = -x^2 - 3x + 6

Squaring both sides leads to the following:

x^2 + 3x = x^4 + 6x^3 - 3x^2 - 36x + 36

I then moved every term on the left to the right side.

x^4 + 6x^3 - 4x^2 -39x + 36 = 0

Stuck here. . . .

According to the textbook, the answers for x are as follows: x = -4, x = 1.


Answer by ikleyn(52784)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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Solve for x this equation x^2 + 3x + sqrt{x^2 + 3x} = 6.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


            The method to solve is introducing new variable.


(1)  Notice that the expression under the square root must be non-negative

        x^2 + 3x >= 0,  or, equivalently,  x*(x+3) >=0,

    which means that either x >= 0  or x <= -3.

    Thus the domain is  (-oo,-3] U [0,oo).


    Also, notice that we consider positive values of  , only, so y >= 0.



(2)  Introduce new variable  y = .  

     Then  y^2 = x^2 + 3x,  and the given equation takes the form

         y^2 + y = 6,   or, equivalently,

         y^2 + y - 6 = 0


     Factor left sides

         (y+3)*(y-2) = 0

     The roots are  y= -3  ans  y= 2.


     Since we consider only positive values of y in this problem, 
     we analyse below the case y= 2 ONLY.



(3)  If y= 2, then

          = 2.


     Square both sides, simplify and find x

         x^2 + 3x = 4

         x^2 + 3x - 4 = 0

         (x+4)*(x-1) = 0

     Two roots are  x= -4,  x= 1.         

Solved, and the obtained answer coincides with that in your textbook.

----------------

Memorize the method of the solution: it is introducing new variable
and accurate analysis of the domains of the variables x and y.



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