document.write( "Question 1160899: In solving this equation, (x-3)/(x+2)=(x+2)/(x-3) you could cross multiply and get (x-3)^2=(x+2)^2 but you can't simply take the square root of each side because then you get x-3=x+2 and hence 0=5 which is wrong. If you multiply (x-3)(x-3) and (x+2)(x+2) and get x^2-6x+9=x^2+4x+4 then it is solved, x=1/2. My question is, WHY can't you take the square root of both sides, as mentioned earlier? Thank you so much for your help. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #784318 by MathTherapy(10552) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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In solving this equation, (x-3)/(x+2)=(x+2)/(x-3) you could cross multiply and get (x-3)^2=(x+2)^2 but you can't simply take the square root of each side because then you get x-3=x+2 and hence 0=5 which is wrong. If you multiply (x-3)(x-3) and (x+2)(x+2) and get x^2-6x+9=x^2+4x+4 then it is solved, x=1/2. My question is, WHY can't you take the square root of both sides, as mentioned earlier? Thank you so much for your help.
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document.write( " ----- Cross-multiplying
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document.write( "A lot of people FORGET, I believe, that when taking the square root of an expression, it's IMPERATIVE to indicate that the resulting expression can either be - (negative), or + (positive). 
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document.write( "Taking the square root of both sides, we get: 
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document.write( "OR
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document.write( "Taking the square root of both sides, we get: 
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document.write( "Another VERY IMPORTANT fact is that  \n" );
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