SOLUTION: Find all x such that sqrt{3x^2 + 2x + 1} + sqrt{3x^2 + 2x - 3} = 20.

Algebra ->  Radicals -> SOLUTION: Find all x such that sqrt{3x^2 + 2x + 1} + sqrt{3x^2 + 2x - 3} = 20.       Log On


   



Question 1209873: Find all x such that
sqrt{3x^2 + 2x + 1} + sqrt{3x^2 + 2x - 3} = 20.

Found 2 solutions by CPhill, ikleyn:
Answer by CPhill(1959) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let $y = 3x^2 + 2x$. Then the given equation becomes
$$\sqrt{y+1} + \sqrt{y-3} = 20.$$
Isolating one of the square roots, we have
$$\sqrt{y+1} = 20 - \sqrt{y-3}.$$
Squaring both sides, we get
$$y+1 = 400 - 40\sqrt{y-3} + y-3.$$
Simplifying, we have
$$y+1 = 397 + y - 40\sqrt{y-3}.$$
$$40\sqrt{y-3} = 396.$$
Dividing by 40, we get
$$\sqrt{y-3} = \frac{396}{40} = \frac{99}{10} = 9.9.$$
Squaring both sides, we have
$$y-3 = 98.01.$$
$$y = 101.01.$$
Substituting back, we have
$$3x^2 + 2x = 101.01.$$
$$3x^2 + 2x - 101.01 = 0.$$
We can use the quadratic formula to solve for $x$.
$$x = \frac{-2 \pm \sqrt{2^2 - 4(3)(-101.01)}}{2(3)} = \frac{-2 \pm \sqrt{4 + 1212.12}}{6} = \frac{-2 \pm \sqrt{1216.12}}{6}.$$
$$x = \frac{-2 \pm \sqrt{1216.12}}{6} \approx \frac{-2 \pm 34.873}{6}.$$
Therefore,
$$x_1 = \frac{-2 + 34.873}{6} \approx \frac{32.873}{6} \approx 5.4788$$
and
$$x_2 = \frac{-2 - 34.873}{6} \approx \frac{-36.873}{6} \approx -6.1455.$$
Let's check the solutions:
If $x = 5.4788$, then $y = 3x^2 + 2x \approx 3(5.4788)^2 + 2(5.4788) \approx 90.02 + 10.9576 \approx 101.01$.
If $x = -6.1455$, then $y = 3x^2 + 2x \approx 3(-6.1455)^2 + 2(-6.1455) \approx 113.36 - 12.291 \approx 101.01$.
Therefore the solutions are $x \approx 5.4788$ and $x \approx -6.1455$.
Final Answer: The final answer is $\boxed{5.4788, -6.1455}$

Answer by ikleyn(52781) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Find all x such that
sqrt{3x^2 + 2x + 1} + sqrt{3x^2 + 2x - 3} = 20.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Let  u = sqrt%283x%5E2+%2B+2x+%2B+1%29,  v = sqrt%283x%5E2+%2B+2x+-+1%29  are new variables.

Then for new variables we have this system of equations

    u + v = 20,      (1)

    u^2 - v^2 = 4    (2)


We can re-write equation (2) this way

    (u+v)*(u-v) = 4.


Now replace (u+v) by 20 in this equation, based on (1).  You will get

    20(u-v) - 4,  or  u - v = 4/20 = 0.2.


Thus the system (1), (2) takes the form

    u + v = 20,      (1')

    u - v = 0.2      (2')


The solution to (1'), (2') can be found mentally

    u = 10.1  (half the sum of 20 and 0.2)  and  v = 9.9 (half the difference of 20 and 0.2)


From here, we get with the first square root

    sqrt%283x%5E2+%2B+2x+%2B+1%29 = 10.1,

    3x^2 + 2x + 1 = 21.1%5E2 = 102.01,

    3x^2 + 2x - 101.01 = 0,

    x%5B1%5D = -1%2F3+%2B+sqrt%281216.12%29%2F6 = 5.47882...,  

    x%5B2%5D = -1%2F3+-+sqrt%281216.12%29%2F6 = -6.14549...   using the quadratic formula.


With the second square root we get

    sqrt%283x%5E2+%2B+2x+-+3%29 = 9.9,

    3x^2 + 2x - 3 = 9.9%5E2 = 98.01,

    3x^2 + 2x - 101.01 = 0,

    It is the same equation as above, so it does not add additional roots.


So, there are 2 approximate solutions :  -6.14549  and  5.47882.    ANSWER

Solved.