SOLUTION: if 4 is subtracted from a number the result is equal to the square root of 2 more than the number
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Question 547012
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if 4 is subtracted from a number the result is equal to the square root of 2 more than the number
Answer by
solver91311(24713)
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You can
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VERY ambiguously worded statement.
Let
be the number.
4 subtracted from the number is then
The square root of 2 more than the number could be either
or
, depending on whether you read it as
"{the square root of 2} more than the number" or "the square root of {2 more than the number}".
The picture becomes much clearer once you try to solve the first interpretation:
Add
to both sides and you see what I mean.
So, it has to be the second interpretation:
Square both sides and collect like terms:
And then solve the factorable quadratic. Check both answers in the original equation -- you will find that you need to discard one of the roots.
John
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it