SOLUTION: Solve for x. sqrt{x^2-x-2} = sqrt{x^2+x+7} -1 I tried it and i got -5 but the calculator and my teacher said that the answer is supposed to be -2.

Algebra ->  Radicals -> SOLUTION: Solve for x. sqrt{x^2-x-2} = sqrt{x^2+x+7} -1 I tried it and i got -5 but the calculator and my teacher said that the answer is supposed to be -2.      Log On


   



Question 1093033: Solve for x.
sqrt{x^2-x-2} = sqrt{x^2+x+7} -1
I tried it and i got -5 but the calculator and my teacher said that the answer is supposed to be -2.

Found 2 solutions by addingup, MathTherapy:
Answer by addingup(3677) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
sqrt(x^2 - x - 2) = sqrt(x^2 + x + 7) - 1
x^2 - x - 2 = (sqrt(x^2 + x + 7) - 1)^2
Let's simplify the equation on the right:
(sqrt(x^2 + x + 7) - 1)^2 = 8 + x + x^2 - 2 sqrt(x^2 + x + 7):
x^2 - x - 2 = 8 + x + x^2 - 2 sqrt(x^2 + x + 7)
2 sqrt(x^2 + x + 7) = 2 x + 10
4 (x^2 + x + 7) = (2 x + 10)^2
4 x^2 + 4 x + 28 = (2 x + 10)^2
4 x^2 + 4 x + 28 = 4 x^2 + 40 x + 100
-36 x - 72 = 0
-36 (x + 2) = 0
x + 2 = 0
x = -2
:
I hope this helps, it was a lot of writing.
John

Answer by MathTherapy(10552) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Solve for x.
sqrt{x^2-x-2} = sqrt{x^2+x+7} -1
I tried it and i got -5 but the calculator and my teacher said that the answer is supposed to be -2.
sqrt%28x%5E2+-+x+-+2%29+=+sqrt%28x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+7%29+-+1
%28sqrt%28x%5E2+-+x+-+2%29%29%5E2+=+%28sqrt%28x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+7%29+-+1%29%5E2 ------- Squaring each side
x%5E2+-+x+-+2+=+x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+7+-+2sqrt%28x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+7%29+%2B+1
x%5E2+-+x+-+2+=+x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+8+-+2sqrt%28x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+7%29
2sqrt%28x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+7%29+=+x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+8+-+x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+2
2sqrt%28x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+7%29+=+2x+%2B+10
4%28x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+7%29+=+4x%5E2+%2B+40x+%2B+100 ------ Squaring each side
4%28x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+7%29+=+4%28x%5E2+%2B+10x+%2B+25%29
x%5E2+%2B+x+%2B+7+=+x%5E2+%2B+10x+%2B+25
x%5E2+-+x%5E2+%2B+x+-+10x+=+25+-+7
- 9x = 18
highlight_green%28matrix%281%2C5%2C+x%2C+%22=%22%2C+18%2F%28-+9%29%2C+%22=%22%2C+-+2%29%29