SOLUTION: Right now we are studying Radicals and Rational Exponents and I'm not grasping the concept. Can you show me, step by step and in simple terms, how I would go about solving a probl

Algebra ->  Radicals -> SOLUTION: Right now we are studying Radicals and Rational Exponents and I'm not grasping the concept. Can you show me, step by step and in simple terms, how I would go about solving a probl      Log On


   

Question 42612: Right now we are studying Radicals and Rational Exponents and I'm not grasping the concept. Can you show me, step by step and in simple terms, how I would go about solving a problem such as this:
Solve the following equations.
a) radical symbol x^2 - 1 = 3

Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Solve:
Is it sqrt%28x%5E2-1%29+=+3 ?
or sqrt%28x%5E2%29+-+1+=+3 ?
For the first one:
sqrt%28x%5E2-1%29+=+3 Square both sides.
x%5E2-1+=+9 Add 1 to both sides.
x%5E2+=+10 Finally, take the square root of both sides.
x+=+sqrt%2810%29 or x+=+-sqrt%2810%29
For the second one:
sqrt%28x%5E2%29+-+1+=+3 First add 1 to both sides,
sqrt%28x%5E2%29+=+4 Then square both sides.
x%5E2+=+16 Finally, take the square root of both sides.
x+=+4 or x+=+-4