Question 49192
<pre><font size = 6><b>I am having trouble with the radical 
equations-this is what I have so far:
sqrt of 4x+1,+3=0, I'm sorry I cannot 
copy & paste equation editor in here 
 ____
<font face = "symbol">Ö</font>4x+1 + 3 = 0

Isolate the radical:

 ____
<font face = "symbol">Ö</font>4x+1 = -3

We don't need to continue, because an
even root expressed with a radical is 
by agreement never negative. So the 
left side, being such a radical
cannot equal the negative number
-3 on the right.

Thus at this stage of the game we can
see there is no solution.

However, if it were

 ____
<font face = "symbol">Ö</font>7x+8 - 6 = 0

Then you would first isolate 
the radical term by adding 6 to 
both sides:
    ____
   <font face = "symbol">Ö</font>7x+8 = 6 

Now square both sides of the equation:

     ____
   (<font face = "symbol">Ö</font>7x+8)² = (6)²

On the left squaring a square root just 
takes away the radical, and on the right 
we get 36:

     7x+8 = 36

       7x = 28

        x = 4

Checking:

      ____
     <font face = "symbol">Ö</font>7x+8 = 6
    ______
   <font face = "symbol">Ö</font>7(4)+8 = 6
      ____
     <font face = "symbol">Ö</font>28+6 = 6
        __
       <font face = "symbol">Ö</font>36 = 6

         6 = 6

It checks.

Edwin</pre>