# 2.6 Other types of equations  (Page 5/10)

 Page 5 / 10

Solve the following rational equation: $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\frac{-4x}{x-1}+\frac{4}{x+1}=\frac{-8}{{x}^{2}-1}.$

We want all denominators in factored form to find the LCD. Two of the denominators cannot be factored further. However, $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}{x}^{2}-1=\left(x+1\right)\left(x-1\right).\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ Then, the LCD is $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(x+1\right)\left(x-1\right).\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ Next, we multiply the whole equation by the LCD.

$\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill \left(x+1\right)\left(x-1\right)\left[\frac{-4x}{x-1}+\frac{4}{x+1}\right]& =& \left[\frac{-8}{\left(x+1\right)\left(x-1\right)}\right]\left(x+1\right)\left(x-1\right)\hfill \\ \hfill -4x\left(x+1\right)+4\left(x-1\right)& =& -8\hfill \\ \hfill -4{x}^{2}-4x+4x-4& =& -8\hfill \\ \hfill -4{x}^{2}+4& =& 0\hfill \\ \hfill -4\left({x}^{2}-1\right)& =& 0\hfill \\ \hfill -4\left(x+1\right)\left(x-1\right)& =& 0\hfill \\ \hfill x& =& -1\hfill \\ \hfill x& =& 1\hfill \end{array}$

In this case, either solution produces a zero in the denominator in the original equation. Thus, there is no solution.

Solve $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\frac{3x+2}{x-2}+\frac{1}{x}=\frac{-2}{{x}^{2}-2x}.$

$x=-1,$ $x=0$ is not a solution.

Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with different types of equations.

## Key concepts

• Rational exponents can be rewritten several ways depending on what is most convenient for the problem. To solve, both sides of the equation are raised to a power that will render the exponent on the variable equal to 1. See [link] , [link] , and [link] .
• Factoring extends to higher-order polynomials when it involves factoring out the GCF or factoring by grouping. See [link] and [link] .
• We can solve radical equations by isolating the radical and raising both sides of the equation to a power that matches the index. See [link] and [link] .
• To solve absolute value equations, we need to write two equations, one for the positive value and one for the negative value. See [link] .
• Equations in quadratic form are easy to spot, as the exponent on the first term is double the exponent on the second term and the third term is a constant. We may also see a binomial in place of the single variable. We use substitution to solve. See [link] and [link] .

## Verbal

In a radical equation, what does it mean if a number is an extraneous solution?

This is not a solution to the radical equation, it is a value obtained from squaring both sides and thus changing the signs of an equation which has caused it not to be a solution in the original equation.

Explain why possible solutions must be checked in radical equations.

Your friend tries to calculate the value $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}-{9}^{\frac{3}{2}}$ and keeps getting an ERROR message. What mistake is he or she probably making?

He or she is probably trying to enter negative 9, but taking the square root of $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}-9\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ is not a real number. The negative sign is in front of this, so your friend should be taking the square root of 9, cubing it, and then putting the negative sign in front, resulting in $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}-27.$

Explain why $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}|2x+5|=-7\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ has no solutions.

Explain how to change a rational exponent into the correct radical expression.

A rational exponent is a fraction: the denominator of the fraction is the root or index number and the numerator is the power to which it is raised.

## Algebraic

For the following exercises, solve the rational exponent equation. Use factoring where necessary.

${x}^{\frac{2}{3}}=16$

${x}^{\frac{3}{4}}=27$

$x=81$

$2{x}^{\frac{1}{2}}-{x}^{\frac{1}{4}}=0$

${\left(x-1\right)}^{\frac{3}{4}}=8$

$x=17$

${\left(x+1\right)}^{\frac{2}{3}}=4$

${x}^{\frac{2}{3}}-5{x}^{\frac{1}{3}}+6=0$

${x}^{\frac{7}{3}}-3{x}^{\frac{4}{3}}-4{x}^{\frac{1}{3}}=0$

For the following exercises, solve the following polynomial equations by grouping and factoring.

${x}^{3}+2{x}^{2}-x-2=0$

$x=-2,1,-1$

$3{x}^{3}-6{x}^{2}-27x+54=0$

$4{y}^{3}-9y=0$

${x}^{3}+3{x}^{2}-25x-75=0$

${m}^{3}+{m}^{2}-m-1=0$

$m=1,-1$

$2{x}^{5}-14{x}^{3}=0$

$5{x}^{3}+45x=2{x}^{2}+18$

$x=\frac{2}{5}$

For the following exercises, solve the radical equation. Be sure to check all solutions to eliminate extraneous solutions.

$\sqrt{3x-1}-2=0$

$\sqrt{x-7}=5$

$x=32$

$\sqrt{x-1}=x-7$

$\sqrt{3t+5}=7$

$t=\frac{44}{3}$

$\sqrt{t+1}+9=7$

$\sqrt{12-x}=x$

$x=3$

$\sqrt{2x+3}-\sqrt{x+2}=2$

$\sqrt{3x+7}+\sqrt{x+2}=1$

$x=-2$

$\sqrt{2x+3}-\sqrt{x+1}=1$

For the following exercises, solve the equation involving absolute value.

$|3x-4|=8$

$x=4,\frac{-4}{3}$

$|2x-3|=-2$

$|1-4x|-1=5$

$x=\frac{-5}{4},\frac{7}{4}$

$|4x+1|-3=6$

$|2x-1|-7=-2$

$x=3,-2$

$|2x+1|-2=-3$

$|x+5|=0$

$x=-5$

$-|2x+1|=-3$

For the following exercises, solve the equation by identifying the quadratic form. Use a substitute variable and find all real solutions by factoring.

${x}^{4}-10{x}^{2}+9=0$

$x=1,-1,3,-3$

$4{\left(t-1\right)}^{2}-9\left(t-1\right)=-2$

${\left({x}^{2}-1\right)}^{2}+\left({x}^{2}-1\right)-12=0$

$x=2,-2$

${\left(x+1\right)}^{2}-8\left(x+1\right)-9=0$

${\left(x-3\right)}^{2}-4=0$

$x=1,5$

## Extensions

For the following exercises, solve for the unknown variable.

${x}^{-2}-{x}^{-1}-12=0$

$\sqrt{{|x|}^{2}}=x$

All real numbers

${t}^{10}-{t}^{5}+1=0$

$|{x}^{2}+2x-36|=12$

$x=4,6,-6,-8$

## Real-world applications

For the following exercises, use the model for the period of a pendulum, $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}T,$ such that $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}T=2\pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{g}},$ where the length of the pendulum is L and the acceleration due to gravity is $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}g.$

If the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s 2 and the period equals 1 s, find the length to the nearest cm (100 cm = 1 m).

If the gravity is 32 ft/s 2 and the period equals 1 s, find the length to the nearest in. (12 in. = 1 ft). Round your answer to the nearest in.

10 in.

For the following exercises, use a model for body surface area, BSA, such that $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}BSA=\sqrt{\frac{wh}{3600}},$ where w = weight in kg and h = height in cm.

Find the height of a 72-kg female to the nearest cm whose $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}BSA=1.8.$

Find the weight of a 177-cm male to the nearest kg whose $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}BSA=2.1.$

90 kg

A laser rangefinder is locked on a comet approaching Earth. The distance g(x), in kilometers, of the comet after x days, for x in the interval 0 to 30 days, is given by g(x)=250,000csc(π30x). Graph g(x) on the interval [0, 35]. Evaluate g(5)  and interpret the information. What is the minimum distance between the comet and Earth? When does this occur? To which constant in the equation does this correspond? Find and discuss the meaning of any vertical asymptotes.
The sequence is {1,-1,1-1.....} has
how can we solve this problem
Sin(A+B) = sinBcosA+cosBsinA
Prove it
Eseka
Eseka
hi
Joel
June needs 45 gallons of punch. 2 different coolers. Bigger cooler is 5 times as large as smaller cooler. How many gallons in each cooler?
7.5 and 37.5
Nando
find the sum of 28th term of the AP 3+10+17+---------
I think you should say "28 terms" instead of "28th term"
Vedant
the 28th term is 175
Nando
192
Kenneth
if sequence sn is a such that sn>0 for all n and lim sn=0than prove that lim (s1 s2............ sn) ke hole power n =n
write down the polynomial function with root 1/3,2,-3 with solution
if A and B are subspaces of V prove that (A+B)/B=A/(A-B)
write down the value of each of the following in surd form a)cos(-65°) b)sin(-180°)c)tan(225°)d)tan(135°)
Prove that (sinA/1-cosA - 1-cosA/sinA) (cosA/1-sinA - 1-sinA/cosA) = 4
what is the answer to dividing negative index
In a triangle ABC prove that. (b+c)cosA+(c+a)cosB+(a+b)cisC=a+b+c.
give me the waec 2019 questions