1.3 Solving surd equations | Exponents and surds

1.2 Rational exponents and surds

1.4 Applications of exponentials

1.3 Solving surd equations (EMBFB)

We also need to be able to solve equations that involve surds.

Video: 224P

Worked example 13: Surd equations

Solve for \(x\): \(5\sqrt[3]{x^4} = \text{405}\)

Write in exponential notation

\begin{align*} 5\left( x^4 \right)^{\frac{1}{3}}&= \text{405} \\ 5x^{\frac{4}{3}}&= \text{405} \end{align*}

Divide both sides of the equation by \(\text{5}\) and simplify

\begin{align*} \frac{5x^{\frac{4}{3}}}{5} &= \frac{\text{405}}{5} \\ x^{\frac{4}{3}} &= 81 \\ x^{\frac{4}{3}} &= 3^4 \end{align*}

Simplify the exponents

\begin{align*} \left( x^{\frac{4}{3}} \right)^{\frac{3}{4}} &= \left( 3^4 \right)^{\frac{3}{4}} \\ x &= 3^3 \\ x &= 27 \end{align*}

Check the solution by substituting the answer back into the original equation

\begin{align*} \text{LHS}&= 5\sqrt[3]{x^4} \\ &= 5(27)^{\frac{4}{3}} \\ &= 5(3^3)^{\frac{4}{3}} \\ &= 5(3^4) \\ &= \text{405} \\ &= \text{RHS } \end{align*}

temp text

Worked example 14: Surd equations

Solve for \(z\): \(z - 4\sqrt{z} + 3 = 0\)

Factorise

\begin{align*} z - 4\sqrt{z} + 3 &= 0 \\ z - 4z^{\frac{1}{2}} + 3 &= 0 \\ (z^{\frac{1}{2}}-3)(z^{\frac{1}{2}}-1) &= 0 \end{align*}

Solve for both factors

The zero law states: if \(a \times b = 0\), then \(a = 0\) or \(b = 0\).

\[\therefore (z^{\frac{1}{2}}-3) = 0 \text{ or } (z^{\frac{1}{2}}-1) = 0\]

Therefore

\begin{align*} z^{\frac{1}{2}}-3 &= 0 \\ z^{\frac{1}{2}} &= 3 \\ \left( z^{\frac{1}{2}} \right)^2 &= 3^2 \\ z &= 9 \end{align*}

\begin{align*} z^{\frac{1}{2}}-1 &= 0 \\ z^{\frac{1}{2}} &= 1 \\ \left( z^{\frac{1}{2}} \right)^2 &= 1^2 \\ z &= 1 \end{align*}

Check the solution by substituting both answers back into the original equation

If \(z=9\):

\begin{align*} \text{LHS}&= z - 4\sqrt{z} + 3 \\ &= 9 - 4\sqrt{9} + 3 \\ &= 12 - 12 \\ &= 0 \\ &=\text{RHS } \end{align*}

If \(z=1\):

\begin{align*} \text{LHS} &= z - 4\sqrt{z} + 3 \\ &= 1 - 4\sqrt{1} + 3 \\ &= 4-4 \\ &= 0 \\ &= \text{RHS } \end{align*}

Write the final answer

The solution to \(z - 4\sqrt{z} + 3 = 0\) is \(z = 9\) or \(z = 1\).

temp text

Worked example 15: Surd equations

Solve for \(p\): \(\sqrt{p-2} - 3 = 0\)

Write the equation with only the square root on the left hand side

Use the additive inverse to get all other terms on the right hand side and only the square root on the left hand side.

\[\sqrt{p-2} = 3\]

Square both sides of the equation

\begin{align*} \left( \sqrt{p-2} \right)^2 &= 3^2 \\ p-2 &= 9 \\ p &= 11 \end{align*}

Check the solution by substituting the answer back into the original equation

If \(p=11\):

\begin{align*} \text{LHS} &=\sqrt{p-2} - 3 \\ &=\sqrt{11-2} - 3 \\ &=\sqrt{9} - 3 \\ &= 3-3 \\ &= 0 \\ &= \text{RHS } \end{align*}

Write the final answer

The solution to \(\sqrt{p-2} - 3 = 0\) is \(p = 11\).

temp text

Solving surd equations

Textbook Exercise 1.6

\(2^{x+1} -32 = 0\)

\begin{align*} 2^{x+1}-32&=0 \\ 2^{x+1}&=32 \\ 2^{x+1}&=2^5 \\ \therefore x+1&=5 \\ x&=4 \end{align*}

\(\text{125} \left ( 3^p \right ) = 27 \left ( 5^p \right )\)

\begin{align*} \text{125}\left ( 3^p \right ) &= 27\left ( 5^p \right ) \\ \frac{5^p}{3^p}&=\frac{\text{125}}{27} \\ \left ( \frac{5}{3} \right )^p &= \left ( \frac{5}{3} \right )^3 \\ \therefore p&=3 \end{align*}

\(2y^{\frac{1}{2}} - 3y^{\frac{1}{4}} + 1 = 0\)

\begin{align*} 2y^{\frac{1}{2}}-3y^{\frac{1}{4}}+1&=0 \\ \left ( 2y^\frac{1}{4} -1\right )\left ( y^\frac{1}{4} -1\right )&=0 \\ \text{Therefore } 2y^{\frac{1}{4}}-1&=0 \\ y^{\frac{1}{4}}-\frac{1}{2}&=0 \\ y^\frac{1}{4}&=\frac{1}{2} \\ y^\frac{4}{4} &= \left ( \frac{1}{2} \right )^4 \\ \therefore y&=\frac{1}{16} \\ \text{or} \\ y^\frac{1}{4}-1&=0 \\ y^\frac{1}{4}&=1 \\ \therefore y&=1 \end{align*}

\(t-1 = \sqrt{7-t}\)

\begin{align*} t-1 &= \sqrt{7-t} \\ \left ( t-1 \right )^2 &= \left ( \sqrt{7-t} \right )^2 \\ t^2 - 2t + 1 &= 7-t \\ t^2 - t - 6 &=0 \\ (t - 3)(t + 2)&= 0 \\ \therefore t =3 &\text{ or } t = - 2 \\ \text{Check RHS for } t = 3: &= \sqrt{7-3} \\ &= \sqrt{4} \\ &= 2 \\ &= \text{LHS} \therefore \text{ valid solution }\\ \text{Check RHS for } t = -2: &= \sqrt{7-(-2)} \\ &= \sqrt{9} \\ &= 3 \\ &\ne \text{LHS} \therefore \text{ not valid solution } \end{align*}

\(2z - 7\sqrt{z} + 3 = 0\)

\begin{align*} 2z-7z^\frac{1}{2}+3&=0 \\ \left ( z^\frac{1}{2}-3 \right )\left ( 2z^\frac{1}{2}-1 \right )&=0 \\ \text{Therefore } z^\frac{1}{2}-3&=0 \\ \left ( z^\frac{1}{2} \right )^2 &=3^2 \\ \therefore z&=9 \\ \text{or}\\ 2z^\frac{1}{2}-1&=0 \\ \left ( z^\frac{1}{2} \right )^2&=\left ( \frac{1}{2} \right )^2 \\ \therefore z&=\frac{1}{4} \end{align*}

\(x^{\frac{1}{3}}(x^{\frac{1}{3}} + 1) = 6\)

\begin{align*} x^\frac{1}{3}\left ( x^\frac{1}{3}+1 \right )&=6 \\ x^\frac{2}{3}+x^\frac{1}{3} &=6 \\ \left ( x^\frac{1}{3}-2 \right )\left ( x^\frac{1}{3}+3 \right ) &= 0 \\ \text{Therefore } x^\frac{1}{3}-2 &= 0 \\ x^\frac{1}{3} &= 2 \\ \therefore x&=8 \\ \text{or} \\ x^\frac{1}{3}+3 &= 0 \\ x^\frac{1}{3} &=-3 \\ \therefore x &= -27 \end{align*}

\(2^{4n} - \dfrac{1}{\sqrt[4]{16}} = 0\)

\begin{align*} 2^{4n}-\dfrac{1}{\sqrt[4]{16}}&=0\\ 2^{4n}&=\dfrac{1}{16^\frac{1}{4}} \\ 2^{4n}&=\dfrac{1}{\left (2^4 \right )^\frac{1}{4}} \\ 2^{4n}&=\frac{1}{2} \\ 2^{4n}&=2^{-1} \\ \therefore 4n&=-1 \\ \therefore n &=-\frac{1}{4} \end{align*}

\(\sqrt{31 -10d} = 4 - d\)

\begin{align*} \sqrt{31-10d}&=d-4 \\ \left (\sqrt{31-10d} \right )^2&=\left (d-4 \right )^2 \\ 31-10d&=d^2-8d+16 \\ 0&=d^2+2d-15 \\ 0&=\left ( d-3 \right )\left ( d+5 \right ) \\ \text{Therefore } d&= 3 \\ \text{or} \\ d&= -5 \\ \text{Check LHS for } d = 3: &= \sqrt{31 - 30} \\ &= \sqrt{1} \\ &= 1 \\ &= \text{RHS} \therefore \text{ valid solution }\\ \text{Check LHS for } t = -5: &= \sqrt{31-(-50)} \\ &= \sqrt{81} \\ &= 9 \\ &= \text{RHS} \therefore \text{ valid solution } \end{align*}

\(y - 10\sqrt{y} + 9 = 0\)

\begin{align*} y - 10\sqrt{y} + 9 &= 0 \\ y - 10y^{\frac{1}{2}} + 9 &= 0 \\ \left( y^{\frac{1}{2}} - 1 \right ) \left( y^{\frac{1}{2}} -9 \right ) &= 0 \\ \text{Therefore } y^{\frac{1}{2}} - 1 &= 0 \\ y^{\frac{1}{2}} &= 1 \\ \left( y^{\frac{1}{2}} \right )^2 &= (1)^2 \\ \therefore y &= 1 \\ \text{or} \\ y^{\frac{1}{2}} - 9 & = 0 \\ y^{\frac{1}{2}} &= 9 \\ \left( y^{\frac{1}{2}} \right )^2 &= (9)^2 \\ \therefore y &= 81 \end{align*}

\(f = 2 + \sqrt{19 - 2f}\)

\begin{align*} f &= 2 + \sqrt{19 - 2f} \\ f - 2 &= \sqrt{19 - 2f} \\ \left( f - 2 \right )^2 &= \left( \sqrt{19 - 2f} \right )^2 \\ f^2 - 4f + 4 &= 19 - 2f \\ f^2 - 2f -15 &= 0 \\ (f - 5)(f + 3) &= 0 \\ \text{Therefore } f - 5 &= 0 \\ \therefore f &= 5 \\ \text{or} \\ f + 3 & = 0 \\ \therefore f &= -3 \\ \text{Check RHS for } f = 5: &= 2 + \sqrt{19 - 10} \\ &= 2 + \sqrt{9} \\ &= 5 \\ &= \text{LHS} \therefore \text{ valid solution }\\ \text{Check RHS for } f = -3: &= 2 + \sqrt{19 + 6}\\ &= 2 + \sqrt{25} \\ &= 7 \\ &\ne \text{LHS} \therefore \text{ not valid solution } \end{align*}

1.2 Rational exponents and surds

Table of Contents

1.4 Applications of exponentials