2. What is a Radical Equation?
An equation that contains radicals
or rational exponents.
Powers property of equality:
So, to solve radical equations:
1. Isolate the radical.
2. Raise both sides to the same
power to cancel the radical.
3. Solving Simple Radical Equations
Solve
Always check your solution(s) in the
original equation!
4. Why Check Each Solution?
We sometimes get “extraneous
solutions” which are not true.
For example:
If we square both sides of
we get x = 1, which is not true.
5. Solving with Rational Exponents
Isolate the power.
Raise both sides to the reciprocal
of the original power.
Example:
Solve
