Hello, I am having problems solving the below; I have tried (repeatedly) using the instructions in my textbook but am not having much success. Can someone please help?

2x+5 - x-2 = 3 where (2x+5) is a complete radical as is (x-2).

Trying to insert a very crude drawing of the above:
http://www.ziacompucon.com/personal/problem1.bmp

THANK YOU in advance; this is driving me buggy! :confused:

Well, I can tell you the answer but I'm not sure how you're supposed to get there. But it's early on a Monday morning so maybe someone else can poke their head in and save me

You have \sqrt{2x+5}-\sqrt{x-2}=3

Square both sides and get:

-2\sqrt{x-2}\sqrt{2x+5}+3x+3=9

-2\sqrt{x-2}\sqrt{2x+5}=6-3x

Square both sides again and get:

8x^{2}+4x-40=9x^{2}-36x+36

Now, take it from there?

Thanks for saving me galactus! I was going in that direction this morning but I couldn't muster enough consciousness to get as far as you did! Your answer is definitely correct.

Many MANY thanks! :D