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kanewma · Jul 8, 2007, 08:27 PM

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:

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

asterisk_man · Jul 9, 2007, 06:02 AM

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

galactus · Jul 9, 2007, 09:51 AM

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?

asterisk_man · Jul 9, 2007, 10:10 AM

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.

kanewma · Jul 9, 2007, 12:09 PM

Many MANY thanks! :D