Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Radical Equations
Radical equations involve variables within a radical (square root, cube root, etc.). To solve these equations, one typically isolates the radical on one side and then squares both sides to eliminate the radical. This process may introduce extraneous solutions, so it's essential to check all proposed solutions in the original equation.
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Isolating the Radical
Isolating the radical means rearranging the equation so that the radical expression is alone on one side. This step is crucial because it allows for the squaring of both sides, which simplifies the equation. Proper isolation helps in accurately solving the equation and reduces the risk of errors in subsequent steps.
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Extraneous Solutions
Extraneous solutions are solutions that emerge from the algebraic manipulation of an equation but do not satisfy the original equation. When squaring both sides of a radical equation, new solutions may be introduced that are not valid. Therefore, it is important to substitute each proposed solution back into the original equation to verify its validity.
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Categorizing Linear Equations