Confused with the answer<> seems correct buttht's wrong wrong?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter vkash
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Confused
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on solving the equation sqrt(x+1) - sqrt(x-1) = sqrt(4x-1). The user initially finds a solution of x = 5/4 after squaring both sides but discovers that this value does not satisfy the original equation. The key takeaway is that squaring both sides of an equation can introduce extraneous solutions, leading to incorrect conclusions about the existence of real solutions. The discussion emphasizes the importance of verifying solutions against the original equation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of square roots and their properties
  • Familiarity with algebraic manipulation and equation solving
  • Knowledge of the implications of squaring both sides of an equation
  • Basic grasp of real numbers and their properties
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of squaring both sides of equations in algebra
  • Learn about extraneous solutions in algebraic equations
  • Explore methods for verifying solutions to equations
  • Investigate the properties of square roots and their domains
USEFUL FOR

Students, educators, and anyone involved in algebra who seeks to deepen their understanding of solving equations and the potential pitfalls of manipulating them.

vkash
Messages
316
Reaction score
1
confused with the answer<> seems correct buttht's wrong wrong??

question is
find solution
sqrt(x+1)-sqrt(x-1)=sqrt(4x-1)
sqrt(x+1)-sqrt(x-1)=sqrt(4x-1) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (1)
squaring both sides
(x+1)+(x-1)-2*sqrt(x2-1)=4x-1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (2)
solving and rearranging
1-2x=2*sqrt(x2-1) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -(3)
once again squaring both sides;
1-4x= -4
x=5/4;
But it does not satisfy the first equation.
it also doesn't satisfying equation number three, Is it reason for this?
If yes then why it is so?>?>?>?>?>?>(this is my question)
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org


Are you sure that your solution doesn't satisfy those equations? When you take the square root of a number, how many solutions do you get?
 


You seem to have started with an equation that doesn't have any real solutions. Let's consider a simpler problem: Find all real numbers x such that ##\sqrt x =-1##. If you square both sides, you get x=1. But x=1 doesn't satisfy the original equation, since ##\sqrt 1=1\neq -1##.

By squaring both sides, we only proved that if ##\sqrt x=-1##, then ##x=1##. This is an implication, not an equivalence, since x=1 doesn't imply ##\sqrt x=-1##. So we can't conclude that x=1. We can only conclude that there are no solutions with x≠1.
 


jamesrc said:
Are you sure that your solution doesn't satisfy those equations? When you take the square root of a number, how many solutions do you get?
I'm not sure where you're going with this question.

When you take the square root of a number, you get one value. Were you going to suggest that there are two?
 


vkash said:
question is

sqrt(x+1)-sqrt(x-1)=sqrt(4x-1) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (1)
squaring both sides
(x+1)+(x-1)-2*sqrt(x2-1)=4x-1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (2)
solving and rearranging
1-2x=2*sqrt(x2-1) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -(3)
once again squaring both sides;
1-4x= -4
x=5/4;
But it does not satisfy the first equation.
it also doesn't satisfying equation number three, Is it reason for this?
If yes then why it is so?>?>?>?>?>?>(this is my question)
Equation (3) lhs = -3/2, rhs = 3/2, so the squares are =, which is the source of your problem.
 


thanks to all of you;
i have got the point of error.
squaring add some extra answers to our solutions...
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K