E. Solving Radical Equations

Balance is the key. Another way to think about algebraic operations when solving equations is to 'undo' what is being 'done'. Balance by 'undoing' (opposite operation) an operation on one side of the equation and then repeat this 'undoing' on the other side of the equation. Each operation is 'undone' until the variable is isolated.

A related Rule of the Game was stated in Unit 1: Radicals Lesson 1.1.

In general, for positive values of x,

Example 1

If x is positive, taking the square root of will yield x.

The square root 'undid' what the squaring was 'doing'.