Guided Revision Notes (Teacher's Copy) Chapter 3 Surds

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Chapter 3 Surds
3.2 Solving Equations Involving Surds

A. Concepts

• To solve an equation that involves an unknown under the square root sign, square both sides of
the equation.
E.g. Solve x = 3.
x=3
( x )2 = 3 2
x=9

• Squaring both sides of an equation may introduce an extraeous solution. Hence it is important to
check the solutions to ensure that they satisfy the original equation.

• If a + b k = c + d k , where a, b, c, d are rational and k is irrational, then a = c and b = d.

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Guided Revision Notes (Teacher's Copy) Chapter 3 Surds

B. Textbook Examples

Textbook Example 6________________________________________________________________

[solve equation]

Solve each of the following equations.

(a) 6− x = 3 (b) 2x − 4 – 2 x − 3 = 0 (c) 5x + 1 – x =2

Solution

(a) 6− x = 3
( 6 − x )2 = 3 2 Square both sides of the equation.
6–x=9
x = –3 Check: Substitute x = –3 into the original equation.
LHS = 6 − (−3) = 3
RHS = 3
Hence x = –3 is a solution.

(b) 2x − 4 – 2 x − 3 = 0
( 2 x − 4 )2 = (2 x − 3 )2 Square both sides of the equation.
2x – 4 = 4(x – 3)
2x – 4 = 4x – 12
2x = 8
x=4 Check: Substitute x = –3 into the original equation.
LHS = 2(4) − 4 – 2 4 − 3 = 0
RHS = 0
Hence x = 4 is a solution.

(c) 5x + 1 – x = 2
5x + 1 = x + 2
( 5x + 1 )2 = ( x + 2)2 Square both sides of the equation.
5x + 1 = x + 4 x + 4
4x – 3 = 4 x
(4x – 3)2 = (4 x )2 Square both sides of the equation.
16x2 – 24x + 9 = 16x
16x2 – 40x + 9 = 0
(4x – 1)(4x – 9) = 0
1 9
x = or x =
4 4
1 9
Check: Substitute x = into the original equation. Check: Substitute x = into the original equation.
4 4
1 1 9 9
LHS = 5 × + 1 – =1 LHS = 5 × + 1 – =2
4 4 4 4
RHS = 2 RHS = 2
1 9
Hence x = is not a solution. Hence x = is a solution.
4 4
9
Hence x = .
4

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Guided Revision Notes (Teacher's Copy) Chapter 3 Surds

Textbook Try 6-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Solve each of the following equations.

(a) 2x −1 = 5 (b) 2 x − 1 – 6− x = 0 (c) 3x − 2 = x − 2 + 2

Answer Space

(a) 2x −1 = 5
( 2 x − 1 )2 = 5 2 Square both sides of the equation.
2x – 1 = 25
2x = 26
x = 13

Check: Substitute x = 13 into the original equation.

LHS = 2(13) − 1 = 5
RHS = 5
Hence x = 13 is a solution.

(b) 2 x − 1 – 6 − x = 0
(2 x − 1 )2 = ( 6 − x )2 Square both sides of the equation.
4 (x – 1) = 6 – x
4x – 4 = 6 – x
5x = 10
x=2

Check: Substitute x = 2 into the original equation.

LHS = 2 2 − 1 – 6 − 2 = 0
RHS = 0
Hence x = 2 is a solution.

(c) 3x − 2 = x − 2 + 2
( 3x − 2 )2 = ( x − 2 + 2)2 Square both sides of the equation.
3x – 2 = (x – 2) + 4 x − 2 + 4
2x – 4 = 4 x − 2
(2x – 4)2 = (4 x − 2 )2
4x2 – 16x + 16 = 16(x – 2)
4x2 – 32x + 48 = 0
x2 – 8x + 12 = 0
(x – 2)(x – 6) = 0
x = 2 or x = 6
Check: Substitute x = 2 into the original equation. Check: Substitute x = 6 into the original equation.
LHS = 3(2) − 2 = 2 LHS = 3(6) − 2 = 4
RHS = 2 − 2 + 2 = 2 RHS = 6 − 2 + 2 = 4
Hence x = 2 is a solution. Hence x = 6 is a solution.
Hence x = 2 or x = 6.

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Guided Revision Notes (Teacher's Copy) Chapter 3 Surds

Textbook Example 7________________________________________________________________

[value of unknown constant in identity]

Given that (2 + a 5 )(7 – 2 5 ) = –16 + b 5 , where a and b are integers, find the value of a
and of b.

Solution

(2 + a 5 )(7 – 2 5 ) = –16 + b 5
14 – 4 5 + 7a 5 – 2a(5) = –16 + b 5
(14 – 10a) + (7a – 4) 5 = –16 + b 5
Comparing rational terms, 14 – 10a = –16 (1)
Comparing irrational terms, 7a – 4 = b (2)
Solving equations (1) and (2) simultaneously yields a = 3 and b = 17.

Textbook Try 7-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Given that (4 – 3 3 )(5 – a 3 ) = b – 7 3 , where a and b are integers, find the value of a and of b.

Answer Space

(4 – 3 3 )(5 – a 3 ) = b – 7 3
20 – 4a 3 – 15 3 + 9a = b – 7 3
(20 + 9a) – (4a + 15) 3 = b – 7 3
Comparing rational terms, 20 + 9a = b (1)
Comparing irrational terms, 4a + 15 = 7 (2)
Solving equations (1) and (2) simultaneously yields a = –2 and b = 2.

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Guided Revision Notes (Teacher's Copy) Chapter 3 Surds

C. Additional Examples

Additional Example 2_______________________________________________________________

[value of unknown constant in identity]

3 6 3 3
Find the value of the integer k such that + = k 3+ .
2 3 2

Solution

3 6 3 3
+ = k 3+
2 3 2
3 6 3 3
+ – =k 3
2 3 2
3 6 3 3 3
+ – =k 3
2 3 2
1 3
( + 2 – ) 3= k 3
2 2
3= k 3
Comparing, k = 1.

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Guided Revision Notes (Teacher's Copy) Chapter 3 Surds

Additional Try 2-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 2 3 2
Find the value of the real number k such that + = k 2+ .
4 6 2

Answer Space

2 2 3 2
+ = k 2+
4 6 2
2 2 3 2
+ – =k 2
4 6 2
1 1 3
( + – ) 2= k 2
4 6 2
13
– 2= k 2
12
13
Comparing, k = – .
12

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Guided Revision Notes (Teacher's Copy) Chapter 3 Surds

D. Homework

Textbook Exercise 3.2

Set 1:
Q1 solve equation
Q2 value of unknown constant in identity
Q4 solve equation
Q5 equation with no solutions
Q7 value of unknown constant in identity

Set 2:
Q3 solve equation
Q6 value of unknown constant in identity
Q8 value of unknown constant in identity
Q9 value of unknown constant in identity

Challenging Practice:
Q10 solve equation
Q11 nature of roots

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Guided Revision Notes (Teacher's Copy) Chapter 3 Surds

Chapter 3 Summary
Manipulation of surds

• Using properties:
For a, b > 0, a × b = ab
a a
=
b b
a × a=a

• Rationalising the denominator:

o If the denominator is in the form k , multiply the numerator and denominator by k .
o If the denominator is in the form a + b k , multiply the numerator and denominator by its
conjugate a – b k .
o If the denominator is in the form a h + b k , multiply the numerator and denominator by its
conjugate a h – b k .

Solving surd equations

• We can square both sides of an equation involving surds to solve for the unknown, for example
2 2
x −1 = 3 ⇒ ( x −1 ) = 3 .

• Always check the solutions by substituting the solutions into the original equation.

Finding unknowns in equations involving surds

• We can use the following property of surds to find unknowns in an equation.

If a + b k = c + d k , where a, b, c, d are rational and k is irrational, then a = c and b = d.

Textbook Revision Exercise 3

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