assignment 12

course MTH 158

7/1/09 10:00 P.M.

If your solution to stated problem does not match the given solution, you should self-critique per instructions at http://vhcc2.vhcc.edu/dsmith/geninfo/labrynth_created_fall_05/levl1_22/levl2_81/file3_259.htm.

Your solution, attempt at solution:

If you are unable to attempt a solution, give a phrase-by-phrase interpretation of the problem along with a statement of what you do or do not understand about it. This response should be given, based on the work you did in completing the assignment, before you look at the given solution.

012. `* 12

* 1.4.12 (was 1.4.6). Explain how you found the real solutions of the equation (1-2x)^(1/3) - 1 = 0

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Your solution:

1-2x)^1/3 - 1 = 0

(1-2x)1/3 = 1

{(1-2x)^1/3)^3=1^3

1-2x=1

-2x= 1-1

x=0

Confidence rating: 3

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Given Solution:

* * Starting with

(1-2x)^(1/3)-1=0

add 1 to both sides to get

(1-2x)^(1/3)=1

then raise both sides to the power 3 to get

[(1-2x)^(1/3)]^3 = 1^3.

Since [(1-2x)^(1/3)]^3 = (1 - 2x) ^( 1/3 * 3) = (1-2x)^1 = 1 - 2x we have

1-2x=1.

Adding -1 to both sides we get

-2x=0

so that

x=0.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Self-critique Rating:

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Question: * 1.4.28 (was 1.4.18). Explain how you found the real solutions of the equation sqrt(3x+7) + sqrt(x+2) = 1.

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Your solution:

sqrt(3x+7) + sqrt(x+2)=1

(sqrt(3x+7)^2=(1-sart(x+2))^2

-2 - x - 3x +7 = 1- 2*sqrt(x+2)

4x^2+16x+16x = 0

- 4x - 8

4x^2 + 12x + 8 = 0

divide both sides by 4

(x+1)(x+2)=0

{x=-1, or x= -2}

x = -2 is the only solution that works

Confidence rating: 3

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Given Solution:

* * Starting with

sqrt(3x+7)+sqrt(x+2)=1

we could just square both sides, recalling that (a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2 a b + b^2.

This would be valid but instead we will add -sqrt(x+2) to both sides to get a form with a square root on both sides. This choice is arbitrary; it could be done either way. We get

sqrt(3x+7)= -sqrt(x+2) + 1 .

Now we square both sides to get

sqrt(3x+7)^2 =[ -sqrt(x+2) +1]^2.

Expanding the right-hand side using (a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2 a b + b^2 with a = -sqrt(x+2) and b = 1:

3x+7= x+2 - 2sqrt(x+2) +1.

Note that whatever we do we can't avoid that term -2 sqrt(x+2).

Simplifying

3x+7= x+ 3 - 2sqrt(x+2)

then adding -(x+3) we have

3x+7-x-3 = -2sqrt(x+2).

Squaring both sides we get

(2x+4)^2 = (-2sqrt(x+2))^2.

Note that when you do this step you square away the - sign. This can result in extraneous solutions.

We get

4x^2+16x+16= 4(x+2).

Applying the distributive law we have

4x^2+16x+16=4x+8.

Adding -4x - 8 to both sides we obtain

4x^2+12x+8=0.

Factoring 4 we get

4*((x+1)(x+2)=0

and dividing both sides by 4 we have

(x+1)(x+2)=0

Applying the zero principle we end up with

(x+1)(x+2)=0

so that our potential solution set is

x= {-1, -2}.

Both of these solutions need to be checked in the original equation sqrt(3x+7)+sqrt(x+2)=1

As it turns out:

the solution -1 gives us sqrt(4) + sqrt(1) = 1 or 2 + 1 = 1, which isn't true,

while

the solution -2 gives us sqrr(1) + sqrt(0) = 1 or 1 + 0 = 1, which is true.

x = -1 is an extraneous solution that was introduced in our squaring step.

Thus our only solution is x = -2. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Self-critique Rating:

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Question: * 1.4.40 (was 1.4.30). Explain how you found the real solutions of the equation x^(3/4) - 9 x^(1/4) = 0.

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Your solution:

x^3/4 - 9x^1/4 = 0

-8x^2/4 = -8x^1/2 = 0

(-8x^1/2)^2=(0)^2

64x/64=0/64

x= 0

Confidence rating: 2

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Given Solution:

* * Here we can factor x^(1/4) from both sides:

Starting with

x^(3/4) - 9 x^(1/4) = 0

we factor as indicated to get

x^(1/4) ( x^(1/2) - 9) = 0.

Applying the zero principle we get

x^(1/4) = 0 or x^(1/2) - 9 = 0

which gives us

x = 0 or x^(1/2) = 9.

Squaring both sides of x^(1/2) = 9 we get x = 81.

So our solution set is {0, 81). **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

I see where I went wrong by not factoring to start with

Good. Be sure you also see how you made an error with the laws of exponents (x^(3/4) and x^(1/4) are not like terms and cannot be added; the exponents don't add)

Self-critique Rating:

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Question: * 1.4.46 (was 1.4.36). Explain how you found the real solutions of the equation x^6 - 7 x^3 - 8 =0

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Your solution:

x^6-7x^3-8=0

u^2-7u-8=0

factor to get

(u-8)(u+1)

u=8

u=-1

substitute the answer back in the problem to get

8^2-7(8)-8=0

64-56-8=0

64-64=0

cube root 8 to get (2)

x=(2)

cube root (-1)

x= (-1)

Confidence rating: 2

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Given Solution:

* * Let a = x^3.

Then a^2 = x^6 and the equation x^6 - 7x^3 - 8=0 becomes

a^2 - 7 a - 8 = 0.

This factors into

(a-8)(a+1) = 0,

with solutions

a = 8, a = -1.

Since a = x^3 the solutions are

x^3 = 8 and

x^3 = -1.

We solve these equations to get

x = 8^(1/3) = 2

and

x = (-1)^(1/3) = -1.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Self-critique Rating:

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Question: * 1.4.64 (was 1.4.54). Explain how you found the real solutions of the equation x^2 - 3 x - sqrt(x^2 - 3x) = 2.

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Your solution:

x^2-3x-sqrt(x^2-3x)=2

= u^2-u=2

u^2-u-2=0

factors to

(u-2(u+1)=0

u= 2 or u = -1

substitute back in the equation

x^2-3x-2=2

x^2-3x-4 = 0

factors to

(x-4)(x+1)

x= 4 or x = -1

Confidence rating: 2

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Given Solution:

* * Let u = sqrt(x^2 - 3x).

Then u^2 = x^2 - 3x, and the equation is

u^2 - u = 2.

Rearrange to get

u^2 - u - 2 = 0.

Factor to get

(u-2)(u+1) = 0.

Solutions are u = 2, u = -1.

Substituting x^2 - 3x back in for u we get

sqrt(x^2 - 3 x) = 2

and

sqrt(x^2 - 3 x) = -1.

The second is impossible since sqrt can't be negative.

The first gives us

sqrt(x^2 - 3x) = 2

so

x^2 - 3x = 4.

Rearranging we have

x^2 - 3x - 4 = 0

so that

(x-4)(x+1) = 0

and

x = -4 or x = 1.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Did I get the answer wrong? Should it have been -4 and 1.....If it is Im not sure where Im going wrong with that problem.

You're right. Thanks for pointing that out.

Self-critique Rating:

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Question: * 1.4.92 \ 90 (was 1.4.66). Explain how you found the real solutions of the equation x^4 + sqrt(2) x^2 - 2 = 0.

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Your solution:

I couldnt figure out how to substitute to come up with an equation I could work with on this problem until

I looked at your solution. I need to work a little more on these type of problems

Confidence rating: 0

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Given Solution:

* * Starting with

x^4+ sqrt(2)x^2-2=0

we let u=x^2 so that u^2 = x^4 giving us the equation

u^2 + sqrt(2)u-2=0

Using the quadratic formula

u=(-sqrt2 +- sqrt(2-(-8))/2

so

u=(-sqrt2+-sqrt10)/2

Note that u = (-sqrt(2) - sqrt(10) ) / 2 is negative, and u = ( -sqrt(2) + sqrt(10) ) / 2 is positive.

u = x^2, so u can only be positive. Thus the only solutions are the solutions to the equation come from

x^2 = ( -sqrt(2) + sqrt(10) ) / 2.

The solutions are

x = sqrt( ( -sqrt(2) + sqrt(10) ) / 2 )

and

x = -sqrt( ( -sqrt(2) + sqrt(10) ) / 2 ).

Approximations to three significant figures are

x = .935

and

x = -.935.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Self-critique Rating:

Add comments on any surprises or insights you experienced as a result of this assignment.

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&#Your work looks good. See my notes. Let me know if you have any questions. &#