If an equation involves fractions, we can eliminate them by multiplying both sides by the least common denominator and then solving as before. However, we must be careful to check for extraneous solutions which multiplying by the common denominator may have introduced.
We solve radical equations by raising both sides of the equation to
the same power. The principle is that
Again, we must be careful to check for extraneous solutions.
Be sure you've gone through each step in the examples above before doing these. Once you've worked them until you're sure that you understand them, go on to the next section. There are more problems of this type in the section test at the end of the section.
Note that you can get new practice problems by clicking the "Refresh" button at the bottom of the practice set.