How do you solve and check for extraneous solutions in 3sqrt(2x+4)=12?

1 Answer
Aug 10, 2015

x = 6

Explanation:

First, isolate the radical on one side of the equation by dividing both sides by

(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3))) * sqrt(2x+4))/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3))) = 12/3

sqrt(2x+4) = 4

Square both sides of the equation to get rid of the square root

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

2x+4 = 16

Finally, isolate x on one side of the equation by adding -4 to both sides and dividing everything by 2

2x + color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4))) - color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4))) = 16 - 4

(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2)))x)/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2))) = 12/2

x = color(green)(6)