How do you solve sqrt(35x) + 120 = x+12?

1 Answer
Alan P.
Apr 23, 2015

Move all terms except the square root to one side of the equation and leave the square root on the other.
Square both sides.
Simplify and (hopefully) solve the resultant quadratic.

sqrt(35x) + 120 = x+12

sqrt(35x) = x-108

35x = x^2 -216x +108^2

x^2 - 251x + 11664= 0

If I haven't made a mistake, things get a bit ugly...

using the formula for quadratic roots
(-b+-sqrt(b^2-4ac))/(2a)

we get the factors
(x-61.576)(x-189.424)

That is
x= -61.576
or
x= -189.424

Related questions
See all questions in Radical Equations
Impact of this question
1709 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License