How do you solve #(x + \frac { 5} { 2} ) ^ { 2} = \frac { 17} { 4}#?
1 Answer
Jul 20, 2017
Explanation:
#color(blue)"take the square root of both sides"#
#sqrt((x+5/2)^2)=+-sqrt(17/4)larr" note plus or minus"#
#rArrx+5/2=+-sqrt17/2#
#"subtract " 5/2" from both sides"#
#xcancel(+5/2)cancel(-5/2)=+-sqrt17/2-5/2#
#rArrx=-5/2+-sqrt17/2larrcolor(red)" exact values"#
#rArrx=-5/2+sqrt17/2~~-0.438" to 3 dec. places"#
#"or "x=-5/2-sqrt17/2~~-4.562" to 3 dec. places"#
