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Exercise 952Algebra › Equations and radicalsHigh schoolAdded 3 Nov 2026

Two square roots

#radical equation#squaring twice#conditions

Statement

Solve in R\mathbb{R} the equation
x+3+2x−1=4.\sqrt{x+3}+\sqrt{2x-1}=4.

Hint

Isolate one root, square, isolate again, square.

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Solution

Conditions. x≥−3x\ge-3 and x≥1/2x\ge1/2, so x≥1/2x\ge1/2.

First squaring. Isolate: 2x−1=4−x+3\sqrt{2x-1}=4-\sqrt{x+3}. The RHS must be ≥0\ge0, so x+3≤4\sqrt{x+3}\le4, i.e. x≤13x\le13.
Square:
2x−1=16−8x+3+x+3,2x-1=16-8\sqrt{x+3}+x+3,
i.e.
x−20=−8x+3.x-20=-8\sqrt{x+3}.
For the RHS to be ≥0\ge0, we need x≤20x\le20 (already have x≤13x\le13). Also x−20<0x-20<0 and −8x+3≤0-8\sqrt{x+3}\le0, so both sides are negative; squaring is valid.

Second squaring. (x−20)2=64(x+3)(x-20)^2=64(x+3), i.e. x2−40x+400=64x+192x^2-40x+400=64x+192, i.e. x2−104x+208=0x^2-104x+208=0.

Roots.
x=104±10816−8322=104±99842.x=\frac{104\pm\sqrt{10816-832}}{2}=\frac{104\pm\sqrt{9984}}{2}.
9984=64⋅156=8156=1639\sqrt{9984}=\sqrt{64\cdot156}=8\sqrt{156}=16\sqrt{39}.
So x=52±839x=52\pm8\sqrt{39}.

Check conditions. 839≈49.968\sqrt{39}\approx49.96, so x1≈2.04x_1\approx2.04 (valid, ≥1/2\ge1/2 and ≤13\le13) and x2≈101.96x_2\approx101.96 (invalid, >13>13).

Conclusion. x=52−839x=52-8\sqrt{39}.