Algebra and Trigonometry

Seventh Edition, Global Edition

Chapter 1
Equations and
Inequalities

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Section 1.6 Other Types of Equations

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Objectives
1. Solve polynomial equations by factoring.
2. Solve radical equations.
3. Solve equations with rational exponents.
4. Solve equations that are quadratic in form.
5. Solve equations involving absolute value.
6. Solve problems modeled by equations.

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Polynomial Equations
A polynomial equation is the result of setting
two polynomials equal to each other.

The equation is in standard form if one side

is 0 and the polynomial on the other side is in
descending powers of the variable.

The degree of a polynomial equation is the same

as the highest degree of any term in the equation.

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Example 2: Solving a Polynomial
Equation by Factoring (1 of 2)
Solve by factoring: 2 x 3  3 x 2 8 x  12.

Step 1 Move all nonzero terms to one side and

obtain zero on the other side.
2 x 3  3 x 2  8 x  12 0
Step 2 Factor.

x 2 (2 x  3)  4(2 x  3) 0
2
(2 x  3)( x  4) 0
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Example 2: Solving a Polynomial
Equation by Factoring (2 of 2)
Steps 3 and 4 Set each factor equal to zero and solve
the resulting equations.
(2 x  3)( x 2  4) 0
2 x  3 0 x 2  4 0
2 x  3
x 2 4
3
x  x  4 2
2
 3 
The solution set is   , 2 .
 2 
Step 5 Check the solutions in the original equation.
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Radical Equations
A radical equation is an equation in which the
variable occurs in a square root, cube root, or any
higher root.

We solve radical equations with nth roots by raising

both sides of the equation to the nth power.

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Solving Radical Equations
Containing nth Roots
1. If necessary, arrange terms so that one radical is
isolated on one side of the equation.
2. Raise both sides of the equation to the nth power
to eliminate the isolated nth root.
3. Solve the resulting equation. If this equation still
contains radicals, repeat steps 1 and 2.
4. Check all proposed solutions in the original
equation.

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Example 3: Solving a Radical
Equation (1 of 3)
Solve: x  3  3  x.

Step 1 Isolate a radical on one side.

x  3 x  3
Step 2 Raise both sides to the nth power.

 
2
x  3  x  3
2

x  3 x 2  6 x  9
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Example 3: Solving a Radical
Equation (2 of 3)
Step 3 Solve the resulting equation.
2
x  3 x  6 x  9
0 x 2  7 x  6
0 ( x  6)( x  1)
x  6 0 x  1 0
x 6 x 1

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Example 3: Solving a Radical
Equation (3 of 3)
Step 4 Check the proposed solutions in the original equation.

Check 6: Check 1:

x  3  3 x x  3  3 x
6  3  3 6 1  3  3 1
9  3 6 4  3 1
3  3 6 2  3 1
6 6 5 1
True False

1 is an extraneous solution. The only solution is x = 6.

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Equations With Rational Exponents
We know that rational exponents represent radicals:
m

 
m
a 
n n
a n am .

A radical equation with rational exponents can be

solved by

1. isolating the expression with the rational exponent,

and

2. raising both sides of the equation to a power that is

the reciprocal of the rational exponent.
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Example 5a: Solving Equations
Involving Rational Exponents
3
Solve: 5 x  25 0.
2
3
5 x 25
2

3
5x 25
2

5 5
3
x 5
2

2
  3 32 2

 x  5
2 3
x 5 3 x  3 52 or 3
25
 
The proposed solution does check.
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Equations That Are Quadratic in Form
An equation that is quadratic in form is one that
can be expressed as a quadratic equation using
an appropriate substitution.

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Example 6: Solving an Equation
Quadratic in Form
Solve: x 4  5 x 2  6 0.

Notice that x 4 ( x 2 ) 2 , so we let u x 2 .

u 2  5u  6 0
(u  2)(u  3) 0

u  2 0  u 2 u  3 0  u 3
x 2 2 x 2 3
x  2 x  3

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Equations Involving Absolute Value
The absolute value of x describes the distance
of x from zero on a number line. To solve an
absolute value equation, we rewrite the absolute
value equation without absolute value bars.
Rewriting an Absolute Value Equation without
Absolute Value Bars

If c is a positive real number and u represents an

algebraic expression, then u c is equivalent to
u c or u  c.
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Example 9: Solving an Equation
Involving Absolute Value
Solve: 2 x  1 5.

2 x  1 5 or 2 x  1  5

2 x 6 2 x  4
x 3 x  2

The solution set is   2, 3 .

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Example 11: Applications
The formula H  2.3 I  67.6 models weekly television
viewing time, H, in hours, by annual income, I, in thousands
of dollars. What annual income corresponds to 33.1 hours
per week watching TV?

 I
2
15
2
33.1  2.3 I  67.6 
 34.5  2.3 I 225 I
15  I
An annual income of $225,000 corresponds to 33.1 hours
per week watching TV.
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