In your opinion is the solution to this Mathematical problem correct?

Question

My Mathematics tutor send me an email, about how to solve a certain type of Math problem.

I asked her, how would you solve the following question.

Squareroot (x+3) = P where the task is to make x the subject...

Now she used this method, but i have my doubts if it is correct or not:

Squareroot(x+3)=P
take 3 over to the other side so Squareroot x=P-3
To get rid of the squareroot bring it over to the other side
and hence the answer will be x=P^2 - 3.

Answer 1

no the method is incorrect, you can not take numbers out of a square root that easily. Although, you tutors final answer is correct.

The correct procedure would be

square both sides so that

(x+3)= p^2

then subtract 3 from both sides so that

x = p^2 - 3

Answer 2

the answer is correct but solution is wrong.

"take 3 over to the other side so Squareroot x=P-3
To get rid of the squareroot bring it over to the other side
and hence the answer will be x=P^2 - 3."

you can not just move a number, especially when it is squared... and... the number or the process you apply on one side applies and should apply to all.

the process is this

GIVEN : squareroot(x+3) = P
find: X

1st. raise the equation by 2
[squareroot (x+3) = P ] ^ 2

leaving you with
(x+3) = P^2

2nd: you transpose 3 so that you'll be left with x; thus

x= P^2 - 3


If you're asking why you should raise everything by 2 its because

if, for example, you are given squareroot of X it is the same as raising x to 1/2
thus (x ) ^ 1/2

to remove 1/2 you have to raise the equation { (x) ^ 1/2 } with 2
because in basic algebra

(x^m)^n = x^mn
multiplying m to n

thus

(x^1/2)^2 = x ^ (1/2 multiplied by 2)

note that 1/2 multiplied to 2 equals to 1
thus

x ^ 1
which is also equal to x
....

hope this helps!

hey this can help me with my math assignments... Hmmm?
wow people are getting duhhhhhhh....

Answer 3

1st step is incorrect. You must first square both sides of equasion. Brings x+3=P^2 Then you can solve for x, subtracting 3 from both sides leaving x=P^2-3. You got the same answer but without proper method. Method is important. An equasion must maintain equality throughout the solving. If you do something to one side, you must do it to the other side too. Your statement "take 3 over to the other side so .. is incorrect. You would have to square both sides first before you take 3 to other side because the square root function is on both the x and the 3 and x cannot be separated without squaring in that situation.

Answer 4

The answer is correct but the method described is wrong and filled with math errors.; You can't just take 3 from the square root and move it and if you get rid of the square root you have to square everything on the right hand side. If I were you, I'd find a new teacher.

Answer 5

Any self-respecting maths teacher would have done it this way:

1) Square both sides to get rid of the square root:

x + 3 = P^2

2) Subtract 3 from both sides to leave x as the subject

x = P^2 - 3

Simple, really..........

Answer 6

If the square-root covers both the x and the +3, then it has to be the first thing to move over.

So Square-root (x+3) = P
x+3 = P^2
x = P^2 - 3

Now your tutor got the answer right - by luck, if that was her working out! I'd start worrying about the rest of her working out too...

Answer 7

Squareroot (x+3) = P
square each side
x+3=P^2
>>>x=P^2-3

therefore,

x=P^2-3

i hope that this helps

Answer 8

Sqrt(x+3) = p
x+3 = p^2 (squaring both sides)
x = p^2 - 3 (subtracting 3 from both sides)

Find a new tutor.

Answer 9

I think your teacher is one lesson in front of you, most teachers these days brush up on the lessons in the coursework just before they teach you. I was a lab tech in a physics department when I was at college and all they did was read up on the coursework before the lesson and make sure they had the teachers edition with the answers in it in front of them. So chances are she got the answer out of a book and then flannelled you when you asked her how she arrived at the answer she did.

Answer 10

√(x + 3) = P

Hint: with equations,always do the same thing to both sides

Square both sides

x + 3 = P²

Take 3 from both sides

x = P² - 3

Which is the same answer as the teacher`s I`m pleased to say!