I can't recall how to simplify square roots and am stuck on the following problem:

Question

(-3a)x = √7x+3

x = -1/4

I am trying to solve for a (since this is part of a group of questions that feed of previous answers, I'm absolutely at a stand-still).

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Answer 1

clarification with parentheses would be good

Answer 2

(-3a)x = √(7x)+3

Right, sorry. I meant to put them in but I'm a bit frazzled. This lot of homework is due tomorrow so I'm kind of everywhere.

Answer 3

(-3a)x = √(7x)+3
divide by -3x and you have
a = (√(7x)+3)/(-3x)
= √(7x)/(-3x) - 1/x
Now assuming that x >= 0 (so √(7x) is real)
= -1/3 √(7/x) - 1/x

An odd sort of problem. As given here, it really has very little to do with simplifying square roots.

Or, given x = -1/4, √(7x) is not even real, so I still suspect trouble.

Answer 4

I wonder if there was a typo in the worksheet. Either way, I'm grateful to you for typing this out for me, I think I get the idea now (which is good, another worksheet has more of the same).

Thanks Steve!