1.

6 OTHER TYPES OF EQUATIONS

◼ Objectives:
◼ Solving other types of equations
The Other Types of Equations Are:
1. Polynomial Equations
2. Rational Equations
3. Radical Equations

4. Equations that are Quadratic in Form

1. Polynomial Equations
Some polynomial equations that are neither linear nor quadratic
can be solved by factoring.

Ex. Solve by factoring: 3x4 = 27x2

Solution: 3x4 – 27x2 = 0

3x2(x2 – 9) = 0 Factor
 3x2 = 0 or x2 – 9 = 0 Zero product principle

x2 = 0 x2 = 9
x= 0 x =  9 Apply the square root method.
x=0 x = 3
Checking results confirms the solution set is − 3, 0, 3.
Ex. Solve by factoring: x3 + x2 = 4x + 4

Solution: x3 + x2 – 4x – 4 = 0

x2(x + 1) – 4 (x + 1) = 0 Factor the GCF

(x + 1) (x2 – 4) = 0 Factor
 (x + 1) = 0 or (x2 – 4) = 0 Apply the zero product principle.
x =–1 x2 = 4 Solve the resulting equations
x = 2
Checking results confirms the solution set is − 2 , − 1, 2.

2. Rational Equations
A rational equation is an equation that involves fractions in
which the numerators and/or the denominators of the fractions
are polynomials.

x 9
For instance: = −5
x −3 x −3
 1 5 6
Ex. Solve the equation: − =
x − 4 x + 2 x2 − 2x − 8

1 5 6
− = Factor
x − 4 x + 2 ( x − 4)( x + 2)

Multiply both sides by LCD: (x-4)(x+2); x  4, -2

( x − 4)( x + 2) 1 − 5  = ( x − 4)( x + 2)  6

x−4 x + 2 ( x − 4)( x + 2)
1 5 6
( x − 4)( x + 2) − ( x − 4)( x + 2) = ( x − 4)( x + 2) 
x−4 x+2 ( x − 4)( x + 2)

x + 2 – 5x + 20 = 6 x = 4,

Since x  4, there is no solution.

Ex. Solve the following equations:
30 20
1. =
10 + x 10 − x

s 4
2. +3=
s −4 s −4
Ex. Solve the following equations:
3x + 1 1
3. 2 =
x −1 x +1

x −6
4. = 2
x − 3 x − 8x + 15
3. Radical Equations.
Equations containing variables within radical signs.

For instance: x + 9 + x = 7, x − 3 = 3, 3 x + 1 + 2 = 3

The Power Principle:

If P and Q are algebraic expressions and n is a positive integer,
then every solution of P=Q is a solution of Pn=Qn.
To solve a radical equation containing one square root:
1. Isolate the radical on one side of the equation.
2. Square both sides of the equation.
3. Solve for the variable.
4. Check the solutions.

Ex. Solve: x + 26 − 11x = 4

Solution:
26 − 11x = 4 − x Isolate the radical on one side.

( 26 − 11x ) = (4 − x )
2 2
Square both sides.
26 – 11x = 16 – 8x + x2 Simplify
0 = x2 + 3x – 10 Factor.
0 = (x + 5)(x – 2) x = – 5 or x=2

Checking results confirms the solution set is − 5, 2.

Ex. : Solve .

2 • 3 3x + 3 = x

x +2 x +2 =6
To solve a radical equation containing two square roots:
1. Isolate one radical on one side of the equation.
2. Square both sides of the equation.
3. Isolate the other radical.
4. Solve the equation.
5. Check the solutions.

Extraneous Solutions
Any solution of Pn=Qn that is not a solution of P=Q. These
solutions may be introduced whenever we raise each side of an
equation to an even power.

Ex. Solve 3x + 1 − x + 4 = 1
Solution: 3x + 1 = x + 4 + 1 Isolate one radical

( 3x + 1) = ( x + 4 + 1)
2 2 Square both sides
3x + 1 = x + 4 + 2 x + 4 + 1
2x − 4 = 2 x + 4 Isolate the radical
(2 x − 4 ) = (2 x + 4 )
2 2
Square both sides
4x2 – 16x + 16 = 4(x + 4) Simplify
4x2 – 20x = 0 Factor
4x(x – 5) = 0
x = 0 or x = 5
Checking results confirms the solution set is 5.

x = 0 is an extraneous solution
Ex. Solve the following equations:

1. x+3−5=0

2. 4 x − x = 3

3. x+8+ x =4
4. x−2 = x−4

5. 4x +1 − 2x + 4 = 1

6. 5x −1 − 3x − 2 = 1
 Solving Radical Equations of the Form x m/n = k
Assume that m and n are positive integers, m/n is in lowest terms,
and k is a real number.

1. Isolate the expression with the rational exponent.

2. Raise both sides of the equation to the n/m power.
If m is even: If m is odd:
x m/n = k x m/n = k
(x m/n) n/m = k (xm/n) n/m = k n/m
x = k n/m x = kn/m

Note: An odd index has only one root to consider.

3. Check all proposed solutions in the original equations to find out
if they are actual solutions
 Ex. Solve 3x3/4 –6=0 Ex. Solve x 2/3
− 34 = − 12
Solution: Solution:
3x3/4 =6 x 2/3
= 14
(x )
3x3 / 4 6
3
=
3
2 / 3 3/ 2
= ( )
1 3/ 2
4

x3/4 = 2 x =  18
(x3/4)4/3 = 24/3
x = 24/3

Checking confirms the Checking confirms the

solution set is 2 4 / 3 . solution set is − 1 , 1 .
8 8

Ex.. Solve x2/5 - 1= 0

4. Equations that are Quadratic in form
The equation x4 – 8x2 – 9 = 0 is said to be quadratic in form,
which means it can be written in the form: t2 – 8t – 9 = 0, where, t
= x2. We first solve for u, then substitute t = x2 to find the
solutions of the original equations.
Ex. Solve x4 – 8x2 – 9 = 0
Solution: (x2)2 – 8 x2 – 9 = 0
t2–8t–9=0 Replace x2 with t
(t – 9)(t + 1) = 0 Factor.
t – 9 = 0 or t + 1 = 0 Solve for t
t=9 t=–1 Substitute and solve for x.
x2 = 9 x2 = – 1
x= 9 x =  −1
x=3 x=i
The solution set is − 3, 3, − i , i.
Ex. Solve 5x2/3 + 11x1/3 + 2 = 0
Solution: Replace x1/3 with t

5t 2 + 11t + 2 = 0 Factor.
(5t + 1)(t + 2) = 0 Solve for t
t = – 1/5 or t=–2 Substitute and solve for x.
x1/3 = – 1/5 or x1/3 = – 2 Cubing both sides.
(x1/3)3= (–1/5)3 or (x1/3)3 = (–2)3
x = – 1/125 or x = – 8
Check these values to verify the solutions set is − 125
1 , − 8.
Ex. Solve the following equations:

1. x8 − 17 x 4 + 16 = 0

2 1
2. 4 x 3
− 4x 3
−2=0