Explanation
Correct answer: -3.
Squaring both sides of the given equation yields , which can be rewritten as . Subtracting and from both sides of this equation yields . This quadratic equation can be rewritten as . According to the zero product property, equals zero when either or . Solving each of these equations for yields or . Therefore, the given equation has two solutions, and . Of these two solutions, is the smallest solution to the given equation.
Desmos solution:
Note: Graph both functions and click their intersection points; the smaller x-value is the answer.
Enter in Desmos:
Reviewed and rewritten by CookSAT
Student discussion
lyw11 0 likes
left side solution is an answer.