Solving Equations

A. Linear expression
Example: 0 3 2 = + x

2
3
= x
B. Quadratic expression
Example: 0 4 7 2
2
= x x

Method 1: Factorization

4
2
1
0 ) 4 )( 1 2 (
= =
= +
x or x
x x

Method 2: Formula
4
2
1
4
9 7
) 2 ( 2
) 4 )( 2 ( 4 ) 7 ( ) 7 (
2
4
2
2
= =

=

=

=
x or x
x
x
a
ac b b
x


C. Cubic/Quartic expression
Example: 0 6 5 2
2 3
= + x x x

Apply factor theorem and long division/synthetic division
Please refer to notes given earlier in sketching of graphs!!

D. Square root expression
Example: 0 3 1 2 = + + x

4
5
4
9
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
=
= +
|
.
|

\
|
= +
= +
x
x
x
x


E. Reciprocal/Quadratic reciprocal expression
Example: 0 3
1
1
=
+ x


3
2
3
1
1
1 ) 1 ( 3
3
1
1
=
= +
= +
=
+
x
x
x
x

Example: 0 3
) 1 (
2
2
=
x


) (
3
2
1
3
2
1
3
2
) 1 (
2 ) 1 ( 3
3
) 1 (
2
2
2
2
form Exact x
x
x
x
x
=
=
=
=
=

Example: 0 3
) 1 (
2
2
= +
x


) (
3
2
) 1 (
3
) 1 (
2
2
2
impossible x
x
=
=

This is an example cannot be solved!

F. Absolute expression
Example: 4 2 = x

6
4 2 2
4 ) 2 ( 4 2
=
= =
= =
x
x x
x or x








G. Logarithmic expression
Example: 0 3 ) 1 ( log 2
2
= + x

) 4 ( 8284 . 1
) ( 1 2
2 1
2
3
) 1 ( log
2
3
2
3
2
dp x
form exact x
x
x
=
=
= +
= +


Example: ) 3 ( log 1 ) 1 ( log
2 2
x x = +

3
5
5 3
2 6 1
) 3 ( 2 1
2
3
1
1
3
1
log
1 ) 3 ( log ) 1 ( log
1
2
2 2
=
=
= +
= +
=

+
= |
.
|

\
|

+
= +
x
x
x x
x x
x
x
x
x
x x


H. Exponential expression
Example: (simple) 8 2
1
=
+ x


2
3 1
2 2
3 1
=
= +
=
+
x
x
x


Example: 3 2
1
=
+ x
3 2
1
=
+ x
(impossible)

) 4 ( 5850 . 0
) ( 1
2 log
3 log
2 log
3 log
1
3 log 2 log ) 1 (
3 log 2 log
10
10
10
10
10 10
10
1
10
dp x
form exact x
x
x
x
=
=
= +
= +
=
+


Example: 3 2
1
=
+ x
(impossible, cannot be solved!!)

Example: 3 2 4
1
=
+ x x
(reducible equation)
0 3 2 2 2
2
=
x x

Let
x
m 2 = , we have

5850 . 1
2 log
3 log
3 log 2 log
3 2 ) ( 1 2
3 1
0 ) 3 )( 1 (
0 3 2
10
10
10 10
2
= =
=
= =
= =
= +
=
x
impossible
m or m
m m
m m
x
x x

Example: 4 ) 4 ( =
x x
e e

ln] [log 2 ln
2 log log
, log
2
2
0 ) 2 (
0 4 4
0 4 4
4 4
2
2
2
2
= =
=
=
=
=
= +
=
= +
=
e
e
x
e
e
x
x
x x
x x
x
e
have we sides both to Take
e
m
m
m m
e m Let
e e
e e


Practice Questions

Solve for x, leave answer in exact form:
1. 0 3 2 2
2
= +
x x

2. 0 4 ) 3 ( 13 9
1
= +
+ x x

3. 3 log
3
= x
4. 3 ) 2 ( log ) 2 1 ( log
2 2
= + + x x