The square root of 2x + 1 can be written as (2x + 1)1/2
x = 7 + (2x + 1)1/2
square both sides
(x - 7)2 = ((2x + 1)1/2) 2 x2 -14x + 49 = 2x + 1
x2 -14x + 49 - 2x - 1 = 0
x2 - 16x + 48 = 0
factor
(x - 12)(x - 4) = 0
set each to 0 to determine the solution set
x - 12 = 0 x - 4 = 0
x = 12 x = 4
the answer is 4 and 12
the reason 4 works is because (2(4) + 1)1/2 = 91/2 = + 3 or -3
so 4 = 7 + (-3)
4 = 4
(x - 7)2 = ((2x + 1)1/2) 2 x2 -14x + 49 = 2x + 1
x2 -14x + 49 - 2x - 1 = 0
x2 - 16x + 48 = 0
factor
(x - 12)(x - 4) = 0
set each to 0 to determine the solution set
x - 12 = 0 x - 4 = 0
x = 12 x = 4
the answer is 4 and 12
the reason 4 works is because (2(4) + 1)1/2 = 91/2 = + 3 or -3
so 4 = 7 + (-3)
4 = 4