Learn Before
Definition

Radical Equation

A radical equation is an equation in which the variable appears inside the radicand of a square root. Because the unknown is located underneath the radical sign rather than outside it, standard algebraic techniques alone cannot isolate the variable — the radical must first be eliminated. The primary strategy for removing the square root is to square both sides of the equation, which converts the radical equation into a polynomial equation that can then be solved with familiar methods. However, squaring both sides can introduce values that do not satisfy the original equation, so every candidate solution must be checked by substituting it back into the original radical equation.

0

1

Updated 2026-04-21

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.9 Roots and Radicals - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Math

Prealgebra

Related
Learn After