Solving Surd Equations (Grade 11 NSC Matric Mathematics): Flashcards

Equation with square roots or radical expressions

Eliminate the radical expressions

Exponential form, factoring, isolating and squaring

Convert surds to exponential form

Factoring using the zero law

Isolate the square root, then square both sides

If $a \times b = 0$, then $a = 0$ or $b = 0$

Squaring can introduce false/extraneous solutions

Isolate the square root term

$z^{\frac{1}{2}}$