I am to solve $\sqrt{3x+7}-\sqrt{x+2}=1$ and the solution is provided as -2.
Since this is a radical equation with 2 radicals, I followed suggested textbook steps of isolating each radical and squaring:
$\sqrt{3x+7}-\sqrt{x+2}=1$
$(3x+7=(1-\sqrt{x+2})^2$ # square both sides
(Use perfect square formula on right hand side $a^2-2ab+b^2$)
$3x+7=1^2-2(1)(-\sqrt{x+2})+x+2$ # lhs radical is removed, rhs use perfect square formula
$3x+7=1+2(\sqrt{x+2})+x+2$ # simplify
$3x+7=x+3+2\sqrt{x+2}$ # keep simplifying
$2x+4=2\sqrt{x+2}$ # simplify across both sides
$(2x+4)^2=(2\sqrt{x+2})^2$
$4x^2+16x+16=4(x+2)$ # now that radical on rhs is isolated, square both sides again
$4x^2+12x+14=0$ # a quadratic formula I can use to solve for x
For use int he quadratic function, my parameters are: a=4, b=12 and c=14:
$x=\frac{-12\pm\sqrt{12^2-(4)(4)(14)}}{2(4)}$
$x=\frac{-12\pm{\sqrt{(144-224)}}}{8}$
$x=\frac{-12\pm{\sqrt{-80}}}{8}$
$x=\frac{-12\pm{i\sqrt{16}*i\sqrt{5}}}{8}$
$x=\frac{-12\pm{4i*i\sqrt{5}}}{8}$
$x=\frac{-12\pm{-4\sqrt{5}}}{8}$ #since $4i*i\sqrt{5}$ and i^2 is -1
This is as far as I get:
$\frac{-12}{8}\pm\frac{4\sqrt{5}}{8}$
I must have gone of course somewhere further up since the solution is provided as x=-2.
How can I arrive at -2?