Equations with power functions

Functions: Power functions

Equations with power functions

In quadratic equations we have seen how to solve an equation #x^2=c#. With the same procedure, we will use higher degree roots to solve an equation #x^n=c#.

The solutions to the equation #x^\orange{n}=\blue{c}# are dependent on the values of #\orange n# and #\blue c#.

#\blue{c} \gt 0#

#\blue{c}=0#

#\blue{c} \lt 0#

#\orange{n}# is even

Two solutions:

#x=-\sqrt[\orange{n}]{\blue{c}} \lor x=\sqrt[\orange{n}]{\blue{c}}#

One solution:

#x=0#

No solutions

#\orange{n}# is odd

One solution:

#x=\sqrt[\orange{n}]{\blue{c}}#

One solution:

#x=0#

One solution:

#x=\sqrt[\orange{n}]{\blue{c}}#

Fractional powersPlease remember that we have seen the following rule with Fractional powers:

\[\sqrt[\orange{n}]{x}=x^{\frac{1}{\orange{n}}}\]

Therefore, we can also write the solutions with a fractional power. The solutions then look like this:

#\blue{c} \gt 0#

#\blue{c}=0#

#\blue{c} \lt 0#

#\orange{n}# is even

Two solutions:

#x=-\blue{c}^{\frac{1}{\orange{n}}} \lor x=\blue{c}^{\frac{1}{\orange{n}}}#

One solution:

#x=0#

No solutions

#\orange{n}# is odd

One solution:

#x=\blue{c}^{\frac{1}{\orange{n}}}#

One solution:

#x=0#

One solution:

#x=\blue{c}^{\frac{1}{\orange{n}}}#

In the examples we see that you can reduce many equations to the form #x^\orange{n}=\blue{c}# and then solve them.

Solve #6\, x^{4}+2=9# for #x#.

Give your answer in the form #x=x_1# or #x=x_1 \lor x=x_2# for suitable numbers #x_1# and #x_2#.

#x=\frac{1}{6}\sqrt[4]{1512} \lor x=-\frac{1}{6}\sqrt[4]{1512}#

#\begin{array}{rcl}6\, x^{4}+2&=& 9 \\
&&\phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{the equation we need to solve}} \\
6\, x^{4}&=&7 \\
&&\phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{both sides minus }2} \\
x^{4} &=& {{7}\over{6}} \\
&&\phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{both sides divided by }6} \\
x=\sqrt[4]{{{7}\over{6}}} &\lor& x=-\sqrt[4]{{{7}\over{6}}} \\
&&\phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{both sides taken the }4 \text{-th root}}\\
x=\frac{1}{6}\sqrt[4]{1512} &\lor& x=-\frac{1}{6}\sqrt[4]{1512}\\
&&\phantom{xxx}\blue{\text{simplified}} \end{array}#

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