if a number is subtracted from 3, the principal square root of this difference is equal to the number decreased by 1. find the number(s)?

Question

missinglink · Answer

Let the unknown number be x.

If we subtract 3 from x we have (x-3); we are told that the principal square root of this difference is equal to x - 1.

Therefore sqrt(x-3) = x -1.

We raise both sides of the equation to power 2 and we get

x-3 = x^2 -2x + 1

x^2 -3x -2 = 0

(x-2)(x-1) = 0

So x is either 2 or 1.

missinglink · Answer

Nvm, it should be x^2 -3x + 4 = 0.

So x = (3+7i)/2 or x = (3-7i)/2

anonymous · Answer

it was 2, :)

anonymous · Answer

thx