Question

sqrt 3a+ 1 = a-3 Solve for a

Answer 1

\[\sqrt{3a+1}= a - 3\]

Answer 2

how do you get rid of a square root?

Answer 3

square root both sides?

Answer 4

i mean square both sides

Answer 5

correct. what do you get when you do that?

Answer 6

\[3a + 1 = a^2 + 9\]

Answer 7

you should actually get
\[3a+1=\left( a-3 \right)^{2}\]
you want to square it all together

Answer 8

oh okay, and then FOIL that?

Answer 9

yep
what do you get after you FOIL?

Answer 10

\[(a - 3)(a-3)\]
\[a^2 - 3a - 3a + 9\]
\[a^2 - 6 + 9\]

Answer 11

6a not 6

Answer 12

okay good. so now the whole equation is
\[3a+1= a ^{2}-6a+9\]
Now set the eqation to 0

Answer 13

\[a^2 - 6a + 9 - 3a - 1 = 0\]

Answer 14

simplfy

Answer 15

\[a^2 - 9a + 10 = 0\]

Answer 16

9-1+8 not 10

Answer 17

oh i thought it wa 9 - (-1)

Answer 18

= 8*

Answer 19

\[a^2 - 9a + 8 = 0\]

Answer 20

yep. can you factor it out by yourself or do you need help?

Answer 21

do i use an 8 and a 1

Answer 22

yep!

Answer 23

\[(a-8)(a+1)\]
\[(a - 8) = 0\]
\[a = 8\]
\[(a+1) = 0\]
\[a =-1\]

Answer 24

it should be (a-1)=0 so both answers will be positive

Answer 25

oh okay. thanks

Answer 26

welcome