Solving the Equation: (x-9)^2 + 26 = 31
This article will guide you through the process of solving the equation (x-9)^2 + 26 = 31. We'll break down the steps and provide explanations to help you understand the solution.
1. Isolate the Squared Term
First, we need to isolate the term (x-9)^2. To do this, we subtract 26 from both sides of the equation:
(x-9)^2 + 26 - 26 = 31 - 26
This simplifies to:
(x-9)^2 = 5
2. Take the Square Root of Both Sides
Now, we take the square root of both sides of the equation to get rid of the square:
√(x-9)^2 = ±√5
This gives us:
x - 9 = ±√5
3. Solve for x
Finally, we solve for x by adding 9 to both sides of the equation:
x - 9 + 9 = ±√5 + 9
This leaves us with:
x = 9 ± √5
Conclusion
Therefore, the solutions to the equation (x-9)^2 + 26 = 31 are:
x = 9 + √5
and
x = 9 - √5
By following these steps, we have successfully solved the equation and found the two possible values for x.