Solving 4th Degree Equation: √x+y=7, √y+x=11

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The discussion revolves around solving the system of equations √x + y = 7 and √y + x = 11, which leads to a fourth-degree equation. Participants suggest isolating y in one equation and substituting it into the other to simplify the problem. This method results in a quartic equation that can be complex to solve, but one solution identified is x = 9, with y = 4. The conversation also touches on the potential for extraneous solutions and the use of graphing tools to visualize the equations. Ultimately, the main solutions derived from the equations are x = 9 and y = 4.
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√x+y=7
√y+x=11
solving this equation using x=-b√b2-4ac/2a for finding the root is impossible

the equation turns out to be of 4th degree

or two quadratic eq. can anybody help

this isn't a homework , just wanted to know ...;)
 
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If you're trying to solve for x in these equations, isolate y in either the first or second and then substitute it into the other equation.

\sqrt{x}+y=7 (1)

\sqrt{y}+x=11 (2)

Rearranging (2) to make y the subject:

\sqrt{y}=11-x

y=(11-x)^2

Now substitute into (1):

\sqrt{x}+(11-x)^2=7

To simplify this it's important to try get rid of the square root. This would imply squaring, but remember if we just squared both sides as it is, something like (\sqrt{a}+b)^2=a+2b\sqrt{a}+b^2 so we don't really get rid of the root, we just create more problems.

So instead, isolate the \sqrt{x} and then square both sides.

Yes you will get a quartic (4th degree) equation and it is generally very complicated to solve, unless you're in luck and this question was devised to have nice, rational roots in which case you could then use the rational root theorem to find them.
But I doubt this since it sounds like you created the problem yourself.
 
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=sqrt%28x%29%3D7-%2811-x%29^2

According to this, one real solution, 9, and one complex solution, which I won't attempt to copy...
 
Certainly, x=9 is a solution.

If you continue to solve and finally end with the quartic and then solve that for x, you're given 4 real solutions. Some of these however could be extraneous solutions.

But look at what wolfram gives as solutions to the original system of equations:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=sqrt(x)+y=7,+sqrt(y)+x=11"

Also, graphmatica draws \sqrt{y}+x=11 as the parabola y=(11-x)^2 which is fine except that for x>11 it does not satisfy the first equation. And this really stumped me at first.

Well, I'm stumped. Is the only solution x=9 or are there more complex solutions?
 
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thanks guys :)

ive found a way out


if we take x= l2

and y=n2

then √l2 +y= 7 (√x+y=7)


√n2+x =11 (√y+x=11)

which becomes l2+y-7=0 (getting rid of root)



n2+x-11=0

2 quadratic equn. :)

ans sloving it gives x=9 y=4
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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