Solve for X: Square Root Fraction Equation √64/√4 = 2x

Question

Solve the following equation:

644=2x \frac{\sqrt{64}}{\sqrt{4}}=2x

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Find X
00:03 root of number (A) divided by root of number (B)
00:07 is the same as the root of fraction (A divided by B)
00:10 We will use this formula in our exercise and convert to root of fraction
00:16 Calculate 64 divided by 4
00:22 Break down 16 to 4 squared
00:24 Root of any number (A²) squared cancels out the square
00:28 We will use this formula in our exercise
00:33 Isolate X
00:37 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-Step Solution

Introduction:

We will address the following two laws of exponents:

a. Definition of root as an exponent:

an=a1n \sqrt[n]{a}=a^{\frac{1}{n}}

b. The law of exponents for an exponent applied to terms in parentheses:

(ab)n=anbn (\frac{a}{b})^n=\frac{a^n}{b^n}

Note:

By combining the two laws of exponents mentioned in a (in the first and third stages below) and b (in the second stage below), we can derive another new rule:

abn=(ab)1n=a1nb1n=anbnabn=anbn \sqrt[n]{\frac{a}{b}}=\\ (\frac{a}{b})^{\frac{1}{n}}=\\ \frac{a^{\frac{1}{n}}}{ b^{\frac{1}{n}}}=\\ \frac{\sqrt[n]{a}}{ \sqrt[n]{ b}}\\ \downarrow\\ \boxed{ \sqrt[n]{\frac{a}{b}}=\frac{\sqrt[n]{a}}{ \sqrt[n]{ b}}}

And specifically for the fourth root we get:

ab=ab \boxed{ \sqrt{\frac{a}{ b}}=\frac{\sqrt{a}}{\sqrt{ b}} }

Therefore, we can proceed with solving the problem:

644=2x \frac{\sqrt{64}}{\sqrt{4}}=2x Let's start by simplifying the expression on the left side, using the new rule we received in the introduction:

ab=ab \boxed{ \sqrt{\frac{a}{ b}}=\frac{\sqrt{a}}{\sqrt{ b}} }

(But in the opposite direction, meaning we'll insert the product of roots as a product of terms under the same root) Then we'll perform the multiplication under the root:

644=2x644=2x16=2x4=2x \frac{\sqrt{64}}{\sqrt{4}}=2x \\ \sqrt{\frac{64}{4}}=2x \\ \sqrt{16}=2x \\ 4=2x \\ In the final stage, we used the known fourth root of the number 16,

After simplifying the expression on the left side, to isolate the unknown, we'll divide both sides of the equation by its coefficient:

4=2x/:22=xx=2 4=2x\hspace{6pt}\text{/}:2 \\ 2=x \\ \downarrow\\ \boxed{x=2}

Let's summarize the solution of the equation:

644=2x16=2x4=2xx=2 \frac{\sqrt{64}}{\sqrt{4}}=2x \\ \sqrt{16}=2x \\ 4=2x \\ \downarrow\\ \boxed{x=2}

Therefore, the correct answer is answer b.

Answer

2