solve radical x+26+radical x-51=11?

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I can't tell if that's supposed to be √(x+26) + √(x-51) = 11, or √x + 26 + √(x-51) = 11, or something else. But given the answer, I take it you mean √(x+26) + √(x-51) = 11.

Square both sides to get
(x+26) + 2√(x+26)√(x-51) + (x-51) = 121
(x+26) + 2√(x+26)√(x-51) + (x-51) = 121
2x - 25 + 2√[(x+26)(x-51)] = 121
2x + 2√[(x+26)(x-51)] = 146
x + √[(x+26)(x-51)] = 73
√[(x+26)(x-51)] = 73 - x

Now square both sides to get rid of the radical
(x+26)(x-51) = (73 - x)^2

Expand both sides. The x^2 terms cancel from both sides, and you're left with an equation you can solve for x....Show more