Multiple choice

Solve the following equations: $\sqrt {x^{2} + ax - 1} - \sqrt {x^{2} + bx - 1} = \sqrt {a} - \sqrt {b}$.

  1. $-2, \dfrac {(\sqrt {a} - \sqrt {b})^{2} + 3}{(\sqrt {a} + \sqrt {b})^{2} - 3}$
  2. $-1, \dfrac {(\sqrt {a} - \sqrt {b})^{2} - 4}{(\sqrt {a} + \sqrt {b})^{2} + 4}$
  3. $\dfrac {1}{2}, \dfrac {(\sqrt {a} - \sqrt {b})^{2} + 4}{(\sqrt {a} + \sqrt {b})^{2} - 4}$
  4. $1, \dfrac {(\sqrt {a} - \sqrt {b})^{2} + 4}{(\sqrt {a} + \sqrt {b})^{2} - 4}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Let u = sqrt(x^2 + ax - 1) and v = sqrt(x^2 + bx - 1). The equation is u - v = sqrt(a) - sqrt(b). Squaring both sides and simplifying leads to the solution set including 1 and the expression in option D.

AI explanation

Assume x = 1 is a root by substitution, which satisfies the equation because both sides become zero. For the other root, after simplifying the equation by squaring and rearranging, we find it to be ((sqrt(a) - sqrt(b))^2 + 4) / ((sqrt(a) + sqrt(b))^2 - 4). Therefore, the roots are 1 and the given expression, which matches the correct option.