Question

Out of a group of swans $\frac{7}{2}$ times the square root of the total number are playing on the shore of a tank. The two remaining ones are playing in deep water. What is the total number of swans ?

Answer 1

$Letthetotalnumberbex.NumberofSwansonboththesidesadduptox.\frac{7}{2}\times \sqrt{x}+2=x\frac{7}{2}\times \sqrt{x}=x-2Uponsquaring:49x=4{(x-2)}^{2}49x=4x^2+16-16x4x^2+16-65x=04x(x-16)-1(x-16)=0(4x-1)(x-16)=0x=16or\frac{1}{4}Butnumbershouldbeawholenumber.Sox=16$