Start with the given equation: \(\sqrt[3]{2x} = \sqrt[3]{5x + 2}\).
Since both sides are cube roots and the cube root function is one-to-one, set the radicands equal to each other: \$2x = 5x + 2$.
Rearrange the equation to isolate the variable terms on one side: \$2x - 5x = 2$.
Simplify the left side: \(-3x = 2\).
Solve for \(x\) by dividing both sides by \(-3\): \(x = \frac{2}{-3}\).
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Cube Roots and Radicals
A cube root of a number is a value that, when multiplied by itself three times, gives the original number. Understanding how to manipulate cube roots and rewrite expressions involving radicals is essential for solving equations like ∛(2x) = ∛(5x + 2).
When two cube roots are equal, their radicands (the expressions inside the roots) must be equal, provided both sides are defined. This allows us to set 2x equal to 5x + 2 and solve the resulting algebraic equation.
After equating the radicands, the problem reduces to solving a linear equation in one variable. This involves isolating the variable on one side using inverse operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.