Solve. LaTeX:  \displaystyle \sqrt{x + 22}=\sqrt{x - 2} - 1

Squaring both sides gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle x + 22=x - 2 \sqrt{x - 2} - 1 . Isolating the radical gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle - \frac{23}{2}=\sqrt{x - 2} Squaring again gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle \frac{529}{4}=x - 2 . Solving for LaTeX:  \displaystyle x gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle x=\frac{537}{4} . Checking the solution, LaTeX:  \displaystyle x = \frac{537}{4} , in the original equation gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle \frac{25}{2} = \frac{21}{2} which is false so it is an extraneous solution and there is no solution.