Solve. LaTeX:  \displaystyle \sqrt{x + 18}=\sqrt{x + 6} - 1

Squaring both sides gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle x + 18=x - 2 \sqrt{x + 6} + 7 . Isolating the radical gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle - \frac{11}{2}=\sqrt{x + 6} Squaring again gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle \frac{121}{4}=x + 6 . Solving for LaTeX:  \displaystyle x gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle x=\frac{97}{4} . Checking the solution, LaTeX:  \displaystyle x = \frac{97}{4} , in the original equation gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle \frac{13}{2} = \frac{9}{2} which is false so it is an extraneous solution and there is no solution.