Solve. LaTeX:  \displaystyle \sqrt{x + 12}=\sqrt{x + 8} - 3

Squaring both sides gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle x + 12=x - 6 \sqrt{x + 8} + 17 . Isolating the radical gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle \frac{5}{6}=\sqrt{x + 8} Squaring again gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle \frac{25}{36}=x + 8 . Solving for LaTeX:  \displaystyle x gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle x=- \frac{263}{36} . Checking the solution, LaTeX:  \displaystyle x = - \frac{263}{36} , in the original equation gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle \frac{13}{6} = - \frac{13}{6} which is false so it is an extraneous solution and there is no solution.