The first time I tried this problem I found it challenging because at that point I wasn’t used to seeing an expression within a radical, so it was difficult for me to start solving the question. However, once I recognized the mistakes that I had made along the way it made the question a lot easier to understand.

The reason I had some difficulty while answering this question was because in my first attempt at solving this question I had forgotten to remove the GCF of the first radical the first time, but once I noticed my mistake the question was a lot easier to complete. Although it was quite a simple step, I overlooked it and that had an impact on how I ended up answering the question as well as the way that I got there. After that I noticed that I had forgot to separate the radical to be able to continue solving the question. The reason I had forgot to do so is because radicals are still fairly new to me so I sometimes tend to forget the rules of radicals and when they are applicable. After fixing my mistakes the question was easy to solve. I had to start with removing the GCF of the radical which was 9, leaving behind (x – 1), and because √9 is separated from the starting expression you can remove it. √9 is also a perfect square so the answer to that would just be 3. The last step of the question would just be to collect the like terms which leaves you with the answer 4√x-1 .

In order to figure out my mistake I used strategies including things like looking back at the notes provided to help determine where I had messed up and how I can move myself into to correct path from my mistake. I also asked a peer or friend if I needed extra support or to see mistakes that I overlooked when doing the question.

In order to correctly complete this question, I had to remember to identify a GCF if there is one present, and to simplify the question to make it easier to solve. I also had to remember to simplify within the radical (radicand) whenever possible in order to complete the expression and answer the question.

Next time I encounter a difficult problem, I might try to use other resources provided for me such as the videos and work contained in the school math departments website or using the textbook and working backwards from the answer given. Despite there being other resources I could’ve used the ones I did use were helpful in helping me understand the question, how to solve it, and the reasoning behind the explanation of the answer.