Hello!
[tex]\large\boxed{x = 17}[/tex]
[tex]\sqrt{x -1} + 5 = 9[/tex]
Begin by subtracting 5 from both sides:
[tex]\sqrt{x -1} = 9 - 5\\\\\sqrt{x -1} = 4[/tex]
Square both sides to get rid of the radical:
[tex]x - 1 = 16[/tex]
Add 1 to both sides to completely isolate for x:
[tex]x = 17[/tex]
