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Square Root: It Isn't Clear! and We Get Different Answers

The document discusses square roots and their properties. It explains that a square root of a number is a value that produces the number when multiplied by itself. While there are two square roots, one positive and one negative, the radical symbol √ represents only the principal or positive square root. Using plus-minus (±) notation makes it clear that the solutions to equations involving square roots can be both positive and negative values of the root.

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Boryong valcoba
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35 views

Square Root: It Isn't Clear! and We Get Different Answers

The document discusses square roots and their properties. It explains that a square root of a number is a value that produces the number when multiplied by itself. While there are two square roots, one positive and one negative, the radical symbol √ represents only the principal or positive square root. Using plus-minus (±) notation makes it clear that the solutions to equations involving square roots can be both positive and negative values of the root.

Uploaded by

Boryong valcoba
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Square Root

A square root of a number is a value that when multiply by itself, gives the
number. The symbol is √, it is called the radical.Which always means the positive
square root.

Example: √36 = 6 (because 6∙6 = 36)


Negative Numbers
Example: What is minus 5 squared?
 What does “minus 5 squared” mean?
 Square the 5 then do the minus?
 Or square (-5)?

It isn’t clear! And we get different answers:


 Square the 5, then do the minus: -(5∙5) = -25
 Or Square (-5): (-5)(5) = +25

So let’s make it clear by using “( )”


Example corrected: What is (-5)2?
Answer:
(-5)(-5) = 25

( because a negative times a negative gives a positive)

There can be a positive and negative square root!


This is important to remember.
Example: Solve w2 = a
Answer:
w = √a and w = -√a

Principal Square Root


So if there are really two square root,why do people say √25 is 5?
 Because √ means the principal square root,the one that isn’t negative!
 There are two square roots,but the symbol √ means just the principal square
root.

Example:
The square roots of 36 are 6 and -6

But √36 = 6 (not -6)

The Principal Square Root is sometimes called the Positive Square Root
(but it can be zero).

Plus-Minus Sign
± is a special symbol that means “plus or minus”
So instead of writing: w = √a and w = -√a

We can write: w = ±√a


Why Is This Important?
Because we don’t want to miss a solution!

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