SOLUTION: sqrt (a+2)^2

Question 399498: sqrt (a+2)^2
Answer by jsmallt9(3758) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Is it

or
?
It makes a difference. In the first expression we do not know if (a+2) is positive or negative. In the second expression, since a+2 is inside of a square root, we know that a+2 cannot be negative.

Both of these expressions look like they would simplify to a+2. But square roots are supposed to be positive (or zero). With the first expression, since we do not if a+2 is positive we must use absolute value to ensure that we have a positive (or zero) result.

With the second expression, since we know that a+2 cannot be negative, we do not need absolute value:

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