document.write( "Question 135723: If a and b are real numbers and a2 = b2, does a = b? can this be explained to me?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #99503 by ptaylor(2198) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
$\"a%5E2=b%5E2\"$ or
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a%5E2-b%5E2=0\"$ and this can be factored\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28a-b%29%28a%2Bb%29=0\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a-b=0\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a=b\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a%2Bb=0\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a=-b\"$ \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "When we are dealing with squares and square roots, we cannot afford to forget the plus or minus characteristics\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-2 does not equal +2 but (-2)^2 does equal (+2)^2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Hope this helps---ptaylor
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