SOLUTION: 10) A student says that the square root of 25 equal –5. How do you respond?

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Question 176324: 10) A student says that the square root of 25 equal –5. How do you respond?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Remember, the square root function is a function (hence the name). Whatever you plug into the function, you will only get ONE value out. It turns out that sqrt%2825%29=5 (not -5) since 5%2A5=5%5E2=25.

If sqrt%2825%29=-5 (for the sake of argument), then you would have two outputs for the input of 25. This would make the square root operation NOT a function.