Question 1019087
i believe this may be the rule that you are looking for.


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it comes from this tutorial (about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way down in the tutorial).


<a href = "http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/int_algebra/int_alg_tut37_radical.htm" target = "_blank">http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/int_algebra/int_alg_tut37_radical.htm</a>



the basic rule is:


if your equation is x^2 = a, then take the square root of both sides of the equation to get x = plus or minus square root of (a).


if your equation is square root of (x^2) = b, then your solution is that x = absolute value of (b).


they seem to be sticklers for this and it's a real pain to remember, but after a few times, you'll get the hang of it.


fortunately, most of the time, you are solving the first form, where you get something like x^2 = a, and you take the square root of both sides of the equation to get x = plus or minus square root of (a).