Question

In order to solve the literal equation A equals s squared for s, what would you do to the equation?

Answer 1

First set-up your equation\[A = s^2\]

Answer 2

I did

Answer 3

Now solve for s, you can do anything to the left side of the equation as long as you also do it to the right side

Answer 4

Alright, wait. I can do anything?

Answer 5

Yes but there is something specifically you can do to get the "s" by itself without the 2 as the exponent

Answer 6

Do you know how to get rid of exponents?

Answer 7

No, my teacher never taught us. So my mom put me in virtual school so I can start my freshman year on a good hand

Answer 8

Alright well let us look at the exponent as a fraction\[s^2 = s^\frac{ 2 }{ 1 }\]
Does that make sense? since anything over 1 is itself

Answer 9

To get rid of exponents you must raise both sides of the equation by the reciprocal of the exponent you are trying to get rid of so to review reciprocals: \[\frac{ a }{ b } \] the reciprocal would be the fraction "flipped" like this\[\frac{ b }{ a }\]

Answer 10

Well, yes. The 2/1 turns into a 2, correct?

Answer 11

Yes but we can also look at that 2 as 2/1 so that way we can "flip it" and bring it over to the left side

Answer 12

but an easier way to understand this is that the opposite of exponents is roots

Answer 13

The root would be ''s''?

Answer 14

No the root would be the number in the exponent so let me give you an example:
\[a = b^4\]
To solve for b means that i want to get be on the right side all by itself without the exponent so i must do the opposite of an exponent to get rid of it on the right \[\sqrt[4]{b^4} = b\]
but anything i do to the right i must do to the left so
\[\sqrt[4]{a} = b\]

Answer 15

Hmm, okay..

Answer 16

Using the same idea can you solve for \[A = b^2\]

Answer 17

\[\sqrt[2]{a}=b\]

Answer 18

Correct!

Answer 19

So the answer is D? My first choice was C...which is ''take the square root of both sides'' D is ''Square both sides''

Answer 20

when you have more than 1 number for example and they are added or subtract you must do it to both like this \[a + b = c^2\]
\[\sqrt[2]{a}+\sqrt[2]{b} = c\] if there are numbers that are multiplied you must put both under root like this\[a \times b + c = d^2\]
\[\sqrt[2]{a \times b} + \sqrt[2]{c} = d\]

Answer 21

No it is was your first choice since you must take the "square root" of "both" sides

Answer 22

Alright, thank you so much for your help!!!

Answer 23

square root is 2 outside of the root sign\[\sqrt[2]{a}\]
cube root is 3 outside of the root sign \[\sqrt[3]{a}\]
and the terms can go on and on