Question

In words, explain the difference in solving for x in the following situations:
x squared = 121 and x = the square root of 121.

I'm supposed to use this website to find the answer: http://tiny.cc/50wthx

@jdoe0001 @jim_thompson5910 @saifoo.khan

Answer 1

x^2 = 121

we want x all by itself

Answer 2

how do we isolate x

Answer 3

we square root it to remove the squared portion of "x"

Answer 4

good, square root both sides

\[\Large x^2 = 121\]

\[\Large \sqrt{x^2} = \pm\sqrt{121}\]

\[\Large x = \pm\sqrt{121}\]

the plus/minus is there because x^2 = 121 has two solutions

Answer 5

what's the next step?

Answer 6

^not sure..

Answer 7

what's the square root of 121?

Answer 8

11

Answer 9

good, square root both sides

\[\Large x^2 = 121\]

\[\Large \sqrt{x^2} = \pm\sqrt{121}\]

\[\Large x = \pm\sqrt{121}\]

\[\Large x = \pm 11\]

the plus/minus is there because x^2 = 121 has two solutions

Answer 10

\[\Large x = \pm 11\]

turns into

\(\Large x = 11\) or \(\Large x = -11\)

which are the two solutions to \(\Large x^2 = 121\)

Answer 11

notice how 11^2 = 121 and how (-11)^2 = 121

so they both satisfy the quadratic equation

Answer 12

yes; but I need an actual explanation is words..

Answer 13

well I just wrote what's going on

Answer 14

we're taking the square root of both sides

Answer 15

there's the plus/minus because 11^2 = 121 and (-11)^2 = 121

Answer 16

no, I have to provide the whole answer in words..

Answer 17

@jim_thompson5910

Answer 18

ok well translate what I wrote into words