solve the equation using square roots.
x^2+20=4

Question

solve the equation using square roots. 
x^2+20=4

terenzreignz · Answer

First, you'll want to get all the constants to the right-side.

Can you bring the +20 to the right?

anonymous · Answer

im so confused can u just help me with the answer

tkhunny · Answer

Calm.  There si something important to learn, here.  The "answer" is what you learn.  There isn't a number to write or a box to check.

Subtract 20 from both sides and see what happens.

tanya123 · Answer

$x^2+20 = 4$

$x^2+16 = 0$

terenzreignz · Answer

@Compound 
Confusion is a truth of Maths study (unfortunately) but I'm going to need you to try all the same :)

As previously stated, you can get rid of the +20 on the left-side by subtracting 20 from both sides.

Leaving you with...

tkhunny · Answer

I like that.  Once you see $x^{2} + 16$, alarms should go off in your head!!  "Hey, I can't factor that!  It's a SUM of squares!"

However, we are to solve using square roots.

anonymous · Answer

x^2 +16=0
x^2 = -16
x = +/- 4i, where i is a complex number equal to sqrt (-1)