Question

Find all the real square roots of -9/16

-3/4

81/256

no real roots

3/4 and -3/4

Answer 1

We've got ourselves a negative number, and negative numbers don't have real square roots (although they can have imaginary square roots)

Answer 2

To understand why this is, consider a number "x". The square root of x would be a number that equals x when multiplied by itself. Now, what if x is negative?
Well, if the square root is positive, then we know a positive number multiplied by itself (positive times positive) equals a positive number, so that can't be it.
What if the square root is negative? We also know that a negative number multiplied by itself (negative times negative) equals a positive number, so that's not right either.

That's basically why it doesn't make sense to ask for (real) square roots of negative numbers

Answer 3

thats what i was thinking, just wanted to make sure. thank you soooo much

Answer 4

No problem, glad to help =D