What is the square root of x squared?

1 Answer
George C.
May 31, 2015

The term 'the square root of X' is not quite precise as there are usually #2# square roots called #sqrt(X)# and #-sqrt(X)#

#sqrt(x^2) = abs(x)#

This is the positive square root of #x^2#.

#-sqrt(x^2) = -abs(x)# is also a square root of #x^2#

It's tempting to say #sqrt(x^2) = x#, but that's only true for #x>=0#

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