Question

How do you combine `20- ( 7+ \sqrt { 16} )`?

Answer 1

`13\pm4`

Explanation:

`20-(7+\sqrt{16})`
`20+(-1)(7+\sqrt{16})`
distributing `20+(-1)(7)+(-1)(\sqrt{16})`
simplify `20-7-\sqrt{16}`
combine like terms `13-\sqrt{16}`
evaluate square root `13\pm4` ♦

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♦ depends on whether you are required to signify both values of a square root: `\sqrt{x^2}=\pmx`