How do you evaluate #\sqrt { - 4} + \sqrt { - 16} + \sqrt { - 1} #?

1 Answer
Aug 13, 2017

#7i#

Explanation:

A useful tip to use when finding the square root of a negative number is to take the square root of the positive value and multiply that by #i#.

Therefore,

  • #sqrt(-4) = isqrt4 = ul(2i#

  • #sqrt(-16) = isqrt16 = ul(4i#

  • #sqrt(-1) = isqrt1 = ul(i#

Performing the addition:

#2i + 4i + i = color(blue)(ulbar(|stackrel(" ")(" "7i" ")|)#