How do you simplify #sqrt(-9)#?

2 Answers
Mar 25, 2018

The expression is equal to #3i#.

Explanation:

Remember these two radical rules:

#sqrt(color(red)acolor(blue)b)=sqrtcolor(red)a*sqrtcolor(blue)b#

#sqrt(color(red)a^2)=color(red)a#

And also the definition of the imaginary number:

#sqrt(-1)=i#

Here are these properties applied to our expression.

#color(white)=sqrt(-9)#

#=sqrt(-3*3)#

#=sqrt(-1*3*3)#

#=sqrt(-1*3^2)#

#=sqrt(-1)*sqrt(3^2)#

#=sqrt(-1)*3#

#=i*3#

#=3i#

This is the result. Hope this helped!

Mar 25, 2018

#sqrt(-9)=3i#

Explanation:

Given:

#sqrt(-9)#

Prime factorize the radicand.

#sqrt(3^2xx-1)#

Apply rule: #sqrt(a^2)=a#, and #sqrt(-1)=i#.

Simplify.

#3i#