Question

How do you simplify: Square root of 1/16?

Answer 1

`1/4`

Explanation:

`sqrt{1/16}=1/4` since `(1/4)^2=1^2/4^2=1/16`

In general, given `a>0`, the symbol `sqrt{a}` represents the unique positive number whose square is `a`: `(sqrt{a})^2=a`. Proving that it exists and is unique is very difficult, in general, however. It requires a class called "real analysis".