How do you solve #1/4b^2=16#?

2 Answers
Apr 17, 2017

#b^2=64# or #b=8#

Explanation:

Expand both sides by 4:
#(4b^2)/4=4*16#

Now you have
#b^2=64#

Take square root (both sides)
#sqrt(b^2)=sqrt64#

#b=8#

Apr 17, 2017

#b=+-8#

Explanation:

#color(blue)"Isolate " b^2" by multiplying both sides by 4"#

#cancel(4)^1xx1/cancel(4)^1b^2=4xx16#

#rArrb^2=64#

#color(blue)"take the square root of both sides"#

#sqrt(b^2)=color(red)(+-)sqrt64#

#rArrb=color(red)(+-)8#

#color(blue)"As a check"#

Substitute these values into the left side of the equation and if equal to the right side then they are the solutions.

#x=color(red)(+8)to1/4xx8^2=1/4xx64=16#

#x=color(red)(-8)to1/4xx(-8)^2=1/4xx64=16#

#rArrx=+-8" are the solutions"#