How come there are no solutions to the equation, #sqrtx = - 10#?

2 Answers
PJ
Aug 7, 2018

There is no real number that makes a negative number when squared.

Explanation:

Any positive number multiplied by itself (squared) produces a positive answer.

e.g. #2*2 = 4#

Any negative number multiplied by itself (squared) produces a positive answer.

e.g. #-2*-2 = 4#

The square root of a number is the number that multiplies by itself to produce the product.

#sqrtx * sqrtx = x#

If #x# is negative, there is no real number that is its square root.

Ahnaf R
Aug 7, 2018

If you were to square both sides, you would get #x=100#.
However, if you were to square root both sides of #x=100#, you would get #sqrtx=10#, where #sqrtx!=-10#.

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