How do you graph #y=5sqrtx#?

1 Answer
Tony B
Aug 28, 2016

You asked "how do you graph". This has been provided.

Explanation:

Consider this example:

#2^2=4 #

The thing is; #(-2)xx(-2) = +4" so "sqrt(4)# could be -2

Also #(+2)xx(+2)=+4" so "sqrt(4)# could be +2 as well

Thus we have #sqrt(4)=+-2#
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So for your question:
#y=5sqrt(x)# in fact is #y=+-5sqrt(x)#

#color(magenta)("The trap")#

Suppose #x# is negative. Then the square root takes you into the realm of complex numbers.

#color(red)("Assumption: "x" is not negative.")#
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Build a table of values calculating what #y# is for the selected values of #x#. Remembering that #x# is not negative.

Note that for each value of #x# there will be corresponding values of #+-y#

Plot the points and draw a line through the points as best as you can.

Tony B

Tony B

Related questions
See all questions in Graphs of Square Root Functions
Impact of this question
4504 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License