How do you simplify the square root -sqrt25?

1 Answer
MathFact-orials.blogspot.com
Mar 7, 2018

Strictly speaking, -sqrt25=pm5. However, if the notation is to let us know the desired sign of the result, it's simply -5

Explanation:

-sqrt25=(-1)sqrt25

Remember that the square root operation is the opposite of the square operation, and so when they both occur, they cancel.

We can get a product of 25 when we square 5 ->(5^2=25) and when we square -5->((-5)^2=25). And so the square root of 25 can be 5 and it can be -5. We write down both results:

-sqrt25=(-1)sqrt25=(-1)(pm5)=pm5

Sometimes it's understood that the sign in front of the square root indicates the sign desired. And so the answer in this case could also be simply -5

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