How do you solve x^2=7?

1 Answer
Jan 17, 2017

x = sqrt(7)" " or " "x=-sqrt(7)

Explanation:

By definition, a square root of 7 is a number which when squared gives 7.

So one solution is x=sqrt(7) (the positive square root of 7) since (sqrt(7))^2 = 7

The other solution is -sqrt(7) since (-sqrt(7))^2 = (-1)^2*7 = 7

Any non-zero number has exactly 2 square roots. If the original number is negative then those square roots are so called imaginary numbers.

[[ The term imaginary is rather unfortunate as such numbers are just as 'real' as Real numbers ]]