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-   -   Radical expression (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=333597)

  • Mar 25, 2009, 05:28 AM
    jumperluver100
    radical expression
    Why can you simplify square root of (X + 2) squared and NOT square root of Xsquared + 4?
    If you could help it would be greatly appreciated. :)
  • Mar 25, 2009, 07:00 AM
    ebaines

    If you square a quantity and then take the square root you get the original number back - actiually the positive an negative values of that number. So for example 4 squared is 16, and the square root of 16 is plus or minus 4. So in your first example, you square a quantity (x+2) to get (x+2)^2, then take its square root and you get plus or minus (x+2). In your second example x^2+4 is not a square- it's the sum of two squares, but in general the sum of two squares is not itself a square. So the square root of (x^2+4) can't really simplified.

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