Chapter 7: Problem 3
A student incorrectly claimed that \(\sqrt{16}=8\). Evaluate \(\sqrt{16}\) correctly.
Short Answer
Expert verified
The correct evaluation is \( \sqrt{16} = 4 \).
Step by step solution
01
Understanding Square Roots
A square root of a number is a value that, when multiplied by itself, gives the number. For example, \(\text{if } x^2 = y\), then \( x = \sqrt{y}\).
02
Apply the Definition
We need to find a number that, when multiplied by itself, equals 16. Mathematically, this means finding \( x \text{ such that } x^2 = 16 \).
03
Find the Square Root of 16
\( \sqrt{16} \) means finding the number which squares to give 16. We check with possible numbers: \text{4} \text{ because } 4 \times 4 = 16. So, \sqrt{16} = 4 \.
04
Conclusion
Therefore, the correct evaluation of \( \sqrt{16} \) is 4, not 8. \( \sqrt{16} = 4 \. \)
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
square root definition
A square root is a number that produces a specified quantity when multiplied by itself. To better understand, let's consider the number 9. The square root of 9 is 3, because when 3 is multiplied by itself (3 × 3), it equals 9. We can represent the square root of a number 'y' as \( \sqrt{y} \). In mathematical terms, if x squared equals y (x^2 = y), then x is the square root of y (x = \sqrt{y}). When visualizing square roots, imagine finding the side length of a square with a given area. This area should match the number under the square root.
evaluating square roots
To evaluate a square root, follow these steps:
- Identify the number under the square root symbol.
- Determine what number, when multiplied by itself, equals this number.
properties of square roots
Square roots have interesting properties that can help you solve problems more easily:
- The square root of a product: \( \sqrt{a \times b} = \sqrt{a} \times \sqrt{b} \).
- The square root of a quotient: \( \sqrt{\frac{a}{b}} = \frac{\sqrt{a}}{\sqrt{b}} \).
- \texas Power Property: \( \sqrt{x^2} = |x| \) (absolute value of x).
- \tNon-negative values: The principal square root is always non-negative. This means \( \sqrt{16} = 4 \) and not -4, even though both (4 × 4) and (-4 × -4) result in 16.
solving square root problems
When tackling square root problems, have these steps in mind:
- Understand the problem statement clearly.
- Apply your knowledge of square roots by using definitions and properties.
- Break down the problem, like how we identified the incorrect claim in the exercise and then correctly evaluated \( \sqrt{16} \).
- Ensure your solutions are logical and verify the results by squaring them to check if they match the original number.