Square Root Simplified: Understanding the Result as a Single Nonnegative Number

lioric
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relativistic 4.jpg

How is it equal to v in the end?
I'm sorry for asking such questions. But I'm just trying to understand
 
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Because addition is associative and commutative and ##c^2≠0##. For short: just calculate the left hand side.
 
Can you simplify the denominator?
 
DrClaude said:
Can you simplify the denominator?
Dear god I must be blind
v^2-v^2 = 0
c^2 and c^2 cancels
And all that's left is a rooted v^2 which cancels itself

But look at this
relativistic 5.jpg

This is how the same solution is illustrated in another book.
(1-u^2/c^2) cancels each other
The u^2 subtracts each other in the denominator like in the previous sollution
Which leaves a rooted u^2 / c^2
How does that simplify?
 
lioric said:
Which leaves a rooted u^2 / c^2
How does that simplify?
Look to the left of the square root sign...
 
DrClaude said:
Look to the left of the square root sign...
I can see the c root What does it mean?
 
lioric said:
I can see the c root What does it mean?
No, it's c times the root.
 
DrClaude said:
No, it's c times the root.
So are you saying that the large root will cancel the squares of u^2 / c^2 making it like u / c * c/1
and c and c cancels?
 
lioric said:
So are you saying that the large root will cancel the squares of u^2 / c^2 making it like u / c * c/1
and c and c cancels?
Yes. Note that the author there takes only the positive root, while in the OP the two roots are kept.
 
  • #10
DrClaude said:
Yes. Note that the author there takes only the positive root, while in the OP the two roots are kept.
Thank you very much
 
  • #11
lioric said:
View attachment 96291
How is it equal to v in the end?
I'm sorry for asking such questions. But I'm just trying to understand
This is actually incorrect. On the right side it should be |v|, not ##\pm v##. In other words, the square root evaluates to a single nonnegative number, not two numbers.
 
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