# Square rooting an equation/inequality, which side is +/-?

1. Apr 12, 2012

### autodidude

When you have something like x^2 > 2/3 and you root it, why does the left hand side become the plus or minus and not the right side? I only get the correct answer if I do it on the left hand side.

2. Apr 12, 2012

### micromass

I think the usual way of doing this is not writing +/- in front of anything, but just expanding this equations in two equations.

Let's take an x such that

$$x^2>4$$

(I pick 4 because the notation will be easier). When I square root both sides, then I'll get

$$\sqrt{x^2}>2$$

However, note the very important point that $\sqrt{x^2}$ is NOT always equal to x. This is only true if $x\geq 0$. For example: $\sqrt{(-1)^2}=1\neq -1$.

So we have to split up in two cases:
1) Either $x\geq 0$. In that case $\sqrt{x^2}=x$, so we get

$$x>2$$

2) Or x<0, in that case $\sqrt{x^2}=-x$, so we get

$$-x>2$$

Or equivalently

$$x<-2$$

So, to conclude: if we take an x such that $x^2>4$, then we either get that x>2 or x<-2.

3. Apr 13, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

To expand slightly on what micromass said, while it is not true that
$\sqrt{x^2} = x$
it is true that $\sqrt{x^2} = |x|$.

Getting rid of the absolute values leads to the same two cases that micromass mentioned.

4. Apr 16, 2012

### autodidude

^ Thanks, but don't understand why you can't put a plus/minus (besides from the fact that you get an incorrect answer :p) in front of the number

5. Apr 16, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

Because, by definition, the square root of a nonnegative real number is nonnegative.

For example, many people erroneously believe that √4 = ±2. Although 4 does have two square roots, the principal square root of 4 is 2.

6. Apr 16, 2012

### HallsofIvy

It doesn't. If $x^2> 2/3$ then either $x<-\sqrt{2/3}$ or $x> \sqrt{2/3}$.

Conversely, if the problem were $x^2< 2/3$ then $-\sqrt{2/3}< x< \sqrt{2/3}$.

7. Apr 23, 2012

### autodidude

^ Thanks HallsOfIvy, never knew that!

8. Apr 23, 2012

### DonAntonio

Well, it is NOT erroneous to "believe" that $\sqrt{4}=\pm 2$ since, as it happens, both values on the RHS when

squared equal 4 and this is the primary definition of "square root.

It is DEFINED that $\sqrt{4}=2$ mostly, I think, to make $\sqrt{x}$ a function, which otherwise it wouldn't be. If one want to mess with the

negative root is thus customary to take $-\sqrt{4}=-2$ and everybody happy.

DonAntonio

9. Apr 23, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

Granted, 4 has two square roots, and I mentioned this earlier in the thread. However, the notation $\sqrt{a}$ indicates the principal square root.

10. Apr 28, 2012

### autodidude

Ooh, one more thing, does this apply to trig equations as well?

e.g. cos^2(x) = 1/4 becomes cos(x)=1/2 and -cos(x)=1/2 (from ±√(cos^2(x)) = √(1/2)) rather than cos(x)=±1/2 (which evaluates to the same answer, just being pedantic)

11. Apr 29, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

Yes, of course. The above should be cos(x) = 1/2 OR -cos(x) = 1/2.

12. Apr 29, 2012

### autodidude

^ Thank you! Ah, missed that >.<