Square Roots

Problem Solving — algebra and arithmetic (GMAT Focus Edition)
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Source: — Quantitative Reasoning |

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by II » Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:56 pm
This is coming out straight from the OG 11th Edition Quantitative Review book (written by GMAC themselves):

"every positive n has 2 square roots, one positive and one negative. but √n denotes the positive number whose square is n.
E.g. √9 denotes 3
The 2 square roots of 9 are √9=3, and -√9=-3"

hope this clarifies.

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II

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roots by definition are positive

by arlm » Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:00 pm
solving for x in x= root(M) is always positive
However solving for x in x^2 = M means x takes on both values of root(M)
This is math conventions