Question

Which of the following equations has both -2 and 2 as possible values of b?

A) (b² = 4)
B) (b³ = 8)

a) A
b) B
c) Both
d) None

Answer 1

The equation (b² = 4) has both -2 and 2 as solutions, whereas the equation (b³ = 8) has only one solution, which is 2. The correct answer is option A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves determining which equation allows for both -2 and 2 as values of the unknown variable b. Let's analyze the provided options:

• Option A) b² = 4. This equation is a quadratic equation and by taking the square root of both sides, you get two solutions, b = 2 and b = -2.

• Option B) b³ = 8. This equation is a cubic equation. Taking the cube root of both sides yields only one possible solution, b = 2, since the cube root of a positive number is positive.

Therefore, the equation which has both -2 and 2 as possible values of b is (b² = 4), making the correct answer option A.