Question

Simplify.
1: if y>0
2: if y<0

`1): -15√(y^2)\\2): -√(16y^2)`

Answer 1

In general, √(y²) = |y|, since y can be positive or negative and y² would have the same value either way.

So,

1) if y > 0, then |y| = y, and

-15√(y²) = -15 |y| = -15y

2) if y < 0, then |y| = -y, and

-√(16y²) = -|4y| = -|4| |y| = -4 (-y) = 4y