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If n < 0
√(n^2) = ???
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User Tschumann
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1 Answer

6 votes

Answer:

-n

Explanation:

The symbol √ means the principal square root.

The principal square root is always non-negative.

For example, even though the number 25 has two square roots, -5 and 5, since both (-5)² and (5)² equal 25, when you express the square root using the square root symbol, then √25 = 5, and not -5, since √25 means the principal square root of 25, and as a principal square root, it must be a non-negative number.

If n < 0, then you are dealing with negative numbers.

Once you square n to get n², n² is a positive number.

Then the square root of n², expressed with the square root symbol as √(n²) must be positive, so it equals -n.

Example:

Let n = -8.

Then n² = (-8)² = 64.

√(64) = 8

Compare 8 to -8. 8 is -(-8), just like we get -n.

Answer: -n

User GLHF
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