Question

Find the two square roots of 144.

Answer 1

12 and -12

Explanation:

144 is a perfect square which means that a number multiplies to it with the same number. In this instance both 12 and -12 equal 144.

12 x 12 = 144

-12 x -12 = 144 (two negatives equal a positive)

Answer 2

The square root function

sqrt(144) or √144 produces a single positive value, 12.

However if you have an equation

x² = 144, then you have two possible values for x, 12 and -12.

Two ways to look at it.

x² - 144 = 0

Difference of two squares

(x+12)(x-12) = 0

x = -12, 12

x² = 144

x = ±√144

x = ±12

x = -12, 12