alleryStart learning →Each variable in a square-root expression is assumed to represent a:
ARandomly chosen number
BNon-negative number
CStrictly negative number
DPurely imaginary number
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Non-negative number
1. A blanket assumption simplifies the notation.
2. Square roots of negative numbers raise separate difficulties.
3. Each variable in a square-root expression represents a non-negative number.
4. That assumption lets absolute value signs be omitted.
_Source: OpenStax Elementary Algebra 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 9 'Roots and Radicals', sections 9.1-9.8_
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