Which best explains why the expression plus or minus StartRoot b squared minus 4 a c EndRoot cannot be rewritten as b plus or minus StartRoot negative 4 a c EndRoot during the next step?

Negative values, like - 4ac, do not have a square root.

The ± symbol prevents the square root from being evaluated.

The square root of terms separated by addition and subtraction cannot be calculated individually.

The entire term b2 - 4ac must be divided by 2a before its square root can be determined.

Question

Mathematics

Foley

12 May, 23:22

Which best explains why the expression plus or minus StartRoot b squared minus 4 a c EndRoot cannot be rewritten as b plus or minus StartRoot negative 4 a c EndRoot during the next step?

Negative values, like - 4ac, do not have a square root.

The ± symbol prevents the square root from being evaluated.

The square root of terms separated by addition and subtraction cannot be calculated individually.

The entire term b2 - 4ac must be divided by 2a before its square root can be determined.

+1

Answers (1)

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Cindy Glass · Answer 1

C) The square root of terms separated by addition and subtraction cannot be calculated individually.

Step-by-step explanation:

sqrt (b² - 4ac) is not equal to

b - sqrt (4ac)

Because when you square b - sqrt (4ac), it's not b² - 4ac ...

(b - sqrt (4ac)) ² = b² - 2bsqrt (4ac) + 4ac