# Math Help - negative root?

1. ## negative root?

Why is it when you square root a number you get a +/-? Why is it when you solve $-4^2$ it is -16 and not 16? How can you tell it is +/- for the second question?

2. Hi there

$-4^2=-(4)(4)=-16$

but

$(-4)^2=(-4)(-4)=16$

You get a $\pm$ when you take the square root of a number because both the positive and negative square roots could be the factors: e.g. $4\times4=16$ and $(-4)\times(-4)=16$

3. So, if it is not in ()'s I assume it is -(4)(4)? Why is it then in some cases it is always $-4^2$ is always 16?

4. $-(4)^2=-(-4)^2=-16$

$(4)^2=16,\ -(4^2)=-16$

$(-4)^2=16,\ -(-4)^2=-16$

$4(4)=4+4+4+4=16$

$-4(4)=-4-4-4-4=-16$

$Hence,\ negative\ by\ positive\ means\ successive\ subtraction.$

$(-4)(-4)=-[4(-4)]=\ opposite\ of\ subtract\ 4\ four\ times,$

$which\ is\ add\ 4\ four\ times.\ Add\ and\ subtract\ are\ opposites.$

$This\ is\ why\ negative\ by\ negative\ is\ really\ positive\ by\ positive.$

$To\ write\ -4^2\ is\ ambiguous.$

$We\ must\ distinguish\ between\ -[(4)^2]\ and\ [(-4)^2]$

5. Originally Posted by Barthayn
So, if it is not in ()'s I assume it is -(4)(4)? Why is it then in some cases it is always $-4^2$ is always 16?
In my studies $-4^2$ has always been taken to equal $-16$. Maybe sometimes people get lazy and leave out the parentheses, or don't see a distinction between the two...