1. ## Roots Problem!

You know those times when your doing maths and then for some reason you just CANNOT work out why a particular mathematical situation is that way! Well I just did.

FOr the life of me I cannot work out why the following happens:

How come

$\sqrt {x^2+y^2}\not= x + y$

Here is my thinking here.

$
\sqrt {x^2+y^2}
= \sqrt {x^2} + \sqrt {y^2}
= x + y
$

2. What is $\displaystyle (x + y)^2$ when expanded?

3. Originally Posted by Astar
You know those times when your doing maths and then for some reason you just CANNOT work out why a particular mathematical situation is that way! Well I just did.

FOr the life of me I cannot work out why the following happens:

How come

$\sqrt {x^2+y^2}\not= x + y$

Here is my thinking here.

$
\sqrt {x^2+y^2}
= \sqrt {x^2} + \sqrt {y^2}
= x + y
$

So you would have $\sqrt{1^2 + 1^2} = 1 + 1$ ....??!!

4. Originally Posted by Prove It
What is $\displaystyle (x + y)^2$ when expanded?
It equals $x^2 + 2xy + y^2$

So therefore you can say that:

$x+y = \sqrt{(x+y)^2}$

Then what does $\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$ equal then???

5. Originally Posted by Astar
It equals $x^2 + 2xy + y^2$

So therefore you can say that:

$x+y = \sqrt{(x+y)^2}$

Then what does $\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$ equal then???
There is no general further simplification

CB

6. Originally Posted by Astar
...
Then what does $\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$ equal then???
...

I think it helps to read $\sqrt{x^2+y^2} = (x^2+y^2)^{.5} = (constant)^{.5}$

What you want to do,

$
\sqrt {x^2+y^2}
= \sqrt {x^2} + \sqrt {y^2}
= x + y
$

Would be almost correct if it was $\sqrt {x^2*y^2}$ instead of $\sqrt {x^2+y^2}.$