Solve the quadratic equation; x^2 = 121

Answer 1

x² = 121

x = ± 11

Answer 2

In this type of case you have to bring the square root to both sides of equation. Square root means the exponent is 1/2. Example the square root of 4 can also be written as 4^(1/2) which equals 2.

Why we have to square root both sides? Because we are trying to find x and x^2 is a different thing. The exponent 2 is what we don't like and we have to get it out of the way. by doing (x^2)^1/2 the exponents are multiplied, meaning 2 * 1/2 = 1 . So now in our left side we have x^1 or x which is the same we just ignore the 1. But remember what we do in one side we also do in the other. So 121^1/2 = 11

x^2 = 121

(x^2)^1/2 = 121^1/2

x = 11