Algebra Practice Test

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Which operation would you use to solve the equation x^2 = 16?

Addition
Multiplication
Square root
Division

The correct answer is: Square root

To solve the equation $ x^2 = 16 $, the most appropriate operation to use is taking the square root. When you encounter a variable squared (like $ x^2 $), you want to eliminate that exponent to find the value of $ x $. Taking the square root is the inverse operation of squaring a number. By applying the square root to both sides of the equation, you essentially find the two possible values of $ x $: \[ x = \sqrt{16} \quad \text{or} \quad x = -\sqrt{16}. \] This leads to the solutions $ x = 4 $ and $ x = -4 $, as both values, when squared, will return to 16. Using addition, multiplication, or division wouldn't effectively isolate $ x $ in this case because they don't address the exponent. For instance, adding or subtracting would not help in simplifying the squared term, while multiplication or division would alter the equation without directly solving for $ x $. Thus, taking the square root is the clear and correct choice for solving $ x^2 = 16 $.