Is -4 the square root of 16?

Answer 1

Yes!!! 4Remember

-4 X -4 = (+)16

&

(+)4 X (+)4 = (+)16

Notice the answer for both squares is (+)16

So when you 'sqrt'(+)16, the answer can be either '-4' or '+4'

NB You CANNOT take the 'sqrt' of a negative number e.g. sqrt((-)16), because this means you are moving into the region of #IMAGINARY# Numbers. which is a whole different set of Maths.

Answer 2

16 has two square roots, 4 and -4. "The square root" normally refers to the positive root.

Answer 3

Yes!