Finite Math Examples

$y = - \sqrt{16 - x^{2}}$

Step 1

Set $- \sqrt{16 - x^{2}}$ equal to $0$ .

$- \sqrt{16 - x^{2}} = 0$

Step 2

Solve for $x$ .

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Step 2.1

To remove the radical on the left side of the equation, square both sides of the equation.

${(- \sqrt{16 - x^{2}})}^{2} = 0^{2}$

Step 2.2

Simplify each side of the equation.

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Step 2.2.1

Use $\sqrt[n]{a^{x}} = a^{\frac{x}{n}}$ to rewrite $\sqrt{16 - x^{2}}$ as ${(16 - x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

${(- {(16 - x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2} = 0^{2}$

Step 2.2.2

Simplify the left side.

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Step 2.2.2.1

Simplify ${(- {(16 - x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2}$ .

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Step 2.2.2.1.1

Apply the product rule to $- {(16 - x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

${(- 1)}^{2} {({(16 - x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2} = 0^{2}$

Step 2.2.2.1.2

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $2$ .

$1 {({(16 - x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2} = 0^{2}$

Step 2.2.2.1.3

Multiply ${({(16 - x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2}$ by $1$ .

${({(16 - x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2} = 0^{2}$

Step 2.2.2.1.4

Multiply the exponents in ${({(16 - x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2}$ .

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Step 2.2.2.1.4.1

Apply the power rule and multiply exponents, ${(a^{m})}^{n} = a^{m n}$ .

${(16 - x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2} \cdot 2} = 0^{2}$

Step 2.2.2.1.4.2

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 2.2.2.1.4.2.1

Cancel the common factor.

${(16 - x^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2} \cdot 2} = 0^{2}$

Step 2.2.2.1.4.2.2

Rewrite the expression.

${(16 - x^{2})}^{1} = 0^{2}$

Step 2.2.2.1.5

Simplify.

$16 - x^{2} = 0^{2}$

Step 2.2.3

Simplify the right side.

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Step 2.2.3.1

Raising $0$ to any positive power yields $0$ .

$16 - x^{2} = 0$

Step 2.3

Solve for $x$ .

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Step 2.3.1

Subtract $16$ from both sides of the equation.

$- x^{2} = - 16$

Step 2.3.2

Divide each term in $- x^{2} = - 16$ by $- 1$ and simplify.

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Step 2.3.2.1

Divide each term in $- x^{2} = - 16$ by $- 1$ .

$\frac{- x^{2}}{- 1} = \frac{- 16}{- 1}$

Step 2.3.2.2

Simplify the left side.

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Step 2.3.2.2.1

Dividing two negative values results in a positive value.

$\frac{x^{2}}{1} = \frac{- 16}{- 1}$

Step 2.3.2.2.2

Divide $x^{2}$ by $1$ .

$x^{2} = \frac{- 16}{- 1}$

Step 2.3.2.3

Simplify the right side.

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Step 2.3.2.3.1

Divide $- 16$ by $- 1$ .

$x^{2} = 16$

Step 2.3.3

Take the specified root of both sides of the equation to eliminate the exponent on the left side.

$x = \pm \sqrt{16}$

Step 2.3.4

Simplify $\pm \sqrt{16}$ .

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Step 2.3.4.1

Rewrite $16$ as $4^{2}$ .

$x = \pm \sqrt{4^{2}}$

Step 2.3.4.2

Pull terms out from under the radical, assuming positive real numbers.

$x = \pm 4$

Step 2.3.5

The complete solution is the result of both the positive and negative portions of the solution.

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Step 2.3.5.1

First, use the positive value of the $\pm$ to find the first solution.

$x = 4$

Step 2.3.5.2

Next, use the negative value of the $\pm$ to find the second solution.

$x = - 4$

Step 2.3.5.3

The complete solution is the result of both the positive and negative portions of the solution.

$x = 4, - 4$

Step 3