Precalculus Examples

$y^{2} = - 144$

Step 1

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

$y = \pm \sqrt{- 144}$

Step 2

Simplify $\pm \sqrt{- 144}$ .

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Step 2.1

Rewrite $- 144$ as $- 1 (144)$ .

$y = \pm \sqrt{- 1 (144)}$

Step 2.2

Rewrite $\sqrt{- 1 (144)}$ as $\sqrt{- 1} \cdot \sqrt{144}$ .

$y = \pm \sqrt{- 1} \cdot \sqrt{144}$

Step 2.3

Rewrite $\sqrt{- 1}$ as $i$ .

$y = \pm i \cdot \sqrt{144}$

Step 2.4

Rewrite $144$ as $12^{2}$ .

$y = \pm i \cdot \sqrt{12^{2}}$

Step 2.5

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

$y = \pm i \cdot 12$

Step 2.6

Move $12$ to the left of $i$ .

$y = \pm 12 i$

Step 3

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

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Step 3.1

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

$y = 12 i$

Step 3.2

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

$y = - 12 i$

Step 3.3

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

$y = 12 i, - 12 i$