Some questions to start: Can a square root be negative? Yes, there is such a thing as a negative square root. How would you deal with negative roots on the GRE? This question is actually fairly complicated, because it depends on how the GRE words the question. Let’s start with some GRE math practice problems before I explain.
Negative square root practice problems
First of all, consider these two similar, but not identical, Quantitative Comparison questions. These are a bit easier than you would see on the GRE, but they illustrate an important distinction about possible negative square roots.
1)
2)
All I will say right now is: despite apparent similarities, those two questions about whether roots are positive or negative, have two completely different answers. The distinction between them is the subject of this article.
Explanations to these practice problems will appear at the end of this blog article. Jump ahead by clicking here.
Do I include the negative roots?
Often, students are confused about this question. For example, in the questions above, we know +4 is a square root of 16, but can’t -4 be one as well? Or can it? Can a square root be negative? Do we include the negative square root as part of Column B or not? Does it matter how the question is framed? All of these questions about possible negative square roots are resolved by understanding the following two cases.
Case I: the symbol appears
In case one, the test-maker, in writing the question, uses this symbol. This symbol appears printed on the page in the question itself.
What is this symbol? Well, the most folks call this simply a “square-root” symbol, but the proper name is the “principal square root” symbol. Here, “principal” (in the sense of “main” or “most important”) means: you take one and only one root, the most important, or principal, one — the positive root only. That is the deep meaning of this symbol.
Thus, in all cases in which this symbol appears as part of the question itself, you NEVER consider the negative square root, and ONLY take the positive square root.
Case II: the symbol doesn’t appear
In this case, that special symbol does not appear as part of the problem. What does appear is, for instance, a variable squared, or some other combination of algebra that leads to a variable squared, and you yourself, in your process of solving the problem, have to take the square root of something in order to solve it. The act of “square rooting” is not initiated by the test maker in the act of writing the question; rather, it is you who initiated the square-rooting.
In this case, 100% of the time, you ALWAYS have to consider both the positive and negative square roots.
Summary: Can a square root be negative?
Can a square root be negative? Well, the answer is: it depends on what was printed in the problem. The principal square root symbol never has a negative output, so if the test maker printed that symbol, it’s restrictions have to be respected: all square roots then are positive. On the other hand, if the problem contains a variable squared, or some other algebra that leads to a variable squared, and you yourself take a square root as part of the act of solving, then you always have to consider all possible solutions, both the positive square roots and the negative square roots.
If you master that distinction, you will always understand when to consider both positive and negative roots vs. when to consider only the positive root. You may want to go back to those two QCs at the beginning and think them through again before reading the solutions below.
Additional resources
If you’re having trouble with Quantitative Comparison questions on the GRE, I would recommend taking a look at some of these additional resources. They may help clear up some of the concepts that you’re struggling with, and can provide some extra practice.
Quantitative Comparison Tips
- QC Tip #1: Dealing with Variables
- QC Tip #2: Striving for Equality
- QC Tip #3: Logic Over Algebra
- QC Tip #4: Comparing in Parts
- QC Tip #5: Estimation With a Twist
Quantitative Comparison Strategies
- QC: The Devil Is in the Details
- QC: “The relationship cannot be determined from the information given” Answer Choice
- QC and Manipulation
- GRE Math: Solving Quantitative Comparisons
Quantitative Comparison Practice
GRE Math Help
Practice problem solutions
1) Here, the principal square root symbol appears as part of the problem itself. We are in Case I. Of course, that symbol means: take the positive square root only. So Column B can only equal +4. Of course, that’s always bigger than 3. Answer = (B).
2) Here, there’s no square root symbol printed as part of the problem itself. We are in Case II. For any square roots we take as part of our solution, we are liable to account for both the positive and negative roots.
Sure enough, the very first thing we encounter in the prompt is a variable squared, and when we solve for x, we have to account for both roots: x = ±4. The variable x could equal well have either one of those values.
Now, when we proceed to the QC, we see that the different values of x would give different answers. If x = +4, then column B is greater, but if x = -4, then column A is greater. Different values lead to different conclusions, and this situation means we don’t have enough information to establish a definitive relationship. Answer = (D)
Special Note:
To find out where roots sit in the “big picture” of GRE Quant, and what other Quant concepts you should study, check out our post entitled:
What Kind of Math is on the GRE? Breakdown of Quant Concepts by Frequency
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in September, 2012, and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
Hello! could someone please help me with this ASAP?
x is not equal to 0
quantity A: root X
quantity B: -X
Also if root X is mentioned in question, we can’t really conclude anything about the sign of the quantity, correct?
Hi Sruthi! Great question 🙂 When we have the square root sign, we can only have positive results. So, if you have square root of 4, the answer will only be 2. However, if I say that x squared = 4, x can be 2 or -2. Negative numbers squared can give the same positive result as positive numbers squared. They absolutely exist, but square root signs only generate positive results. This is the main idea of the post. A problem might be referring to negative numbers squared if it a variable is given as an algebraic expression, for example, but only to positive numbers when a square root sign is involved. I hope that helps! 🙂
I understand that square root of any number will be only positive if radical sign is part of question. If we have a variable inside a radical how would we treat that? I got two conflicting results by looking at a lecture video and gmat answer vide. What would be the answer to below given two questions
1. Sqrt(X^2)=9. Will the value of X be both +3 and -3 or only +3
2. Sqrt(x^4)=81 Will the value of X be both +3 and -3 or only +3
Hi Talha,
In this case, we need to think about the order of operations, which you can read about in our Math Formula eBook! Exponents are the second order, so we have to think about them before we move on to any other simplification! In the first case, we have sqrt(x^2). We can actually simplify this to just be x, since the square root and the exponent cancel each other out. So we are left with x=9, which is our answer. We don’t have to worry about negative values here.
In the second question, we can also simplify the exponents. If we take the square root of x^4 we are left with x^2. x^2 is always positive so we don’t have to worry about negatives here either! So in this case we have x^2=81, which can equal 9 or -9. We have two answers to this question because we are left with x^2 after the square root sign is dealt with.
In many cases, the square root will simplify like this and it won’t be an issue. If there is a square root sign as part of the original equation you have to solve, then the answer will always be only the positive (principal) root.
Thanks, Mike. Very helpful!!
Just one qn – in the ETS OG, it says squareroots have 1 positive root.
But just underneath it says “even powered roots have exactly 2 roots for every positive n”. Example given was “8 has two fourth roots: fourthroot(8) and -fourthroot(8)
Isn’t that contradictory, since square root is an even order.
TIA!
Hi Akhil,
This is because the square root sign only refers to the positive root! If you ask for the second root of 4, you would have to put 2 and -2. But if you ask for the square root, you are really asking for the principal root, which is the positive number only. This isn’t contradictory because even though there are two roots, the square root symbols narrows down the possible answers so that it’s not ambiguous. The symbol of the square root ONLY refers to the principal square root, so you never need to worry about the negative one!
Hi,
i came across a question |x-3|=12 where x is multiple of 5.. so answer is -15.. can i enter -15 in answer black in gre? or should i enter only 15?? is it ok to use a minus sign? will gre consider the minus sign?
please reply that would be great help!
Hi Sanvika,
You can enter the minus sign into the numeric entry box. The only things that are valid to enter are numbers, decimal points, and negative/minus signs. Any other symbol should not be used.
I hope that helps! 🙂
How can the answer in this qustion be -15? Its either 15 or just -8. Since, it has to be a multple of 5, we have to choose only 15 as ans. Why do you need to enter -15?
You’re on the right track, Jabir… but you didn’t quite get it right either. The answer would either need to be 15, because 15 – 3 = 12. Or it would need to be -9 (not -8), because -9 – 3 = -12. So in this case, Sanvika, you wouldn’t actually need to enter the minus sign in the GRE box… but it’s good to know that you can use a minus sign on GRE Quants when you need to.
Hi,
I have a quick question regarding QC which actually deals with extraneous roots.
What if we have two comparions , A and B .
A = Has an equation which has no solution.
B = Has an equation which has one solution.
Does this mean B > A ?
For example:
A) 2 + √ (4-3x) = x
B) √ (x+3) = x-3
Since A does not have any solution, and B has one.
Does this mean B > A ?
It would be really helpful if you could help with this.
Kind Regards,
Wali
Dear Wali,
My friend, you have to realize that GRE math questions are extremely precise in their formulation. Notice that what you have produced, as is, is not a legitimate QC question. One of the columns in a QC question is never an equation to solve. The prompt may give an equation, and then in the column itself a variable from the equation might appear. Comparing one equation to another equation makes no sense at all, and is not GRE-like at all. You may find algebraic expressions in the columns, but you will never find two equations in the columns.
Let’s reformulate your question in a couple of different ways.
Reformulation #1
Prompt:
Equation #1: 2 + sqrt(4 – 3x) = x
Equation #2: sqrt(y + 3) = y – 3
Column A: number of possible values of x that satisfy equation #1
Column B: number of possible values of y that satisfy equation #2
OK, the GRE would never ask something like this in a million years, but at least it’s now in legitimate QC form. Numerical value of Column A would be zero, and the numerical value of Column B would be 1, so the answer would be B.
Reformulation #2
Prompt:
2 + sqrt(4 – 3x) = x
sqrt(y + 3) = y – 3
Column A: x
Column B: y
The GRE would never ask this in a billion years, but again, this is at least in something vaguely resembling QC format now. In Column B, we have a numerical value of 6. In Column A, we have something that has absolutely no mathematical meaning. We are being ask to compare six to meaninglessness! Which is bigger, six or meaninglessness? This is inherently a nonsensical comparison (one reason the test would never give it to us), and within the laws of mathematics, there is no sensible way to assign definitive relationship. Thus, D would be the only possible answer.
It’s very important to distinguish a real value of zero, x = 0, from a situation in which x simply has no value. The value x = 0 is a real number that lives on the real number line. If an equation has no solution, then there is no value of x anywhere on the number line that satisfies it: in this case, the “value of x” is a meaningless quantity, and pure meaninglessness is extremely different from the fixed numerical value of zero.
Does all this make sense?
Mike 🙂
–> 2 + sqrt(4 – 3x) = x
sloving: 4-3x = (x+2)^2 = (x^2)+4+4x
(x^2)+7x = 0
So you said – No solution. ie; *number of possible values of x is 0 & *value of x is a meaningless quantity
–> sqrt(y + 3) = y – 3
solving: y+3 = (y-3)^2 = (y^2)+9-6y
(y^2)-7y+6 = 0
y = 6 or y=1
On substituting in equ, 6 only satisfies !!
So you said – *number of possible values of y is 1 & *value of y is 6.
but why then y=1 came, while solving ??
whatever comes are correct values only right ?……….
Hi Vignesh,
Think of it this way: if we plug 1 in to the equation sqrt(y+3)=y-3, we get sqrt(1+3)=1-3. This then becomes 2=-2 (since the square root sign means the positive root only). Of course, we know this isn’t true! So really, although there are two roots in the quadratic equation, only one of them satisfies the original equation, which is what the question is asking us! That is why Mike only mentions one value of y.
Does anyone else think it’s totally outrageous for the test makers to use this cheap trick to hiccup test takers who haven’t learned this rather absurdly specific definition? It’s a general knowledge test…not a test of the nuances of mathematical terms. Totally inappropriate imo.
Hi Mike,
If (x/y)< (1/2): can we rewrite this as: 2x<y? In reference to this question-http://gmat.magoosh.com/practices/8337794/q/970?prompt_id=970
Dear Arefin,
I’m happy to respond. 🙂 With inequalities, we are ALWAYS, 100% of the time, allowed to multiply both sides by a POSITIVE number. This means we are absolutely allowed to multiply by 2, changing
(x/y) > (1/2)
to
(2x/y) > 1
Now, the sticky question is: can we also multiply both sides by y? Well, the pertinent question is: is y positive? Hmm. We simply don’t know, because y is a variable: it could be positive or negative. We would break the mathematical law if we multiplied both sides by a negative and didn’t reverse the inequality. Because we don’t know the sign of y, we don’t know whether we would be breaking the mathematical law by multiplying both sides by it. Therefore, multiplying both sides by y is forbidden.
In that question, statement #1 is insufficient, because we are NOT allowed to cross multiply with a variable about which we know nothing.
Statement #2 tells us both variables are positive, so when we combine the statements, we now have the guarantee that y is positive, which allows us to cross-multiply.
In terms of numbers if
(x/y) > (1/2)
then it could be that x = 4 and y = 7, so then it definitely is true that 2x > y.
BUT, it also could be true that x = -4 and y = -7, in which case it’s true that 2x = -8, and 2x < y, because (-8) < (-7).
Does all this make sense?
Mike 🙂
Thanks Mike…..Very helpful. I get the point. 🙂
ERUDITE TEACHER
Dear Jatinder,
Thank you for your kind compliment! Best of luck to you!
Mike 🙂
Dear Mike,
In your blog post, you state:
“First of all, consider these two similar, but not identical, QCs”.
The embedded link is to the following website or location: https://magoosh.com/gre/math/math-question-types/
Unfortunately, this is just the main page where a series of math questions, strategies etc. regarding QCs have been discussed and posted. May you kindly please provide the actual link to the 2 QC questions on positive and negative square roots?
Thanks in advance!
Kindest,
Samy
Dear Samy,
I’m happy to respond. 🙂 That link should not have been there: I just removed it. The two “similar but not identical” QCs to which I am referring are those two at the top of this article. I am not referring to anything that is not already on this page.
Does this make sense?
Mike 🙂
Hi Mike
It doesn’t make any sense to take only positive values. Is it anywhere mentioned by ETS that we have to perform such an operation when we encounter the square root sign?
Going by the conventional rules, any number treated with a square root sign will give both positive and negative values.
I’m not judging anyone here but it seems a little bit difficult to digest this fact.
Regards
Aman Sachan
hi mike ,
thanks for the info . it has helped a lot
Dear Chinmay,
You’re quite welcome. I’m glad you found it helpful. Best of luck to you.
Mike 🙂
Hi,
If the question is 4 raised to 1/2 then we have to consider both positive and negative Or not??
[when we see square root SYMBOL then only positive???]
Thanks
Dear Manoj,
Whether the problem gives you 4 under the radical or 4 to the power of (1/2), either way, the problem-writer is the “initiator” of the square-rooting process, and therefore you only consider the positive root. Does this make sense?
Mike 🙂
Thanks for the reply Mike.
I came across a problem to compare
(1/2) ^ 2 (1/16 )^1/2
and answer was (d) and the explanation included the negative root. Since I had already visited this page i chose A [and i was invigorated when it said i was wrong, after putting all the conscious effort ].
This happened just before 5 hours of my GRE test
[ I would have chose D if i had witnessed (^1/2) this on the test ]
I told myself in GRE “what you see is what you get”. so i used my GRE mind
and concluded that case 1 on top of this page talks ONLY about the symbol.
I had convinced myself that if i SEE the ROOT symbol I will take only positive.
On the contrary if i see (^1/2) i will consider both.
Fortunately i did not witness any question related to roots using these symbols in comparison.
I understand that its the problem writer who initiates the process. The dilemma started when i saw that problem.
Please suggest a final call on this issue.
[According to you its final and binding that if its a square root unless otherwise mentioned + or – take positive right? and that would mean that their explanation is wrong ]
I hope this helps the test takers.
Many Thanks
Mike
Dear Manoj,
The GRE OG doesn’t even discuss fractional exponents. This is a very rare topic on the GRE — you might be able to take 10 GREs and not see fractional exponents once. That’s just to put the relative importance in context.
Every standard high school math book on the planet defines (a)^(1/2) exactly the same way as “a” under a radical — both mean positive root only. ETS absolutely has to follow that convention, because they are not out to be cheap and to trick people with bizarre alternative technicalities of convention.
ETS is not cheap and tricky, but some of the folks who write GRE practice questions are cheap and tricky, and it sound like this question is in this vein. Unfortunately, there’s a great deal of low quality material out there that can be confusing.
Finally, in this question,
Column A: (1/2)^2
Column B: (1/16)^(1/2)
I would say the correct answer would have to be (C), because both columns would equal +1/4.
Does all this make sense?
Mike 🙂
Oh yes,
with such a good and elaborate explaination it definitely made sense.
You are right GRE is definitely not cheap and vague.
I loved taking the exam.
Thanks
Mike 🙂
You are quite welcome. Best of luck to you.
Mike 🙂
This is extremely important and I saw no mention of this in the Magoosh lessons. Thanks for clearing that up!!
Shane,
You are more than welcome. Best of luck to you.
Mike 🙂
Mike for PRESIDENT!!!
Dear Tamaddun,
Thank you for your kind words, but I’m not really interested in holding even a local political office, let alone Mr. Obama’s job! 🙂 I would much rather help people prepare for the GMAT & GRE. That’s much more fun! 🙂 Best of luck to you!
Mike 🙂
Wow !!!! You are a ” PRINCIPAL” !!!! Great explanation.
Dear Sandeep,
Thank you very much for your kind words. Best of luck to you, my friend.
Mike 🙂
what if it says 16^(1/2) ? is this ambiguous or not
Dear tt,
I don’t believe the GRE expects you to know this, but by convention, any fractional power of a positive number has a positive-only output.
Mike 🙂
what if he didnt mention the symbol and just wrote, square root of the number 25,answer is both + and – 5?
Dear Siddharth,
First of all, I am a little unclear on the identify of the “he” in your question — do you mean the GRE Test maker? (The GRE is assembled by many people.)
I have never seen the GRE test present all the mathematical information about roots in VERBAL form and then expect you to make valid mathematical deductions from it.
Mike 🙂
This is the exact thing I was looking for since several months. Thanks a lot. Enlighten. 😀
Dear Amey,
Thank you for your kind words. Best of luck to you.
Mike 🙂
I was benighted of this trick !! Thnxx a lot Mike 🙂
You are quite welcome, my friend. 🙂
Mike
Don’t you guys(fellow Magoosh readers!) love it when the AWESOME Magoosh “magi” help us improve our vocabulary in a super tricky math concept article?
I just learned “benighted” thanks to you Mike, Cheers! 🙂
Thanks for making the distinction (I would have missed that). I just became a member today and I already find the lessons and explanations invaluable. I feel like I’m stealing from you guys (don’t get any ideas). All kidding aside, thanks for doing what you do because I was going the Kaplan route, but the Kaplan route is not for me.
Congratulations on joining Magoosh: I think you will see tremendous benefit in your score. Thank you very much for your kind words.
Mike 🙂
Thanks Mike ! I was always confused with such questions. This post makes things a lot clearer !
You are quite welcome.
Mike 🙂
Wow! Thanks for these blog posts. The more I read, the more I am amazed at my own ignorance. I also start to feel a bit lost in the sea of things that I don’t know. 🙂
Have faith, my friend. You can master this stuff! Thank you for your kind words.
Mike 🙂
Thanks Mike — Really helpful.
You are very welcome.
Mike 🙂
Hi Mike, it’s great that you pointed out that the radical sign √ refers to the principal (positive) square root only. (many people use it without realizing that)
In the quadratic equation, ± is used in front of √ (b2-4AC) so that the negative root is included in the equation…..and not just the positive root.
source: square root calculator
Anthony:
Exactly: the √ sign means “positive only”, so in any context in which both the ± roots are required (as in the Quadratic Formula), we need to add the ± sign in front of the √ . What you have shared is 100% correct. Thank you.
Mike 🙂
Hi Mike, Many thanks for pointing out this important difference . It seemed innocuous , and most people (including me) would have failed to realize this fine distinction.
Thanks to you, now I’ll be on a lookout 🙂
Regards,
Anupam
You are quite welcome. Thank you for your kind words.
Mike 🙂