Name: Solving by square roots: solution walkthrough
Uploaded: 2026-11-13
Duration: 1 min 55 s
Description: What are all the solutions of the equation 2(x - 3)² = 32? Try it, then watch the animated solution.

The square

(x - 3)^2

hides

x

. A square root undoes a square, but first the square must be alone.

The

2

multiplies the square, so divide both sides by

2

:

(x - 3)^2 = 16

.

Two numbers square to

16

:

4

and

{-4}

. So

x - 3 = 4

or

x - 3 = {-4}

, written

\pm 4

.

Add

3

to both sides:

x = 7

or

x = {-1}

. Both are

4

steps from

x = 3

on the graph.

Traps:

7

alone forgets

{-4}

;

{-7}

or

1

subtracts the

3

;

{-13}

or

19

skips the square root.

Try it first