- Identify the given equation as \(x^2 = 81\).
- Apply the square root property which states that if \(x^2 = c\), then \(x = \pm\sqrt{c}\).
- Calculate the square root of 81, which is 9.
- Conclude that the real solutions are \(x = 9\) and \(x = -9\), written as \(\boxed{9, -9}\).
Explanation
- Problem Analysis
The given equation is \(x^2 = 81\), where \(x\) is a real number. We aim to find all values of \(x\) that satisfy this equation. The expression involves squaring an unknown value to result in a positive constant, 81.
- Solving for x
To solve an equation of the form \(x^2 = c\), where \(c \ge 0\), we use the property that the solutions are given by \(x = \sqrt{c}\) and \(x = -\sqrt{c}\). In our specific case, \(c = 81\). Therefore, we need to find the square root of 81. Since \(9 \times 9 = 81\), the positive square root is \(9\). Consequently, the solutions are \(x = 9\) and \(x = -9\).
Examples
Solving basic power equations is essential in geometry and physics. For example, if you know the area of a square is 81 square meters, the equation for the side length \(s\) is \(s^2 = 81\). Understanding that a negative root also exists helps in more advanced contexts where orientation or direction might be represented by negative numbers, though for physical lengths, we typically only consider the positive root.