Math Problem Statement

Square root of (x^2-4)/x^4

Solution

We need to simplify the expression for the square root of x24x4\frac{x^2 - 4}{x^4}.

Step-by-Step Solution:

The expression is: x24x4\sqrt{\frac{x^2 - 4}{x^4}}

Step 1: Factor the numerator

Notice that x24x^2 - 4 can be factored using the difference of squares: x24=(x2)(x+2)x^2 - 4 = (x - 2)(x + 2)

So the expression becomes: (x2)(x+2)x4\sqrt{\frac{(x - 2)(x + 2)}{x^4}}

Step 2: Apply the square root to both the numerator and denominator

We can apply the square root separately to the numerator and the denominator: (x2)(x+2)x4\frac{\sqrt{(x - 2)(x + 2)}}{\sqrt{x^4}}

Step 3: Simplify the denominator

The square root of x4x^4 is: x4=x2(assuming x>0)\sqrt{x^4} = x^2 \quad (\text{assuming} \ x > 0)

Step 4: Final expression

So the expression simplifies to: (x2)(x+2)x2\frac{\sqrt{(x - 2)(x + 2)}}{x^2}

This is the simplified form of the given expression.

Would you like more details or have any questions on this?

Here are some related questions for you to explore:

  1. How would the solution change if xx can take negative values?
  2. What happens if x=2x = 2 or x=2x = -2?
  3. How would you find the derivative of this simplified expression?
  4. What is the domain of the simplified expression?
  5. How can this expression be rewritten if x24x^2 - 4 were not factorable?

Tip: When simplifying expressions with square roots, always check for factorizations such as difference of squares to make the process easier.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Algebra
Radical Expressions
Factoring
Difference of Squares

Formulas

Square root of a quotient: \(\sqrt{\frac{a}{b}} = \frac{\sqrt{a}}{\sqrt{b}}\)
Difference of squares: \(a^2 - b^2 = (a - b)(a + b)\)

Theorems

Difference of squares
Properties of square roots

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-11