To solve the equation $x^2 = 4$, we can follow these steps:

1. Start with the equation: $x^2 = 4$

2. Take the square root of both sides to solve for $x$. Remember that taking the square root of a number yields both a positive and a negative solution: $x = \pm \sqrt{4}$

3. Calculate the square root of 4: $x = \pm 2$

Therefore, the solutions are: $x = 2 \quad \text{and} \quad x = -2$

Would you like more details or have any questions about this solution?

Here are some related questions to expand on this topic:

1. What are the solutions to the equation $x^2 = 9$?
2. How do you solve the equation $x^2 = 0$?
3. What is the general method for solving equations of the form $x^2 = a$?
4. How do we handle square root equations that involve variables, such as $\sqrt{x} = 3$?
5. What are the real-life applications of solving quadratic equations like $x^2 = 4$?

Tip: When taking the square root of both sides of an equation, always consider both the positive and negative roots unless otherwise specified.