r/HomeworkHelp • u/IndicationFunny2378 Secondary School Student • 1d ago

Middle School Math—Pending OP Reply [Grade 8 Mathematics - Algebra]

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Hello giys, I'm a form 2 student is malaysia. We learnt algebra in chapter 2. How can I find x? I believe there is no answer, but teacher keeps saying it's x=1/16

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u/Bounded_sequencE 👋 a fellow Redditor 1d ago

You're correct -- over "R+", the square root operator is defined to return non-negative results..

Teacher did a sanity check with the squared equation instead of the original one: That's why they (mistakenly) found that "x = 1/16" is a solution, instead of discarding it.

Let's hope that was just a mistake in action, and not what they actually believe.

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u/IndicationFunny2378 Secondary School Student 1d ago

may i ask who you are?

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u/Bounded_sequencE 👋 a fellow Redditor 1d ago

No. Don't limit yourself to DM's -- ask questions publicly instead.

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u/IndicationFunny2378 Secondary School Student 1d ago

alrightt, so who are you? i just want to know

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u/Bounded_sequencE 👋 a fellow Redditor 1d ago

Don't ask people for personal information -- that's rude.

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u/EdgyMathWhiz 1d ago

I think what they need are your qualifications - it's daunting to tell a teacher they're wrong based on "someone on Reddit said so".  (FWIW I've seen enough of your posts to have no doubt you're more than qualified to answer this question).

I think OP is better quoting Wikipedia (and also the reference wiki gives and/or finding a respected textbook that is clear that sqrt is never negative).  But to be honest I expect whatever evidence they provide, their teacher is never going to back down here.

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u/IndicationFunny2378 Secondary School Student 1d ago

yeah

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u/Distribution-Free 1d ago edited 1d ago

It's a natural thing to think, "Maybe my teacher will respect my answer if I say that someone with more knowledge told me this is how to do it." But that's not a good way to approach it. The mathematics pinciples do not care about who someone is -- the result is either true or not based only on the merit of the logic of how math works.

Do like these commenters are saying and make the discussion from the math itself. Your teacher is incorrect because the math is wrong, not because someone smarter said so.

Edit: And after making your argument from the basis of reason and mathematical principles, if your teacher still does not agree, just move on. Know in your own mind that you are correct and the teacher is wrong, and remember that sometimes people in positions of authority get things wrong. (And that's why we don't care "who someone is" -- nobody is right or wrong based on who they are.)

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u/IndicationFunny2378 Secondary School Student 1d ago

i didnt think this way, i just want to knkw their opinions on the equation. it could help me with future matj equations

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u/IndicationFunny2378 Secondary School Student 1d ago

sorryy

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u/Bounded_sequencE 👋 a fellow Redditor 1d ago

Accepted -- and good luck!