here we go again...


NO! sqrt(X) has only ONE AND ONLY ONE ANSWER! because sqrt(x) is defined to be a function!!! functions, by definition, gives you one and only one! sqrt(x) is in fact "the principle sqrt" which means the non-negative (because it can be 0) square root of a number! its just like sin^(-1)(0) (aka arcsin(9)) that means x=0. sin^(-1)(0) does NOT RETURN INFINITE ANSWERS, although sin(0)=sin(pi)=sin(2pi)=...=0!!

but on the other hand, if you are asked to solve x^2=25, you would then get x=5 and -5, as seen by x^2-25=0 and (x+5)(x-5)=0

because some functions (ie x^2, sin(X)) are not one-to-one, we restrict the domain of the inverse function so the inverse will be actually a "inverse function", ie by definition only RETURNS ONE SINGLE VALUE.

the next time you say sqrt(25) (or 25^(1/2) ) is 5 and -5, first answer this question, what is sin^(-1)(0)??