How do I get rid of this exponent?

(x-2)(x+2)=0 , x=+2,-2

METHOD 1:

You can treat that as a difference of squares.

Remember the rule for factoring that --> a² - b² = (a + b)(a - b)

So in your case:

x² - 4 = 0

x² - 2² = 0

(x + 2)(x - 2) = 0

By the zero product rule:

x + 2 = 0 --> x = -2

or

x - 2 = 0 --> x = 2

METHOD 2:

Take the square root of both sides. But remember that there are two possible square roots of the number, so always include a ± sign before the square root symbol.

x² = 4

x = ±√4

x = ±2

or more formally:

x² = 4

√(x²) = √4

|x| = 2

x = ±2

Either way the answer is the same.

Answer:

x = -2 or x = 2

-

x²   =  4

x   = ± 2

the opposite of a square is a square root so find the square root of 4

take the square root of both sides. So x^2 = 4 will become x = +- root 2

When you get the square root of both sides of an equation, the side that doesn't have a variable gets a ±:

x² = 4

x = ±2

There are two solutions since if you square both values, both gives you 4:

(-2)(-2) = 4

2(2) = 4

So there are two solutions.

factor x^2 - 4 

x^2 = 4

x =± √(4)

x =± 2

x = 2, - 2 answer//

two methods

x^2 - 4 = 0  <<< factor

(x+2)(x-2) = 0

 zero product property gives 2 solutions

 x+2 = 0  ... x = -2

 x - 2 = 0 ... x = +2

====================

or  sqare root property (or rule)

 x^2 = 0  ....sq root both sides BUT, sq root prop says that the side of the equation with no variable must use +/- sqroot

x = +/- sqroot(4)

x = +/- 2   <<<  same 2 answers as other method

You can get rid of it by doing the same thing to each side of the equation. You have x^2 = 4, so take the square root of each side.

If x^2 = 4 then x = 2