Advanced Math practice question

Answer: -3 or −3

A square is 0 only when the thing squared is 0: x + 3 = 0, so x = −3.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 0

0 is the right side of the equation, not the value of x; (0 + 3)² = 9, not 0.

If you answered 3

3 has the wrong sign: x + 3 = 0 means x = −3.

If you answered 9

9 is 3², perhaps from expanding and misreading; the equation's only solution is −3.

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