Problem on Princeton's Review?

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<p>While taking the diagnostic test on the Princeton's Review for the SSAT/ISEE, I came upon this problem on the Qualitative Camparisons:</p>

<p>Group A Group B</p>

<p>√49 + √16 √65</p>

<p>(A) Group A > Group B
(B) Group B > Group A
(C) Group A = Group B
(D) You can't tell.</p>

<p>From the first glance, √49 + √16 appears to be 7 + 4 which is 11 which is way over √65 which is approximately 8. But being rather paranoid on tests, I tend to over-think problems and I noticed that the √n could be negative too. So if that was true, then 8 could be over -11, which mean the correct answer would be D.</p>

<p>However, when I looked at the answers, the book said the correct answer was A. This might be an error, but when I was looking at the study guide for Upper ISEE that ISEE posts on their website, I noticed a similar problem that also assumed that the √n is positive.</p>

<p>So my question is, is this simply a coincidental error that wouldn't happen on the real test, or should I go ahead and assume that √n is positive for the ISEE?</p>

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<p>You are correct that positive numbers have both a positive and a negative square root. However the mathematical convention for a negative square root is to specify -√n. </p>

<p>√n refers to the positive square root, so A is the correct answer.</p>

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<p>Oh, okay, thanks for the clarification.</p>