>>23
bg4 elementary school (or college if you're an americunt)
a)
sqrt(4) = 2
reads like this: which positive number, when multiplied by itself gives us 4? it is 2. (square root of a number is such positive number which when multiplied by itself results in given number)
b)
x^2 = 4 =>
x = 2 or -2
reads like this: which number, when squared gives us 4? it could be -2 or it could be 2.
mathematical writing isn't that cryptic. learn to read it.