 class="inline_math">\( \sqrt{x^2}= \sqrt{49} \)</span> simplifies to</p>
<div class="equation">\[ 
	 	|x|	= 	7.
	  \]
</div><p class="noindent">What’s up with the vertical bars around <span class="inline_math">\( x \)</span>?<span class="intersentencespace"></span> The notation <span class="inline_math">\( |x| \)</span> stands for the <em>absolute value</em> of <span class="inline_math">\( x \)</span>, which is the same as <span class="inline_math">\( x \)</span> except we ignore the sign that indicates 