Concept guide
Natural-number powers and principal square roots: computing powers by recursion and proving √(a²)=|a|
Using only the recursive definition a^0=1, a^(n+1)=a^n·a, compute (−2)^n for n=0,1,2,3,4 and 0^0, 0^3; prove that a nonnegative square root is unique and that √(a²)=|a| for every real a; then find √49, √((−5)²) and the real solution set of y²=9, and explain why √(−4) is not defined in the reals.