Question #N338
What is the value of $x$ that satisfies the equation $(x+1)^2 = 16$?
A. -5
B. -3
C. 3
D. 5
Correct Answer is: C
To solve for $x$, we take the square root of both sides of the equation: $\sqrt{(x+1)^2} = \sqrt{16}$. This gives us $x + 1 = \pm 4$. Solving for $x$ in each case, we get $x = 4 - 1 = 3$ or $x = -4 - 1 = -5$. Of these two solutions, only 3 is given as a choice.