Solve Using the Square Root Property 3x^2=12

$3 x^{2} = 12$

Step 1

Divide each term in $3 x^{2} = 12$ by $3$ and simplify.

Divide each term in $3 x^{2} = 12$ by $3$ .

$\frac{3 x^{2}}{3} = \frac{12}{3}$

Simplify the left side.

Cancel the common factor of $3$ .

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{3 x^{2}}{3} = \frac{12}{3}$

Divide $x^{2}$ by $1$ .

$x^{2} = \frac{12}{3}$

Simplify the right side.

Divide $12$ by $3$ .

$x^{2} = 4$

Step 2

Take the specified root of both sides of the equation to eliminate the exponent on the left side.

$x = \pm \sqrt{4}$

Step 3

Simplify $\pm \sqrt{4}$ .

Rewrite $4$ as $2^{2}$ .

$x = \pm \sqrt{2^{2}}$

Pull terms out from under the radical, assuming positive real numbers.

$x = \pm 2$

Step 4

The complete solution is the result of both the positive and negative portions of the solution.

First, use the positive value of the $\pm$ to find the first solution.

$x = 2$

Next, use the negative value of the $\pm$ to find the second solution.

$x = - 2$

The complete solution is the result of both the positive and negative portions of the solution.

$x = 2, - 2$