Is sqrrt((x-3)^2) = 3-x

[akhileshganesh]

I found this question on GMAT Prep Test 1.

Is sqrrt((x-3)^2) = 3-x

1) x≠3
2) -x|x| > 0

The answer is apparently B. But I fail to understand the basic premise.

What does sqrrt((x-3)^2) really mean?

Eg: If x = 2

sqrrt((2-3)^2) = sqrrt(1^2) = sqrrt(1) = +1 or -1

If x = -2

sqrrt((-2-3)^2) = sqrrt(-5^2) = sqrrt(25) = +5 or -5

Is this analogy correct? Or can we only take the +ve value in the first example and the -ve in the second one since we are squaring that in the first place? This sounds weird though!

Please help!!!

Ps :

I tried to search for this post but it is virtually unsearchable.

[RonPurewal]

Ps :

I tried to search for this post but it is virtually unsearchable.

not so.
i copied the exact title that you gave this thread, pasted it into google followed by "manhattangmat", and bam! the first hit was this:
is-sqrt-x-3-2-3-x-t7258-15.html

this thread is now closed. please read that one; if you have any further questions after reading the whole thread, please post them over there. thanks.