Question

What is 169 = s to the second power

Answer 1

$s^2=169\iff s=-13\ or\ s=13\\\\because:\\\\(-13)^2=169\ and\ 13^2=169$

Answer 2

$169 = s^{2}$

Square-rooting on both sides, we get,
$\sqrt{169 } = (+-)\sqrt{ s^{2} }$

$\sqrt{13*13 } = (+-)\sqrt{ s^{2} }$

$\sqrt{ 13^{2} } =(+-)\sqrt{ s^{2} }$

Since, the square cancels out square- square root sign, we have

$13 = (+-)s$

$(+-)s = 13$

So, when "s" is positive, the value of "s" is 13
and when "s" is negative, the value of "s" is -13

So, the values of "s" are 13 , -13