Question

A scientist finds the temperature of a sample at the beginning of an experiment is t degrees celcius. After 1 hour, the temperature is t^2 degrees celcius. If the temperature after 1 hour is 81 degrees celcius, what are two possible original temperatures? What is the difference between the possible original temperatures?

Answer 1

So the two possible original temperatures would be either -9 or 9.

Answer 2

the possible temperatures are 9 degrees or -9 degrees as t^2 means t squared so the square root of 81 is t, however -9 x -9 and 9x9 is 81 so they're both possible answers.

as for the second part I'm not sure what they specifically want. sorry