In the equation x^2 = 16, what is the value of x?

To find the value of x in the equation x^2 = 16, we need to isolate x. The equation indicates that we are looking for a number that, when multiplied by itself, gives 16.

To solve for x, we can take the square root of both sides of the equation. The square root of 16 is 4. However, it is important to remember that both positive and negative numbers can satisfy this equation because both (4)² and (-4)² equal 16. This reflects the fundamental property of square roots, where each non-negative number has both a positive and its corresponding negative solution.

Therefore, since both 4 and -4 satisfy the equation (as indicated by the fact that the square of each results in 16), the correct answer encompasses both values. This makes the choice that includes both 4 and -4 the right conclusion.