What inverse operation is used to isolate x from the expression x^2
(x squared)?

The square root function is used

You can write it out as on your paper or type sqrt(x) on your keyboard.

For example,

x^2 = 36

sqrt( x^2 ) = sqrt( 36 ) ... apply square root to both sides

|x| = 6

x = 6 or x = -6

square root of 36/6 = 2.449489743

square root of 16/6 = 1.632993162

square root of 6 = 2.449489743

the answer is square root of 16/6 because the square root of 36/6 is the same answer as square root of 6 = 2.449489743