Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2012 / Paper 1 / 12 / b

Write a square root as $u+iv$, with $u,v$ real. Equating the real part and imaginary part of its square gives $u^2-v^2=-1$ and $2uv=1$. Taking complex modulus also gives $u^2+v^2=\sqrt{2}$. ThereforeSince $uv>0$, the signs agree. The two roots areThe $\pm$ changes both signs together, rather than independently.