I dont get the meaning of this math problem

i dont get the meaning of this:
simplify if x>0 and y>0
square root of 32 * x^2 * y^16
why is it important that x>0 and y>0?
simplify for any values of x and y
please help!

any time you take a square root, you get a positive and a negative result
For instance, √16 = +4 or -4
So saying x>0 and y>0 is limiting the values so you don't write the negative one

√(32x^2y^16)
= √(2•16•x^2•y^16) <------- separate 32 into appropriate factors
= 4xy^8•√2

1. Because if x and/or y = 0, then 32*x^2*y^16 = 0

2.√(32*x^2*y^16) = 4xy^8√2