solve (y+1)^2 = 4

(y+1)²= 4. The power of two becomes a square root on the other side. Don't forget that this is plus or minus the square root of 4. Now we have y+1 = +- sqrt(4). We now have two equations to solve for y. y+1 = 2 or y+1=-2. Giving y = 1 or y = -3.