Answer:
x = 36 and √x = 6; total 42 children
Step-by-step explanation:
Number of boys: Â x
Number of girls:  √x
Total number of kids:  x + √x = 42.
Find x.
Rewrite x + √x = 42 as √x = 42 - x.  Then square both sides:
x = 1764 - 84x + x^2, or
x^2 - 85x + 1764 = 0
Check out Answer C: Â x = 36. Â Is the above equation true for x = 36? Â YES
Check out Answer A: Â x = 49. Â Is the above equation true for x = 49? Â YES
Assume that x = 36.  This would be the number of boys.  The number of girls would be √36, or 6.  Does the sum of 36 and 6 equal 42?  YES.  So the number of boys is 36 and the number of girls is 6.
Assume that x = 49.  This would be the number of boys.  The number of girls would be √49, or 8.  Does the sum of 49 and 7 equal 42?  NO.  So we reject x = 49 as the number of boys and accept x = 36 as being correct.