One simple way to look at is that the sqrt symbol is RESERVED for positive roots only (as per GMAT)
So, the resulting value must be positive.
Since x is -ve, answer must be -x, to match with the positive result.
Note that the value inside the sqrt could not have been negative, at least on GMAT. I don't think GMAT deals with imaginary numbers. Hence, there is no need to solve for the value that is inside square root. It is bound to be positive.