<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
  • Simplify expressions with square roots
  • Estimate square roots
  • Approximate square roots
  • Simplify variable expressions with square roots
  • Use square roots in applications

Before you get started, take this readiness quiz.

  1. Simplify: ( −9 ) 2 .
    If you missed this problem, review Multiply and Divide Integers .
  2. Round 3.846 to the nearest hundredth.
    If you missed this problem, review Decimals .
  3. Evaluate 12 d for d = 80 .
    If you missed this problem, review Evaluate, Simplify and Translate Expressions .

Simplify expressions with square roots

To start this section, we need to review some important vocabulary and notation.

Remember that when a number n is multiplied by itself, we can write this as n 2 , which we read aloud as n squared.” For example, 8 2 is read as “8 squared.”

We call 64 the square of 8 because 8 2 = 64 . Similarly, 121 is the square of 11 , because 11 2 = 121 .

Square of a number

If n 2 = m , then m is the square of n .

Modeling squares

Do you know why we use the word square ? If we construct a square with three tiles on each side, the total number of tiles would be nine.

A square is shown with 3 tiles on each side. There are a total of 9 tiles in the square.

This is why we say that the square of three is nine.

3 2 = 9

The number 9 is called a perfect square because it is the square of a whole number.

Doing the Manipulative Mathematics activity Square Numbers will help you develop a better understanding of perfect square numbers

The chart shows the squares of the counting numbers 1 through 15 . You can refer to it to help you identify the perfect squares.

A table with two columns is shown. The first column is labeled “Number” and has the values: n, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. The second column is labeled “Square” and has the values: n squared, 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, 169, 196, and 225.

Perfect squares

A perfect square is the square of a whole number.

What happens when you square a negative number?

( −8 ) 2 = ( −8 ) ( −8 ) = 64

When we multiply two negative numbers, the product is always positive. So, the square of a negative number is always positive.

The chart shows the squares of the negative integers from −1 to −15 .

A table is shown with 2 columns. The first column is labeled “Number” and contains the values: n, negative 1, negative 2, negative 3, negative 4, negative 5, negative 6, negative 7, negative 8, negative 9, negative 10, negative 11, negative 12, negative 13, negative 14, and negative 15. The next column is labeled “Square” and contains the values: n squared, 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, 169, 196, and 225.

Did you notice that these squares are the same as the squares of the positive numbers?

Square roots

Sometimes we will need to look at the relationship between numbers and their squares in reverse. Because 10 2 = 100 , we say 100 is the square of 10 . We can also say that 10 is a square root of 100 .

Square root of a number

A number whose square is m is called a square root of m .

If n 2 = m , then n is a square root of m .

Notice ( −10 ) 2 = 100 also, so −10 is also a square root of 100 . Therefore, both 10 and −10 are square roots of 100 .

So, every positive number has two square roots: one positive and one negative.

What if we only want the positive square root of a positive number? The radical sign, 0 , stands for the positive square root. The positive square root is also called the principal square root .

Square root notation

m is read as “the square root of m .”

If m = n 2 , then m = n for n 0 .

A picture of an m inside a square root sign is shown. The sign is labeled as a radical sign and the m is labeled as the radicand.

We can also use the radical sign for the square root of zero. Because 0 2 = 0 , 0 = 0 . Notice that zero has only one square root.

The chart shows the square roots of the first 15 perfect square numbers.

A table is shown with 2 columns. The first column contains the values: square root of 1, square root of 4, square root of 9, square root of 16, square root of 25, square root of 36, square root of 49, square root of 64, square root of 81, square root of 100, square root of 121, square root of 144, square root of 169, square root of 196, and square root of 225. The second column contains the values: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.

Simplify: 25 121 .

Solution

(a) 25 Since 5 2 = 25 5 (b) 121 Since 11 2 = 121 11

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Simplify: 36 169 .

  1. 6
  2. 13

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Simplify: 16 196 .

  1. 4
  2. 14

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Every positive number has two square root s and the radical sign indicates the positive one. We write 100 = 10 . If we want to find the negative square root of a number, we place a negative in front of the radical sign. For example, 100 = −10 .

Questions & Answers

the diagram of the digestive system
Assiatu Reply
How does twins formed
William Reply
They formed in two ways first when one sperm and one egg are splited by mitosis or two sperm and two eggs join together
Oluwatobi
what is genetics
Josephine Reply
Genetics is the study of heredity
Misack
how does twins formed?
Misack
What is manual
Hassan Reply
discuss biological phenomenon and provide pieces of evidence to show that it was responsible for the formation of eukaryotic organelles
Joseph Reply
what is biology
Yousuf Reply
the study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environments
AI-Robot
the study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environment.
Wine
discuss the biological phenomenon and provide pieces of evidence to show that it was responsible for the formation of eukaryotic organelles in an essay form
Joseph Reply
what is the blood cells
Shaker Reply
list any five characteristics of the blood cells
Shaker
lack electricity and its more savely than electronic microscope because its naturally by using of light
Abdullahi Reply
advantage of electronic microscope is easily and clearly while disadvantage is dangerous because its electronic. advantage of light microscope is savely and naturally by sun while disadvantage is not easily,means its not sharp and not clear
Abdullahi
cell theory state that every organisms composed of one or more cell,cell is the basic unit of life
Abdullahi
is like gone fail us
DENG
cells is the basic structure and functions of all living things
Ramadan
What is classification
ISCONT Reply
is organisms that are similar into groups called tara
Yamosa
in what situation (s) would be the use of a scanning electron microscope be ideal and why?
Kenna Reply
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is ideal for situations requiring high-resolution imaging of surfaces. It is commonly used in materials science, biology, and geology to examine the topography and composition of samples at a nanoscale level. SEM is particularly useful for studying fine details,
Hilary
cell is the building block of life.
Condoleezza Reply
what is cell divisoin?
Aron Reply
Diversity of living thing
ISCONT
what is cell division
Aron Reply
Cell division is the process by which a single cell divides into two or more daughter cells. It is a fundamental process in all living organisms and is essential for growth, development, and reproduction. Cell division can occur through either mitosis or meiosis.
AI-Robot
What is life?
Allison Reply
life is defined as any system capable of performing functions such as eating, metabolizing,excreting,breathing,moving,Growing,reproducing,and responding to external stimuli.
Mohamed
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Prealgebra. OpenStax CNX. Jul 15, 2016 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11756/1.9
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Prealgebra' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask