square root


noun

a quantity of which a given quantity is the square: The quantities +6 and −6 are square roots of 36 since (+6)×(+6)=36 and (−6)×(−6)=36.

Origin of square root

First recorded in 1550–60

Example sentences from the Web for square root

  • On a similar plan a tapering wedge acts as a square-root extractor, displacing water as the square of its depth of immersion.

    Inventors at Work |George Iles

British Dictionary definitions for square root

square root

noun

a number or quantity that when multiplied by itself gives a given number or quantity 2 is a square root of 4, usually written √4 or 4 1/2

Scientific definitions for square root

square root

A number that, when squared, yields a given number. For example, since 5 X 5 = 25, the square root of 25 (written √25) is 5.

Cultural definitions for square root

square root

A number that, when multiplied by itself, will result in a given number. The square root of four is two; the square root of one hundred is ten.

notes for square root

The square roots of many numbers, such as three, are irrational numbers.