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Lesson: Challenging Arithmetic - 24

Introducing Roots of numbers

[Page 24 of 30]

A square root is the number that, when squared, produces the number under the radical sign.

Video - Finding Square Root

A square root is indicated by the radical sign (that little bar with a check on it).

For example:

, since 22 = 4

But note: The square root symbol refers to the positive root only. In other words:

If , then x equals 5 or - 5.

But equals 5 only.

You may also see a cube root on your standardized test, indicated by . Not surprisingly, a cube root is the number that, when cubed, produces the number under the radical sign.

For example:

, since (-3) (-3) (-3) = (-27)

(Note that cube roots retain the same sign as their base numbers.)

Roots can also be expressed as fractional exponents. For example:

Radical Sign

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