Square Root of a Positive Real Number

1 Activities
1.1 Activity
Using a calculator or not, fill in the following table:
81
x 0 1 144 0.64
√ 49
x ... ... ... ... ...

1.2 Activity
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate positive number:
25 √
(...)2 = 9;(...)2 = 7; (...)2 = ; (...)2 = 5
36
 2 2 √
√ 2

4 1 3
( 5) = ...; = ...; − = ...; (...)2 =
3 8 16

2 Definition
2.1 Definition
Let a be a positive real number (a ≥ 0). The square
√ root of a is the positive
real number whose square is equal to a, denoted a.

2.2 Result
Let a be a positive real number:
√ 2
ˆ a =a
√
ˆ ( a)2 = a
√ √
ˆ The opposite of a (if a ̸= 0) is − a

1
3 Remark
√
ˆ a makes sense only if a ≥ 0, meaning the square root of a negative
number does not exist.
ˆ The square root of a number is never equal to a negative number.
√ √
ˆ 0 = 0 and 1 = 1

Examples
√
⋆ 0 = 0 since 02 = 0.
√
⋆ 1 = 1 since 12 = 1.
√
⋆ 9 = 3 since 32 = 9.
√
⋆ 49 = 7 since 72 = 49.
√
⋆ 81 = 9 since 92 = 81.

To Learn by Heart (Perfect Squares)

J √ J √ J √ J √
0=0 1=1 4=2 9=3
J √ J √ J √ J √
16 = 4 25 = 5 36 = 6 49 = 7
J √ J √ J √ J √
64 = 8 81 = 9 100 = 10 121 = 11

Application
√
⋆144 = . . .
r
16
⋆ = ...
25
r
0.36
⋆ = ...
0.25
3
⋆ √ = ...
81
r
121
⋆ = ...
94

2
 Solution
√ √
⋆ 144 = 122 = 12
r r
1 12 1
⋆ = 2
=
9 3 3
3 3 3 1
⋆ √ =√ = =
81 9 2 9 3
r r
16 42 4
⋆ = 2
=
25 5 5
r r
0.36 0.62 0.6 6
⋆ = 2
= =
0.25 0.5 0.5 5
r r
121 112 11
⋆ = 2
=
4 2 2

The Square of a Square Root

Property

Let a be a real number.

√ √
ˆ If a > 0, then a2 = a2 = a.
√
ˆ If a < 0, then a2 = (−a)2 = −a.
p

4 Definition
Definition
A square root of a non-negative real number a is the√non-negative real
number whose square is equal to a. It is denoted by a.

√
( a)2 = a (1)
√ √
The opposite of a (for a ̸= 0) is − a.
Note: The square root function is only defined for non-negative numbers,
meaning the square root of a negative number does not exist in the set of real
numbers.

3
5 Examples
Examples

√
0 = 0, 02 = 0
√
1 = 1, 12 = 1
√
9 = 3, 32 = 9
√
49 = 7, 72 = 49
√
81 = 9, 92 = 81

6 Perfect Squares to Memorize

Perfect Squares

√ √ √ √
0 = 0, 1 = 1, 4 = 2, 9 = 3,
√ √ √ √
16 = 4, 25 = 5, 36 = 6, 49 = 7,
√ √ √ √
64 = 8, 81 = 9, 100 = 10, 121 = 11

4
7 Solving Square Root Equations
Solving Square Root Equations

To solve the equation x2 = a, follow these steps:

√
ˆ If a > 0, then the solutions are x = ± a.

ˆ If a = 0, then the unique solution is x = 0.

ˆ If a < 0, then there is no real solution.

Examples:

x2 = 9 ⇒ x = ±3
x2 = 25 ⇒ x = ±5
x2 = −4 ⇒ no real solution

8 Operations with Square Roots

8.1 Multiplication
Multiplication

For non-negative real numbers a and b:

√ √ √
a× b= a×b (2)

8.2 Division
Division
For a, b > 0: √ r
a a
√ = (3)
b b

Operations on Square Roots Translated from French

5
9 Techniques and Tricks (Decomposition)
Techniques and Tricks (Decomposition)
√
Let’s simplify 180, for this, we decompose 180.

180 = 22 × 32 × 5

√ p
180 = 22 × 32 × 5

√
=2×3 5

√
=6 5

10 Square Roots and Powers

Square Roots and Powers
√ p
A= 56 = (53 )2 = 53 = 125

√ √ p √ √
B= 75 = 74 × 7 = (72 )2 × 7 = 72 7 = 49 7

6
11 Application
Application

Simplify and compute:

p
a= 34 × 52 × 27

p
b= 22 + 3 2 + 6 2

√ √
q
c= 25 + 81 − 2 9

√ √
q
d= 96 + 2 24 − 3 54
 √ √  √ √ 
e= 3 2+ 5 3 2− 5

7
12 Solution
Solution
For a:
p
a= 34 × 52 × 27

p
a= 322 × 52 × 26 × 2

p
a= 322 × 52 × 23 × 2 × 2

p
a= 32 × 52 × (23 )2 × 2

p
a= 32 × 52 × 8 × 2

√ √ √ √
a= 32 × 52 × 82 × 2

√
a=3×5×8× 2

√
a = 120 2
For b:
p
b= 22 + 3 2 + 6 2

√
b= 4 + 9 + 36

√
b= 49

√
b= 72

b=7
For c:
√ √
q
c= 25 + 81 − 2 9
q √ √
c= 52 + 92 − 2 32

c=5+9−2×3

8
c=5+9−6

c=8
For d:
√ √
q
d= 96 + 2 24 − 3 54