Principal Roots and Square Roots
I. Learning Information
Take a look at the clock and answer the following
questions below.
1. Can you tell the time in the clock?
2. What time is shown in the clock?
3. What do you get when you take the √ 1 ?
√ 4 ? √ 9? √ 16 ?
4. How will you describe the result?
Basic Concepts
When a number is being multiplied by itself, the resulting product is a perfect square.
The symbol for the square root is called radical sign (√ ¿, denotes the principal or non-
negative square root of a number.
The expression under the radical sign is called radicand.
Perfect Square Factored Form Square Root
2
1 1 =(1)(1) 1
4 22=(2)( 2) 2
9 32=(3)(3) 3
16 4 2=(4 )( 4) 4
25 52=(5)(5) 5
36 62 =(6)(6) 6
and so on… and so on… and so on…
Principal Square Root
It is the positive square root of a number.
Example: Find the principal square root of the following numbers and tell whether the
principal square root is rational or irrational.
25
a) √ 64 b)
√ 49
=¿ c. √ −111
Solution:
a) √ 64=8 is rational
25 5
b)
√ = is rational
49 7
c) √ −111is irrational
Ordering Radicals
To identify which consecutive integers does the square root number lie, determine what
perfect square number ahead and after the number.
Example: Between which two consecutive integers does each square root number lie?
Plot the numbers on the number line.
a) √ 15 b) √ 98
Solution:
a) 15 lies between perfect square b) 98 lies between perfect square
numbers 9 and 16. Numbers 81 and 100.
Thus, 9<15< 16. Thus, 81<98< 100.
.√ 9< √ 15< √ 16. √ 81< √ 98< √ 100
Thus, 3< √ 15< 4. Thus, 9< √ 98< 10.
2 3 √ 15 4 9 √ 98 10
Self-Check Activity No. 1
Determine between which two consecutive integers does each
square root lie.
a. √ 30 b. √ 112
SELF-CHECK ACTIVITIES:
ANSWER KEY Principal and Square roots
Activity No.1
Determine between which two consecutive integers does each square root lie.
b. √ 30 b. √ 112
Answer: a. 5 and 6 b. 10 and 11
Approximating Square Roots
Example: Approximate √ 20 to the tenths place.
Solution:
a) Find two integers between which √ 20lies.
16 < 20 < 25
√ 16< √ 20< √ 25
4¿ √ 20<5
Because 20 is closer to 16 and 25, we may try 4.5 as an estimate of √ 20.
b) Divide 20 by the estimate 4.5
20÷ 4.5=4.44
c) Get the average of divisor and the quotient.
4.5+ 4.44 8.94
= ≈ 4.47
2 2
d) Use the average as the next estimate. Repeat steps b and c until your divisor and
quotient agree in the tenths place
20÷ 4.47 ÷=4.47
Note that √ 20 ≈ 4.5 to the tenths place.
Since √ 20is a nonterminating, non-repeating decimal, we can say that √ 20 is an
irrational number.
Self-Check Activity No. 9
Approximate √ 12 to the nearest tenth.
Activity No.2
Approximate √ 12 to the nearest tenth.
Solution:
a) Find two integers between which √ 12lies.
9 < 12 < 16
√ 9< √ 12< √ 16
3¿ √ 12< 4
Because 12 is closer to 9 and 16, we may try 3.5 as an estimate of √ 12.
b) Divide 12 by the estimate 3.5
12÷ 3.5=3.43
c) Get the average of divisor and the quotient.
3.5+3.43 6.93
= ≈ 3.47
2 2
d) Use the average as the next estimate. Repeat steps b and c until your
divisor and quotient agree in the tenths place
12÷ 3.47 ÷=3.47
Note that √ 12≈ 3.5 to the tenths place.
Since √ 12is a nonterminating, non-repeating decimal, we can say that
√ 12 is an irrational number.
Definition: Irrational Number
a
An irrational number is a number that cannot be expressed in the form ,
b
where ab and b are integers and b is not equal to 0.
For more concepts and examples, scan
your book in Next Century Mathematics 7 on
pages 103-112.
