Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The square root of a number x is the value that, when multiplied by itself, equals x. It gives the positive solution to the equation x = y^2.
Related terms
Exponentiation: Exponentiation is raising a number to a power. For example, 2^3 means multiplying 2 by itself three times.
Radical: A radical is another term for a square root. It represents an operation that undoes exponentiation.
Quadratic Equation: A quadratic equation is an equation in which the highest power of the variable is 2 (x^2). Solving quadratic equations often involves taking square roots.