What you’ll learn
Evaluate square roots.
Key idea
Principal square roots are nonnegative; taking a square root is not dividing the radicand by the degree.
Principal root is nonnegative; dividing the radicand by two is not taking its square root.
Worked example
Enter the exact value or ordered values in the format requested below.
Evaluate principal √289. Enter the exact numerical value.
- 17×17=289, so the nonnegative number whose square is 289 is 17.
- Therefore principal √289=17; reversing the operation gives radicand n=17²=289.
Answer: 17
Quick Check
Evaluate a worked attempt at evaluate square roots, identify the first invalid step, and provide the correction.
Step 1 identifies 1764 as a perfect square. Step 2 evaluates √1764 by dividing 1764 by 2. Locate the first invalid step and correct the principal root.