square root

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word square root. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word square root, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say square root in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word square root you have here. The definition of the word square root will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofsquare root, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Noun

square root (plural square roots)

  1. English Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia
    (mathematics) The number which, when squared, yields another number.
    The square roots of 4 are 2 and −2, the square root of 0 is 0, and the square roots of −4 are 2i and −2i.
    • a. 1992, Frederick Mosteller, “Writing about Numbers”, in John C. Bailar III, Frederick Mosteller, editors, Medical Uses of Statistics‎, second edition, published 1992, page 388:
      In √a̅+̅b̅, the horizontal bar or vinculum is actually a parenthesis that groups a+b. Without it, √a+b might mean b+√a̅ or it might mean √a̅+̅b̅. Nevertheless, the square-root sign without the vinculum is often used […] .
  2. (mathematics) The positive number which, when squared, yields another number; the principal square root.
    The square root of 4 is 2. No negative real square roots exist. Negative numbers have no real square roots.

Usage notes

Even in mathematical contexts, square root generally means positive square root. If there is a chance of ambiguity, prefer constructions like a square root or a complex square root to indicate the first definition, or the positive square root or similar to indicate the second sense.

Synonyms

Hypernyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

References

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia