Learning Intention:

• Learn how to calculate and estimate square roots

Success Criteria:
• I can describe square roots using the correct terminology.
• I can use a calculator to determine a square root.
• I can estimate square roots to the nearest tenth.
 What is a perfect square?
• We are familiar with inverse
(opposite) operations in math.
For example, subtraction is the
inverse operation of addition, and x 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
division is the opposite of
1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
multiplication.
• When we calculate a perfect 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
square, a whole number or integer
3 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30
is multiplied by itself. Performing
an inverse operation of our perfect 4 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40
square allows us to ‘undo’ this 5 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
operation and find the root (the
6 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
base number) that was multiplied
by itself. 7 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70
• Calculating the root of a perfect 8 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 68 72 80
square (sometimes known as
square numbers), is known as 9 9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72 81 90

finding the square root. 10 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

• Remember, since perfect squares
can be created by both whole
numbers and integers, every
number has two square roots. The
square root of 64 is 8, as 8 x 8 =
64. However, 64 also has another
square root of -8, because -8 x -8 =
 Perfect Squares to Square
•
Roots
We can represent perfect squares and square roots by creating shapes.
• When we multiply a whole number by itself, the sides of our shape will all have
the same length.
• We can then calculate the area of our squares by multiplying the length by the
width.
10cm

10cm
5cm 5cm

1cm
1cm

Area = Area = Area =

1cm2 25cm2 100cm2

• The area of each shape represents a perfect square. It has been created by
multiplying a whole number by itself.
• The length of one side of each shape represents our square root. This was the
number we needed to multiply by itself to create the perfect square.
 The Radical Sign
√
When finding the square root of a number we use the following symbol . This
is known as the radical sign.
The radical sign is sometimes referred to as the “root” sign, because finding the
radical means we have found the root (or base number) that was multiplied by
itself to create the square number.
The radicand is the number for which we wish to find the square root. When we
are calculating the square root, the radicand is placed under our radical sign.

√X
Radical Sign Radicand
 Finding the Square Root
Let’s take a closer look at how to find the square root of perfect squares.

Can you complete the table below?

Perfect Square
Perfect Square
Exponential Square Root
Expanded Form
Form

12 1x1=1 √1 = 1
√16 4
42 4 x 4 = 16 =
√64 8
82 8 x 8 = 64 =
√121 1
112 11 x 11 = 121 = 1
√1,000,000 1,00
1000 x 1000 = = 0
10002
1,000,000
 Finding the Square Root of
larger numbers
Learning our times tables helps us calculate the square root of perfect squares up to
122. However, the square roots of larger perfect squares can be a little trickier to
memorize.

Luckily, there is a key on our calculators that can help solve problems at the push of
a button.

Using a calculator:
2
x

1. Press √ symbol on your calculator. This will look like either or

2. Enter the amount of which you want to find the square root

3. Press =
Exampl
e:
1,36 3
9 7
This key enables you to quickly find the square root of any number. The answer
shown on your calculator is known as the principal square root.

Although perfect squares can be created by positive and negative integers, the
principal square root (shown on your calculator) is the positive number.
 Calculator Practice
Using a calculator, complete the following table:
1. Press the √ symbol on your calculator
2. Enter the amount of which you want to find the square root
3. Press =

Perfect Square Square Root

324 √324 = 18

841 √841 29
=
4,356 √4,356 66
=
15,129 √15,129 123
=
998,001 √998,001 999
=
18,671,041 √18,671,04 4,32
1= 1
 Estimating Square Roots
Not every number is a perfect square.

For example, there isn’t a whole number or integer that can be multiplied by itself to
make 13

13 is an imperfect square because √13 = 3.605551275

Square roots that are not whole numbers or integers, are known as irrational
numbers.

So, how can we estimate the root of a number that is an imperfect square?
 Estimating the root of
an imperfect square
How can we estimate the square root of 85?
√85 = ?
• First, we find the two consecutive perfect squares that are either side of 85 on a
number line.

• The perfect square below 85 is 81, and the next perfect square above 85 is 100.

• Next, we find the square roots of those perfect squares. √81 = 9 and √100 = 10

• We can therefore estimate that the square root of 85 is between 9 and 10.

Square roots

9 1
0

√8 8 √10
1 5 0
Perfect
squares
 Can you estimate the square
root of 62?

√62=?
Square roots

? ?

? 6 ?
2

Perfect
squares

7
The square root of 62 is betweenand 8
 Estimating roots to
the nearest tenth
How can we estimate √44 to the nearest tenth?
1. We find the two consecutive perfect squares that are either side of our number
and place it on a number line.

2. Next, we estimate the root to the nearest tenth based on where it lies between
our known neighbouring root numbers.

3. We check our estimate by multiplying it with itself.

4. We choose the estimate closest to our imperfect square.

 Estimating roots to
the nearest tenth
How can we estimate √44 to the nearest tenth?
• We can show that 44 lies in between the perfect squares of 36 and 49.

• Next, we label the root numbers on either side of our imperfect square on our
number line.

• √36 = 6

• √49 = 7

• We now know that our root is going to be somewhere between 6 and 7.

6 7

√36 44 √49
 Estimating roots to
the nearest tenth

Now, look at the number line and estimate to the nearest tenth where 44 lies
between 6 and 7.

Draw a line at the midpoint between your neighbouring root numbers to help your
estimation.

Midpoint =
6.5
6 7

√36 44 √49
 Estimating roots to
the nearest tenth
We can estimate that, to the nearest tenth, the square root is likely to be either 6.6
or 6.7

Now we check our estimates:

6.6 x 6.6 =43.56
6.7 x 6.7 =44.89

The difference between 43.56 and 44 = 0.44

The difference between 44.89 and 44 = 0.89

6.6 is the closest estimate to our imperfect square.

Midpoint =
6.5
6 7

√36 44 √49
 Estimating roots to the
nearest tenth
Using the number line below, estimate the √97 to the nearest tenth.

Remember to:
1. Find the two consecutive perfect squares that are either side of 97.

2. Write their root numbers above the number line.

3. Estimate the root to the nearest tenth based on where it lies between the
neighbouring root numbers.

4. Check your estimate by multiplying it with itself.

5. Choose the estimate closest to our imperfect square.

Midway point

? ?

√? 97 √?
 Estimating roots to the
nearest tenth
Estimating to the nearest tenth, it looks as though √97 is likely to be either 9.8 or 9.9

We now check our estimates:

9.8 x 9.8 = 96.04
9.9 x 9.9 = 98.01

The difference between 96.04 and 97 = 0.96

The difference between 98.01 and 97 = 1.01

9.8 is the closest estimate to √97

Midway point

9 1
0

√81 97 √10
0
 What we have learned
• When we perform an inverse operation of a perfect square, it is known as finding
the square root .

• radical
The symbol used when calculating square roots is known as the
, sign
or root sign.

• Whenprincipal square to find square roots, the answer displayed is known as

using a calculator
the root .

• positive
Although perfect squares can be created by positive and negative integers, the
number
principal square root (shown on your calculator) is the .
Imperfect
• squares
irrational are the product of numbers created by multiplying an
are number
by itself.