Principal Roots and Square Roots
Principal Roots and Square Roots
I. Learning Information
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.
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
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
Solution:
a) Find two integers between which √ 20lies.
16 < 20 < 25
√ 16< √ 20< √ 25
4¿ √ 20<5
Activity No.2
Solution:
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.