square root

square root (plural square roots)

1. (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.

2. (mathematics) The positive number which, when squared, yields another number; the principal square root.

   The square root of 4 is 2. No negative square roots exist. Negative numbers have no square roots.

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.

• √
• sqr
• sqrt

• (the positive of the two values): principal square root

• root

• cube root
• principal root

• square root on Wikipedia.Wikipedia