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square root
noun
: a factor of a number that when squared gives the number
the square root of 9 is ±3
Examples of square root in a Sentence
The square root of 9 is 3.
Recent Examples on the Web
Specifically, when calculating polls' average error, polls are weighted by one over the square root of the number of polls that their pollster conducted for that particular type of election in that particular cycle.
—Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2024
Miami has the most salad shops and juice and smoothie bars (per square root of population).
—Gary Stoller, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
Remarkably, the rudimentary tools that the ancient Greeks used to draw their geometric diagrams perfectly match the natural operations of modern-day algebra: addition (+), subtraction (–), multiplication (x), division (/) and taking square roots (√).
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 12 Sep. 2024
The modern notation for square roots came into use in the 16th and 17th centuries.
—Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1557, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near square root
Cite this Entry
“Square root.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/square%20root. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
square root
noun
: a number that when squared equals a specified number
+3 and -3 are both a square root of 9
More from Merriam-Webster on square root
Nglish: Translation of square root for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of square root for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about square root
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