square root
square root, in mathematics, a factor of a number that, when multiplied by itself, gives the original number. For example, both 3 and β3 are square roots of 9. As early as the 2nd millennium bc, the Babylonians possessed effective methods for approximating square roots. See root.
This article was most recently revised and updated by William L. Hosch.
Citation Information
Article Title:
square root
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
06 November 2026
Access Date:
November 14, 2026