Calculate principal and negative roots instantly. Includes simplified radical forms and manual calculation steps for students and engineers.
Enter any positive number or fraction.
The non-negative result of the square root.
This is the most mathematically elegant way to write the root.
The negative value that, when squared, equals the input.
While calculators provide instant results, understanding the manual method is excellent for students and estimation. Here is a common approach:
Technically, every positive number has two roots (e.g., 3 and -3 both square to 9). However, the radical symbol (√) specifically refers to the principal (positive) root.
The square root of -1 is not a real number. It is defined as the imaginary unit 'i'. This calculator focuses on real numbers but will alert you if you enter a negative value.
Quick reference guide
| Number (x) | Square (x²) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 9 |
| 4 | 16 |
| 5 | 25 |
| 6 | 36 |
| 7 | 49 |
| 8 | 64 |
| 9 | 81 |
| 10 | 100 |
This tool uses 64-bit floating point math for high accuracy. For very large numbers or extremely high precision requirements (NASA level), specialized software is recommended.
