What is the square root of 256?

1 Answer
George C.
May 30, 2015

#sqrt(256)=16#

at least that's the positive square root

#-16# is also a square root of 256.

#16^2 = (-16)^2 = 256#

By definition, the principal square root of a number is the positive square root. The term "the square root" is commonly used to refer to the principal (positive) root though there are usually two roots.

#sqrt(x^2)=|x|#

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