Loading…
Math Tutor's Solution: The square root of 16 is 4
Methods
What is the Square Root of 16?
To start with, let’s review what a math tutor would help define as the square root of a number. A square root of a number is a number that when multiplied by itself gives the original value. So, for instance, the square root of 16 is 4 or √16 = 4, then by definition, we can also say that 4 • 4 is also 16. Now, for the Square Root of 16, the value is 4. It is noteworthy that the result of a square root can be either a whole number or a decimal.
Is the Square Root of 16 rational?
A math tutor would explain that when working with square roots, it’s helpful to determine whether the value is rational or irrational. A rational number is when you have a number that can be written as a fraction that divides two integers (as long as the denominator is not 0). Whole numbers can also be rational numbers! So, an irrational number would be a decimal that cannot be written as a fraction and is considered to go on and on with no end (non-terminating). In this case, because the square root of 16, 4, is a whole number (and not a decimal), we say that 16 is rational.
How do you find the Square Root of 16?
There are two main ways to calculate the Square Root of a number: perfect squares and long division. Generally speaking, the first method that uses perfect squares is one of the easier and efficient methods when the number you have is a perfect square. To reiterate, a perfect square occurs when the value of the square root is a whole value. On the other hand, long division is used when the value of the square root is a decimal or not a perfect square.
Our first attempt will be to try to see if we can use perfect squares. So, let's see if we can rewrite 16 as a product of a number times itself. Well, we know the common perfect square of:
Therefore:
Math Tutor Suggest: Find The Square Root of Other Numbers
Finding the square root of any number can be done using the same method as shown above. Take a look at how to find the square root of these other specific examples from our math tutors by clicking on any of the links below:
Download FREE Math Resources
Take advantage of our free downloadable resources and study materials for at-home learning.
8 Math Hacks and Tricks to Turn Your 'Okay' Math Student Into a Math Champion!
One thing we teach our students at Thinkster is that there are multiple ways to solve a math problem. This helps our students learn to think flexibly and non-linearly.
Get PDF
Math Tutoring to Boost Your Child’s Math Skills & Scores by 90% in Just 3 Months – Guaranteed!
Does your child struggle with math homework or understanding tricky math concepts? Do they do okay in math, but express excitement to learn new material or advanced math?
A Thinkster Math tutor provides one-to-one support to help elementary, middle school, and high school students build confidence and master math subjects like K-8 math, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, calculus, and more.
Our expert math tutors customize math lessons to your child’s unique needs, making learning math fun and effective. We help students improve grades, develop strong critical thinking skills through solving word problems, excel in standardized tests, and develop strong problem-solving skills.
Our expert math tutors are ready to help make your child a champion and develop strong math mastery! Sign up for our 7-day free trial and get the best math tutor for your child today!
Start 7-Day Free Trial