Square Root Calculator
Compute √n for any non-negative number.
Calculator
Use the Square Root Calculator
Result
—
Formula
√n
Step-by-step
- 1
Enter the number
Provide a non-negative value.
- 2
Read the root
The result is the principal square root.
Worked example
Example input: n: 16
Result: 4
Related tools
- Cube Root
Compute ∛n.
- Exponent Calculator
Raise a number to a power.
Frequently asked questions
What is the square root of 16?
4, because 4 × 4 = 16. While −4 also squares to 16, the √ symbol by convention means the principal (non-negative) root — and that is what the calculator returns.
What happens with a negative input?
Negative numbers have no real square root, so the calculator returns no result rather than a made-up number. For negative inputs use the cube root instead — every real number has one.
How can I sanity-check a square root?
Square the answer and compare. For √10 ≈ 3.1623, multiplying 3.1623 × 3.1623 gives ≈ 10.00, which confirms the result.
What does it mean that the square root of 2 is irrational?
It means √2 cannot be written as a fraction of two whole numbers — its decimal part runs forever without repeating (1.4142135...). Perfect squares behave differently: the calculator returns exact integers for them, for example 25 gives exactly 5.