Square Root of 2
The square root of 2 is about 1.4142. Square roots reverse squaring and are essential in geometry and the quadratic formula.
No number times itself can equal 2: perfect squares only ever leave 0 or 1 when divided by 4, and 2 leaves 2 — so √2 is irrational, its decimal never ending nor repeating. The ladder fences it between √1 = 1 and √2 = 4, the nearer fence just 1 away against 2 on the far side. Rounded to two places, the estimate is 1.41 — within one hundredth of the true value. Irrational roots are no curiosity: the diagonal of a unit square is √2, the first irrational anyone ever meets, and every slanted right triangle produces its own.
| Expression | Value |
|---|---|
| √2 | 1.414214 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the square root of 2?
The square root of 2 is about 1.4142. It is the number that, multiplied by itself, gives 2.
Is 2 a perfect square?
No — 2 sits between the perfect squares 1 and 4, so its square root is irrational.
What does √ mean?
√ is the radical sign, short for square root. √2 asks: which number times itself equals 2? Here the answer is about 1.4142.