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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Math 6H ( Periods 3, 6, & 7)

Square Numbers and Square Roots 5-3

Numbers such as 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49... are called square numbers or PERFECT SQUARES.

One of two EQUAL factors of a square is called the square root of the number. To denote a square root of a number we use a radical sign (looks like a check mark with an extension) See our textbook page 157.

Although we use a radical sign to denote cube roots, fourth roots and more, without a small number on the radical sign, we have come to call that the square root.
SQRT = stands for square root, since this blog will not let me use the proper symbol) √ is the closest to the symbol

so the SQRT of 25 is 5. Actually 5 is the principal square root. Since 5 X 5 = 25
There is another root because
(-5)(-5) = 25 but in this class we are primarily interested in the principal square root or the positive square root.

Evaluate the following:
SQRT 36 + SQRT 64 = 6 + 8 = 14
SQRT 100 = 10
Is it true that SQRT 36 + SQRT 64 = SQRT 100? No
You cannot add square roots in that manner.
However look at the following:
Evaluate
SQRT 225 = 15
(SQRT 9)(SQRT 25)= (3)(5) = 15
so
SQRT 225 = (SQRT 9)(SQRT 25)

Also notice that the SQRT 1600 = 40
But notice that SQRT 1600 = SQRT (16)(100) = 4(10) = 40

Try this:
Take an odd perfect square, such as 9. Square the largest whole number that is less than half of it. ( For 9 this would be 4). If you add this square to the original number what kind of number do you get? Try it with other odd perfect squares...

In this case, 9 + 16 = 25... hmmm... what's 25???

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