SQUARE ROOTS AND CUBE ROOTS
IMPORTANT FACTS AND FORMULAE
Square Root: If x2 = y, we say
that the square root of y is x and we write, √y = x.
Thus, √4 = 2, √9 = 3, √196 = 14.
Cube Root: The cube root of a given number x is the
number whose cube is x. We denote the cube root of x by 3√x.
Thus, 3√8
= 3√2 x 2 x 2 = 2, 3√343 = 3√7 x 7 x 7
= 7 etc.
Note:
1.√xy = √x * √y 2. √(x/y) = √x / √y = (√x / √y) * (√y / √y) = √xy / y
SOLVED EXAMPLES

Sol.
Method: Express the given number as the product of prime
factors. 2 6084



of the given number.
3 507



Sol. Explanation: In the given number, mark off
the digits 1 1471369 (1213
in pairs starting from the unit's
digit. Each pair and
1
the remaining one digit is called
a period.
22 47
Now, 12 = 1. On
subtracting, we get 0 as remainder. 44
Now, bring down the next period i.e.,
47.
241 313
Now, trial divisor is 1 x 2 = 2
and trial dividend is 47.
241
So, we take 22 as divisor and put
2 as quotient.
2423 7269
The remainder is 3.
7269
Next, we bring down the next
period which is 13. x
Now, trial divisor is 12 x 2 = 24
and trial dividend is
313. So, we take 241 as dividend
and 1 as quotient.
The remainder is 72.
Bring down the next period i.e.,
69.
Now, the trial divisor is 121 x 2
= 242 and the trial
dividend is 7269. So, we take 3as
quotient and 2423
as divisor. The remainder is then
zero.
Hence, √1471369 = 1213.














Sol. √ 25 / 16
= √ 25 / √ 16 = 5 / 4
Ex. 6. What is the square root of 0.0009?
Sol. √0.0009=
√ 9 / 1000 = 3 / 100 = 0.03.

Sol. Method:
We make even number of decimal places 1 175.2976 (13.24
by affixing a zero, if necessary.
Now, we mark off 1
periods and extract the square
root as shown.
23 75
69
\√175.2976 = 13.24
262 629
524
2644 10576
10576
x
Ex. 8. What will come in
place of question mark in each of the following questions?








<=> 5 + x2 = 9
<=> x2 = 9 - 5= 4
<=> x = √4 = 2.

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Sol. √0.289 / 0.00121 = √0.28900/0.00121 = √28900/121
= 170 / 11.
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Ex.10.
If √1 + (x / 144) = 13 / 12, the find the value of x.

Þx /
144 = (169 / 144) - 1
Þx /
144 = 25/144 Þ
x = 25.
Ex. 11. Find the value of √3 up to three places of
decimal.
Sol.

1
27 200
189
343 1100
1029
3462 7100
6924 \√3 = 1.732.
Ex. 12. If √3 = 1.732, find the value of √192
- 1 √48 - √75 correct to 3 places
2
of decimal. (S.S.C.
2004)



=8√3
- (1/2) * 4√3 - 5√3
=3√3
- 2√3 = √3 = 1.732
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Ex. 13. Evaluate: √(9.5
* 0.0085 * 18.9) / (0.0017 * 1.9 * 0.021)

Now,
since the sum of decimal places in the numerator and denominator under the radical sign is the same, we remove
the decimal.







Ex. 15. If x = 1 + √2 and y = 1 - √2,
find the value of (x2 + y2).
Sol. x2
+ y2 = (1 + √2)2 + (1 - √2)2 =
2[(1)2 + (√2)2] = 2 * 3 = 6.
Ex. 16. Evaluate: √0.9 up to 3 places of decimal.


9 0.900000(0.948

184 900
736

15104 \√0.9
= 0.948
Ex.17. If √15 = 3.88, find the value of √ (5/3).
Sol.


√
(5/3) = √(5 * 3) / (3 * 3) = √15 / 3 =
3.88 / 3 = 1.2933…. = 1.293.




Ex. 18. Find
the least square number which is exactly divisible by 10,12,15 and 18.
Sol. L.C.M.
of 10, 12, 15, 18 = 180. Now, 180 = 2 * 2 * 3 * 3 *5 = 22 * 32 *
5.
To make
it a perfect square, it must be multiplied by 5.
\ Required
number = (22 * 32 * 52) = 900.
Ex. 19. Find the greatest number of five digits which is a
perfect square.
(R.R.B. 1998)
Sol. Greatest
number of 5 digits is 99999.


61 99

626 3899

143
\
Required number == (99999 - 143) = 99856.
Ex. 20. Find the smallest number
that must be added to 1780 to make it a perfect
square.

4 1780 (42
16

164

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\ Number to be added = (43)2
- 1780 = 1849 - 1780 = 69.
Ex. 21. √2 =
1.4142, find the value of √2 / (2 + √2).
Sol. √2 /
(2 + √2) = √2 / (2 + √2) * (2 - √2) / (2 - √2) = (2√2 – 2) / (4 – 2)
= 2(√2 – 1) / 2 = √2 – 1 = 0.4142.
22. If x = (√5 + √3) / (√5 - √3) and y = (√5 - √3) /
(√5 + √3), find the value of (x2 +
y2).
Sol.
x = [(√5 + √3) / (√5 - √3)] * [(√5
+ √3) / (√5 + √3)] = (√5 + √3)2 / (5 - 3)
=(5 + 3 + 2√15) / 2 = 4 + √15.
y =
[(√5 - √3) / (√5 + √3)] * [(√5 - √3) / (√5 - √3)] = (√5 - √3)2 / (5
- 3)
=(5 + 3 - 2√15) / 2 = 4 - √15.
\ x2 + y2 = (4 + √15)2
+ (4 - √15)2 = 2[(4)2 + (√15)2] = 2 * 31
= 62.



factors, choosing one out of three of the same 2 686



7
2744 = 23 x 73.
\
3√2744= 2 x 7 = 14.
Ex. 24. By what least number 4320 be multiplied to obtain
a number which is a perfect cube?
Sol. Clearly, 4320 = 23 * 33 * 22 *
5.
To
make it a perfect cube, it must be multiplied by 2 * 52 i.e,50.