What is a Square Root Calculator?

A Square Root Calculator is a simple tool used to find the square root of a given non-negative number. The square root of a number 'x' is another number 'y' such that when 'y' is multiplied by itself (y × y), it equals 'x'. The symbol for square root is the radical sign (√).

For example, the square root of 9 (√9) is 3, because 3 × 3 = 9. Similarly, the square root of 2 (√2) is approximately 1.414, because 1.414 × 1.414 ≈ 2.

This calculator quickly finds this value for any non-negative number you enter, useful for math problems, geometry calculations (like finding the side of a square given its area), physics equations, and various other mathematical applications.

How Does This Calculator Work?

This Square Root Calculator works straightforwardly using built-in browser functions:

• Input: You enter a non-negative number (whole number or decimal) into the input field.
• Validation: The calculator checks if the input is a valid, non-negative number. It shows an error if you enter text, a negative number, or leave the field empty.
• Calculation: If the input is valid, the calculator uses the standard JavaScript function Math.sqrt(number) to compute the square root.
• Display: The calculated square root is then displayed clearly in the results area below the buttons. The result is formatted to a reasonable number of decimal places for accuracy.

It focuses on finding the principal (non-negative) square root.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Can I find the square root of a negative number?
  This calculator finds the real square root. In the real number system, you cannot find the square root of a negative number (because any real number multiplied by itself is always non-negative). The square roots of negative numbers involve imaginary numbers (using 'i'), which this calculator does not handle. It will show an error if you enter a negative number.
• Can it calculate the square root of decimals or fractions?
  Yes. Enter the decimal number directly (e.g., 10.5). For fractions, first convert the fraction to a decimal (e.g., for 1/2, enter 0.5) and then calculate its square root.
• What happens if I enter a perfect square?
  If you enter a perfect square (like 4, 9, 16, 25, etc.), the calculator will return its exact whole number square root (2, 3, 4, 5, etc.).
• How accurate is the result for non-perfect squares?
  The calculator uses standard computer floating-point arithmetic (JavaScript's `Math.sqrt`). The result is highly accurate for most practical purposes, typically displayed to several decimal places. Extremely large numbers might encounter inherent precision limitations of computer math.
• What is the square root symbol (√)?
  The √ symbol, called the radical sign, is the mathematical notation used to indicate the principal (non-negative) square root of a number. For example, √16 = 4.
• Is this Square Root Calculator free?
  Yes, this tool is completely free to use.