Perfect Squares and Square Roots

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Before you jump into square roots, let's make sure you understand what a perfect "square" number is.

A perfect square is a number that is the product of two equal integers — or, in other words, it is the ANSWER when the same integer is multiplied times itself.

For example: 4 x 4 = 16. The 16 is a perfect square.

• Can you name three more perfect square numbers?

(If you are stumped, just pick any integer and multiply it times itself. The ANSWER is a perfect square.)

A number is ONLY a perfect square if the square root of it is an integer (no decimals). But, what are square roots? Watch this Math Antics – Exponents & Square Roots video to review exponents, find out what a square root is, and to understand how they connect:

• What are two things you learned from the video?
• How do exponents and squares relate?

Now, grab your math notebook and get ready to take a few notes and try some problems.

• So, what is a square root?

Square root A number that produces a specific quantity when multiplied by itself.

The symbol to take the square root looks like this √ and is called a radical.

To find the square root:

• Ask yourself, "What number times itself equals the number given?"
• Punch the number in a calculator and hit the square root button.

Examples

Some work out very "neatly," while others have a long decimal answer.

As noted in the video, it is also possible to take the 3^rd root of a number ³√, 4^th root of a number ⁴√, the 5^th root of a number ⁵√, and so on. You use the radical symbol with a number just above it.

It means, "What number can you take times itself that many times (the number above the radical sign) to get the given number?"

Example

Now that you have had a chance to learn about perfect square numbers and square roots, it is time for a little practice. Let's see just how well you have "Got It?" in the next section!